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Remember that Howard County Law that was meant to punish drivers that ICEd charging stations? When I checked with the police last year, only one ticket had been written and a memo had been sent to the entire force that the law was unenforceable except on County-owned property. That certainly wasn’t our intent when we advocated for the law.

After many conversations with the Howard County Police, County Attorneys, my Council representative and state lawmakers, the law is finally going to be “fixed” so there will be a deterrent at the charging stations in the county where ICEing continues to be a problem such as at the Columbia Association’s Athletic Club parking lot.

Earlier today, a bill was prefiled that will fix the ambiguity in the Howard County Code that has prevented the police from enforcing the anti-ICEing law on private property.

The bill, CB7-2016, will be introduced at the February 1st County Council Legislative Session and voted on at the March 7th session. A public hearing is scheduled for February 16.

The new bill will add the following two sentences:
(1) THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY ENFORCE THIS SECTION ON PUBLIC PROPERTY OR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
(2) THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY IMPOUND A VEHICLE THAT IS PARKED IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.

The new language has been vetted by the Howard County Office of Law, the police union and the County Police Chief. Once it is passed, the police will be able to respond to complaints of ICEing at charging spots on private property provided the spots are designated with signs that meet the criteria spelled out in the law.

Thank you to the EV drivers who wrote, called, testified and supported the previous bill. Also thanks to Council Members Jen Terrasa and Calvin Ball who sponsored this bill and Kate McLeod, Special Assistant to Ms. Terrasa, who worked on the bill and kept us in communication.

A state-wide anti-ICEing bill is being proposed for the 2016 Maryland General Assembly.

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There are several bills before the 2016 session of the Maryland General Assembly that will affect electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Senate Bill (SB) 168 would lift restrictions at condos and HOAs and require landlords to approve a tenant’s request to install electric vehicle recharging equipment. This bill is based on California Assembly Bill (AB) 2565 which gives multi-unit housing tenants the right to install a charging station at their residence as long as the tenant pays for the costs of installation, maintenance, electricity and subsequent removal upon moving. Many potential plug-in vehicle drivers reside in apartments, condos or property governed by an HOA and this is a consequential issue for many.

SB168 was introduced by Sen. Brian Feldman of Montgomery County. He sponsored a similar bill in 2015, SB 762 which never got out of the Judicial Matters Committee.

Last year, there were letters opposing Senate Bill 762 submitted by special interest groups including the Maryland Multi-Housing Association, NAIOP – The Association for Commercial Real Estate and the Apartment and The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Baltimore (BOMA).

Here is a link to a comparison that highlights the differences in the text of the bill from last year. Note that the insurance requirement is $1,000,000 in the present bill, where it was $300,000 last year. UPDATE: an amendment has been filed to change the insurance requirement back to $300,000.

The 90 day legislative session in Maryland starts today. There are at least two bills expected to be introduced that will affect electric vehicle charging stations. Delegate Clarence Lam, representing parts of Baltimore and Howard counties, plans to introduce a bill to enable the towing or ticketing of nonelectric vehicles parked in electric vehicle charging spots.

Senator Brian Feldman from Montgomery County is sponsoring a bill that will make it easier for tenants and HOA members to install EV charging equipment in multi-unit housing communities.

Del. Lam and Sen. Feldman are both appointees to the Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council (EVIC). Lam is a member of the House Environment and Transportation Committee which is where the anti-ICEing bill will likely be referred to receive public testimony. This is the committee that Bob Erdman, Jeff Cadman and I testified before to support the Tesla bill last session. I plan to testify in favor of both bills and to help gather support from others.

PlugInSites will publish updates as these bills work their way through the legislative process. I have talked with both Del. Lam and Sen. Feldman and stay in touch with their staff. Enter your email address below to get updates on this and all PlugInSites news.

@PlugInSites

The New Jersey General Assembly passed a bill (A-1728)  that will require electric vehicle charging stations to be installed at rest areas along the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Under the bill, sponsored by Tim Eustace, Daniel Benson and Liz Muoio, EV charging stations are required to be installed in at least 5 percent of service area parking spaces in service areas with at least 100 spaces to which the public is invited.

