AB 1650

Existing law generally regulates the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public. The law prohibits a rental company from taking various actions, including requiring the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, and using electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renter’s use of a rental vehicle. Existing law imposes specific requirements on drivers and pedestrians when an authorized emergency vehicle is sounding a siren and exhibiting its red lights. Existing law also exempts an authorized emergency vehicle or a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from certain requirements while the vehicle is responding to an emergency. Existing law defines an authorized emergency vehicle as, among other things, a publicly owned vehicle operated by any forestry or fire department of any public agency. This bill would expand the definition of “authorized emergency vehicle” for these purposes to include any privately owned vehicle rented by, or furnished to, any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency for the use of investigating, monitoring, detaining, arresting, or transporting persons who have violated, or are suspected of having violated, any law. The bill would require that these vehicles be permanently equipped with burning or flashing red and blue lights and a decal that identifies the law enforcement agency that procured the vehicle, except as specified. The bill would authorize certain attorneys, including the Attorney General, to pursue a civil penalty starting at $3,000 for the first violation, or an injunction, for failure to comply with these provisions. The bill would exempt rental car contracts entered into prior to January 1, 2027, from these provisions. The bill would make related findings and declarations. The bill would declare that its provisions are severable.