Bill Text: FL S0818 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Emergency Exemption from Tolls

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2018-03-10 - Died in Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development [S0818 Detail]

Download: Florida-2018-S0818-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2018                                     SB 818
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       30-00964-18                                            2018818__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to an emergency exemption from tolls;
    3         amending s. 338.155, F.S.; providing an exemption from
    4         toll payment for persons operating motor vehicles on
    5         toll facilities within a county subject to a mandatory
    6         evacuation order; providing an effective date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 338.155,
   11  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   12         338.155 Payment of toll on toll facilities required;
   13  exemptions.—
   14         (1)(a) A person may not use a any toll facility without
   15  payment of tolls, except:
   16         1. An employee employees of the agency operating the toll
   17  project when using the toll facility on official state
   18  business.,
   19         2. State military personnel while on official military
   20  business.
   21         3. A person with a disability, handicapped persons as
   22  provided in subsection (3).
   23         4. A person this section, persons exempt from toll payment
   24  by the authorizing resolution for bonds issued to finance the
   25  facility.
   26         5. A person, and persons exempt on a temporary basis where
   27  use of such toll facility is required as a detour route.
   28         6. A Any law enforcement officer operating a marked
   29  official vehicle while is exempt from toll payment when on
   30  official law enforcement business.
   31         7. A Any person operating a fire vehicle while when on
   32  official business or a rescue vehicle while when on official
   33  business is exempt from toll payment.
   34         8. A Any person participating in the funeral procession of
   35  a law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of
   36  duty is exempt from toll payment.
   37         9. A person operating a motor vehicle on a toll facility
   38  located in a county subject to a mandatory evacuation order
   39  issued during a state of emergency declared by the Governor
   40  pursuant to s. 252.36. Such exemption shall remain in effect
   41  until the evacuation order is lifted. The secretary or the
   42  secretary’s designee may suspend the payment of tolls on any
   43  other a toll facility when necessary to assist in emergency
   44  evacuation.
   45         (b) The failure to pay a prescribed toll constitutes a
   46  noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation
   47  as provided in s. 318.18.
   48         (c) The department may adopt rules relating to the payment,
   49  collection, and enforcement of tolls, as authorized in this
   50  chapter and chapters 316, 318, 320, and 322, including, but not
   51  limited to, rules for the implementation of video or other image
   52  billing and variable pricing.
   53         (d) With respect to toll facilities managed by the
   54  department, the revenues of which are not pledged to repayment
   55  of bonds, the department may by rule allow the use of such
   56  facilities by public transit vehicles or by vehicles
   57  participating in a funeral procession for an active-duty
   58  military service member without the payment of tolls.
   59         (3) A Any handicapped person with a disability who has a
   60  valid driver license, who operates a vehicle specially equipped
   61  for use by persons with disabilities the handicapped, and who is
   62  certified by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter
   63  459 or by comparable licensing in another state or by the
   64  Adjudication Office of the United States Department of Veterans
   65  Affairs or its predecessor as being severely physically disabled
   66  and having permanent upper limb mobility or dexterity
   67  impairments which substantially impair the person’s ability to
   68  deposit coins in toll baskets, shall be allowed to pass free
   69  through all tollgates and over all toll bridges and ferries in
   70  this state. Such A person who meets the requirements of this
   71  subsection shall, upon application, be issued a vehicle window
   72  sticker by the Department of Transportation.
   73         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.