(a) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle on a portion of a highway that has been designated as a transit-only traffic lane except in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device.

(b) This section does not apply to a driver who is required to enter a lane designated as a transit-only traffic lane in order to make a right turn or a left turn in a location where there is no left-turn lane for motorists, or who is entering into or exiting from a highway, unless there are signs prohibiting turns across the lane or the lane is delineated by a physical separation, including, but not limited to, a curb, fence, landscaping, or other barrier.

Terms Used In California Vehicle Code 21655.1

  • Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles except, when used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 and in Divisions 11 (commencing with Section 21000), 12 (commencing with Section 24000), 13 (commencing with Section 29000), 14 (commencing with Section 31600), 14. See California Vehicle Code 290
  • driver: is a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 305
  • Highway: is a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See California Vehicle Code 360
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • motor vehicle: includes a recreational vehicle as that term is defined in subdivision (a) of §. See California Vehicle Code 415
  • official traffic control device: is a ny sign, signal, marking, or device, consistent with Section 21400, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic, but does not include islands, curbs, traffic barriers, speed humps, speed bumps, or other roadway design features. See California Vehicle Code 440
  • Person: includes a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Vehicle Code 470
  • traffic: includes pedestrians, ridden animals, vehicles, street cars, and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any highway for purposes of travel. See California Vehicle Code 620

(c) (1) The agency with jurisdiction over the highway or a public transit agency shall place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, signs and other official traffic control devices, as necessary, indicating that a portion of a highway has been designated as a transit-only traffic lane for the exclusive use of public transit buses and other vehicles designated by a local authority or the Department of Transportation and to advise motorists of the hours of operation of the lane as a transit-only traffic lane.

(2) A public transit agency placing and maintaining signs and other official traffic control devices pursuant to paragraph (1) shall do so with the agreement of the agency with jurisdiction over the highway.

(d) For purposes of this section, “transit-only traffic lane” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 40240.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 672, Sec. 1. (AB 971) Effective January 1, 2024.)

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