An act to amend Sections 21100 and 38025 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
Summary
AB 2453 would expand California Vehicle Code rules governing off-highway motor vehicles used by public safety personnel. Under current law, certain off-highway vehicles may be driven on highways in limited circumstances, including emergency response situations. This bill would expressly add first responders to the existing emergency-response authorization and would also allow peace officers and first responders to operate identified off-highway motor vehicles on highways for up to five miles while performing official duties, so long as the travel is to access an off-highway recreational area or a patrol location.
The bill also creates a new local-government framework for this use. A city, county, or other local authority would be permitted to regulate these operations only after adopting a public policy or plan, posting it on its website, and including required details such as the permitted activities, duration, training, certification, and safety equipment. The policy or plan would have to limit highway travel to five miles and tie the authorization to official duties by peace officers or first responders.
Impact
AB 2453 would amend Vehicle Code Sections 21100 and 38025 to broaden who may lawfully operate off-highway motor vehicles on highways and under what conditions. It would add first responders to the list of personnel allowed to use these vehicles in emergency response situations and would create a new exception for limited highway travel during official duties. It would also expressly authorize local authorities to regulate these operations through adopted policies or plans, while preserving state-level limits on distance, purpose, and compliance with local requirements. The bill affects peace officers, first responders, local governments, and operators of identified off-highway motor vehicles.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received broadly favorable, low-conflict consideration. The available committee votes were unanimous, and the measure was advanced with a recommendation for the Consent Calendar, which typically indicates little opposition or controversy in committee. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, but the voting history suggests general support for the bill’s public-safety and operational-efficiency goals.
Contention
The main policy issue in the bill is the balance between operational flexibility for peace officers and first responders and local control over where and how off-highway vehicles may be used on public roads. The bill addresses that tension by requiring a local policy or plan, public review, website posting, and safety-related conditions. Any potential concern would likely center on roadway safety, training, and the scope of local discretion, but the unanimous votes suggest those issues were not strongly contested in the available legislative record.