SB 535 Summary

• Extends HOV lane access for super ultra-low emission vehicles (SULEV) and 2004 model-year ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) meeting federal standards until January 1, 2015, while limiting access for other hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles until July 1, 2011.

• Authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue up to 40,000 distinctive identifiers between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2015 for enhanced advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicles (enhanced AT PZEV) to use HOV lanes.

• Removes the requirement that the Department of Transportation demonstrate infeasibility of alleviating congestion by other means before removing HOV lanes during peak congestion periods.

• Makes illegal use of HOV lane decals, labels, or identifiers a misdemeanor offense, with violations prosecuted under Vehicle Code Section 21655.9(c).

• Requires identifiers for enhanced AT PZEV vehicles to be visually distinguishable from identifiers issued to other low-emission, hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles.