The bill proposes an amendment to section 28-737 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which pertains to the operation of vehicles in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. The current law prohibits driving in an HOV lane with fewer than two persons in the vehicle during restricted times, unless exceptions apply. The new bill language introduces a significant change by stating that a pregnant woman qualifies as two persons for the purposes of this restriction. This means that a pregnant woman driving alone would not be cited for a violation if she or her healthcare professional provides documentation confirming the pregnancy.

Additionally, the bill simplifies the language regarding the civil penalty for violating the HOV lane restrictions, changing the wording from "two hundred dollars" to "$200" and similarly updating the portion of the penalty to be deposited into the state general fund from "one hundred dollars" to "$100". It also removes the reference to the definition of an authorized emergency vehicle in section 28-101, while maintaining the exemption for such vehicles used by first responders in the line of duty.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 28-737