ARTICLE 2. County of San Diego Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Transportation Plans [1966. - 1966.8.]

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC 2.

in effect

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966. Section 1966.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this article, to authorize the County of San Diego or any city in the county to establish a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) transportation plan. The purpose of this NEV transportation plan is to further the San Diego region’s vision of facilitating the efficient movement of people and goods to support a sustainable and healthy region, a vibrant economy, and an outstanding quality of life for all. (b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that if the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV plan that this NEV transportation plan be designed and developed to provide flexible and economical travel options for residents, employees, and visitors, to best serve the functional travel needs of the plan area, to have the physical safety of the NEV driver or the passenger’s person and property as a major planning component, and to have the capacity to accommodate NEV drivers of every legal age and ability.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.1. Section 1966.1.

The following definitions apply to this article: (a) “Plan area” means any portion of the County of San Diego, or any portion of any city in the county, and any streets and roads under the jurisdiction of the county or city, to the extent the county or city has adopted an NEV transportation plan pursuant to Section 1966.2, including the privately owned land of any owner that consents to its inclusion in the plan. (b) “Neighborhood electric vehicle” or “NEV” means a low-speed vehicle as defined by Section 385.5 of the Vehicle Code. (c) “NEV routes” means all publicly or privately owned facilities that provide for NEV travel, including roadways designated by signs or permanent markings that are shared with pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists in the plan area.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.2. Section 1966.2.

(a) The County of San Diego or any city in the county may, by ordinance or resolution, adopt an NEV transportation plan for the plan area within its jurisdiction. Two or more jurisdictions may jointly adopt an NEV transportation plan for all or a portion of the territory under their respective jurisdictions. (b) If the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV plan, the entity adopting the plan shall consult with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and any agency having traffic law enforcement responsibilities in an entity included in the plan area. (c) The NEV transportation plan may include the use of a state highway, or any crossing of the highway, subject to the approval of the department.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.3. Section 1966.3.

If the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV plan, the NEV transportation plan shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following elements: (a) Route selection, that includes a finding that the route accommodates NEVs without an adverse impact upon traffic safety and shall consider, among other things, the travel needs of commuters and other users. (b) Transportation interfacing, that shall include, but not be limited to, coordination with other modes of transportation so that an NEV driver or passenger may employ multiple modes of transportation in reaching a destination in the plan area, including walking, biking, rideables, transit, and other vehicles. (c) Provision for NEV-related facilities, including, but not limited to, special access points, special NEV turnouts, and NEV crossings. (d) Provisions for NEV parking facilities at destination locations, including, but not limited to, transit stations, educational institutions, medical facilities, shopping areas, job and community centers, and public parks. (e) Provisions for special paving, road markings, signage, and striping for NEV travel lanes, road crossings, parking, and circulation, as appropriate. (f) Provisions for NEV electrical charging stations. (g) Community involvement in planning. (h) Coordination with long-range transportation planning. (i) A map showing the NEV route network. NEV routes for the purposes of the NEV transportation plan shall be classified as follows: (1) Class I NEV routes that provide for a completely separate right-of-way for the use of NEVs. (2) Class II NEV routes that provide for a separately striped lane on roadways with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or less. (3) Class III NEV routes that provide for shared use by NEVs with conventional vehicle traffic on streets with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.4. Section 1966.4.

If the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV transportation plan for the plan area pursuant to this article it shall do both of the following: (a) Establish minimum general design criteria for the development, planning, and construction of separated NEV lanes, including, but not limited to, the design speed of the facility, the space requirements of the NEV lane, and roadway design criteria, if the plan envisions separated NEV lanes. (b) In cooperation with the department and SANDAG, establish uniform specifications and symbols for signs, markers, and traffic control devices to control NEV traffic; to warn of dangerous conditions, obstacles, or hazards, to designate the right-of-way as between NEVs, other vehicles, and bicycles, as may be applicable, to state the nature and destination of the NEV lane, and to warn pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists of the presence of NEV traffic.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.5. Section 1966.5.

If the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV transportation plan for the plan area pursuant to this article, it shall also adopt all of the following as part of the plan: (a) NEVs eligible to use NEV routes shall meet the safety requirements for low-speed vehicles as set forth in Section 571.500 of Chapter V of Subtitle B of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) Minimum safety criteria for NEV operators, including, but not limited to, requirements relating to NEV maintenance and NEV safety. Operators shall be required to possess a valid California driver’s license and to comply with the financial responsibility requirements established pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 16000) of Division 7 of the Vehicle Code. (c) (1) Restrictions limiting the operation of NEVs to NEV routes identified in the NEV transportation plan and allowing only those NEVs that meet the safety equipment requirements specified in the plan to be operated on those routes. (2) A person who operates an NEV in the plan area in violation of this subdivision is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.6. Section 1966.6.

If the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV transportation plan, it may acquire, by dedication, purchase, or condemnation, real property, including easements or rights-of-way, to establish NEV routes.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.7. Section 1966.7.

(a) If the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV transportation plan for the plan area pursuant to this article, the county or city shall submit a report, in consultation with SANDAG, the department, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and any applicable local law enforcement agency, to the Legislature within two years of the date the NEV transportation plan is adopted. (b) The report shall include all of the following: (1) A description of the NEV transportation plan that has been authorized up to that time, including a description of the use of shared fleets and any charging, parking, or federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 elements that have been included in the plan. (2) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the NEV transportation plan, that may include its impact on traffic flows, vehicle miles traveled, greenhouse gas emission reductions, and safety. (3) A recommendation as to whether this article should be terminated, continued in effect, or expanded statewide.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 1966.8. Section 1966.8.

(a) This article shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2029, deletes or extends that date. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if the County of San Diego or any city in the county adopts an NEV transportation plan for the plan area pursuant to this article within two years of January 1, 2029, the county or that city in the county shall comply with the reporting requirement provided in Section 1966.7.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026