Emergency vehicles: fee and toll exemptions.

Assembly Member Ávila Farías's legislation expands toll exemptions for emergency vehicles to include ambulances displaying exempt license plates, adding to existing exemptions for police, fire, and sheriff vehicles on California's toll roads, bridges, and high-occupancy toll lanes.

The exemption applies when ambulances are responding to emergencies, returning from urgent calls, or covering emergency-related assignments. To qualify, vehicles must display both an exempt California license plate and external warning lights. Drivers must determine that using the toll facility would improve response times and service delivery. The exemption does not cover return trips on high-occupancy toll lanes or non-emergency uses like training or administrative travel.

The bill maintains existing verification procedures, allowing toll operators to request dispatch records to confirm legitimate emergency use. Emergency service providers and toll facility operators must establish mutual agreements regarding toll facility access and exemption processes. These agreements apply only to specifically named emergency service providers and can be terminated, reverting to the standard exemption requirements outlined in the legislation.