Assemblymember Rodriguez Advances Legislation to Provide a Private Ambulance Toll Exemption

(Sacramento, CA) – Today, Assembly Bill (AB) 902, authored by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D – Pomona), advanced from the Senate Committee on Public Safety with unanimous support. This legislation would require toll authorities to contract with private ambulance providers regarding the payment of tolls on a vehicular crossing, toll highway, or high-occupancy lane. 

“Having worked as an EMT in the private sector for over 30 years, I understand the financial burdens providers face as they do not receive federal or state funding to offset costs. As public sector ambulance providers are already exempt from paying tolls, AB 902 would ensure that all first responders can quickly and efficiently travel to patients as first responders should not be paying to take life-saving measures,” stated Assemblymember Rodriguez. 

In 2009, California enacted AB 254 (Jeffries, Chapter 425, Statutes of 2009), exempting ambulances from public agencies from paying any vehicular tolls when driving to and returning from an emergency call. AB 2270 (Seyarto, Chapter 497, Statutes of 2022) further required toll authorities to establish contracts or Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) with local emergency service providers to implement AB 254 and provide a system determining when and how an emergency vehicle pays tolls.

Unfortunately, AB 2270 was unclear as to if it includes private ambulance companies. Furthermore, these companies have reported that toll authorities have either refused to exempt them from tolls or have been unresponsive to requests to do so. Private ambulance companies should be able to establish these contracts and receive the same exemptions as other emergency service providers. 

According to the California Ambulance Association, private providers operate 74% of ambulances in the state. Of the 337 emergency ambulance service areas statewide, private ambulance companies serve 220. Private ambulance companies face financial obstacles unique to their position, as they cannot receive state or federal funding to offset uncompensated care.

“Whether you serve your community in the public or private sector, your underlying dedication to saving lives does not change. Private ambulance providers make up a vast majority of California’s service areas and should not be punished or disincentivized from using the most efficient route possible when responding to an emergency,” added Assemblymember Rodriguez.  

Assemblymember Rodriguez (Twitter) represents the 53rd Assembly District which includes the cities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, and Upland. He is Chair of the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management.