“There is nothing worse than running out of gas on a dark and busy highway. It’s not only a nuisance; it is not safe,” said Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic), who owns an electric car and knows first-hand the difficulty of finding a charging station. “The number of electric cars being driven on our roads may not match the number of gas-fueled cars, but we still have a responsibility to provide these drivers with sufficient fueling and charging stations, especially on heavily-travelled highways.”

The US Dept. of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), shows that there are currently about 165 electric vehicle charging stations in New Jersey with around 380 individual charging ports.

“There is little point in investing in an electric car if the infrastructure is not there to support it,” said Eustace. “This bill helps residents who already own electric cars, as well as those who are considering buying one, but are worried about the accessibility of charging and refueling stations.”

According to a 2012 report by Environment New Jersey, a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, more than 13,000 drivers in New Jersey could purchase their first plug-in vehicle within the next three years. The report stated that with the right policies in place in New Jersey, plug-in vehicles could reduce oil dependence by more than three million gallons per year.

The bill was approved 44-25-2 by the Assembly and is now headed to the Senate.

At least seven states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to punish drivers who park a non plug-in vehicle in a space designated for an EV charging station, a practice known as ICEing. That means there are 43 states and countless municipalities that may need to consider such a law.

I have advocated for anti-ICEing laws in Montgomery County and Howard County in Maryland. In September, I spoke before the Maryland Electric Vehicle infrastructure Council to ask them to support a state-wide law. A bill is being drafted to be introduced in the 2016 Maryland General Assembly. I have created a resource page with links to other state laws, news articles, previously introduced bills, news articles and guidelines to assist the drafters of that bill.

PlugInSites is making this resource available to EV advocates and lawmakers who are looking for models and information to help draft anti-ICEing laws in other jurisdictions around the United States.

Here is the link to the PlugInSites Legislation Reference.

Please contact me if you have any information to add.

@Lanny for @PlugInSites

Two new state laws to penalize people who block electric vehicle charging stations went into effect on New Years Day 2016.

Oregon – $250 Fine for ICEing an EV Charging Station
Oregon House Bill 2625 created a law effective January 1, 2016 that is punishable by a maximum fine of $250.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, “alternative fuel vehicle” has the meaning given that term in ORS 469B.100, except that “alternative fuel vehicle” includes vehicles registered in any jurisdiction.
(2) A person commits the offense of unlawful parking in a space reserved for alternative fuel vehicle refueling if:
(a) The person parks a vehicle in any parking space that is on premises open to the public;
(b) The parking space is marked or signed as reserved for alternative fuel vehicle refueling; and
(c) The vehicle in the parking space is not engaged in the refueling process.
(3) The offense of unlawful parking in a space reserved for alternative fuel vehicle refueling is a Class D traffic violation.

Illinois – Up to $100 Fine and Towing
In Illinois, as of January 1, 2016 people who park non-electric vehicles in spots reserved for an electric vehicle charging station will be subject to a $75-$100 fine and may get towed.

Here is the text of the new Illinois law.

Sec. 11-1308. Unauthorized use of parking places reserved for electric vehicles.
(a) For the purposes of this Section: “Electric vehicle” means a battery-powered electric vehicle operated solely by electricity or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that operates on electricity and gasoline and has a battery that can be recharged from an external source. “Electric vehicle charging station” means any facility or equipment that is used to charge a battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle.
(b) It shall be prohibited to park a non-electric vehicle in an electric vehicle charging station designated for use by electric vehicles, including an electric vehicle charging station on any private or public offstreet parking facility. A person may park only an electric vehicle in an electric vehicle charging station space designated for use by electric vehicles.
(c) Any person or local authority owning or operating any public or private offstreet parking facility may, after notifying the police or sheriff’s department, remove or cause to be removed to the nearest garage or other place of safety any non-electric vehicle parked within an electric vehicle charging station space designated for use by electric vehicles.
(d) It shall not be a defense to a charge under this Section that the sign or notice posted at the electric vehicle charging station or the designated parking space does not comply with applicable rules, regulations, or local ordinances, if a reasonable person would be made aware by the sign or notice on or near the parking space that the space is reserved for electric vehicles.
(e) Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of subsection (b) shall be fined $75 in addition to any costs or charges connected with the removal or storage of the non-electric vehicle; but municipalities by ordinance may impose a fine up to $100.

PlugInSites Legislation Reference Guide
PlugInSites has compiled a Legislation Reference Guide for local and state laws regarding reserved parking spaces for plug-in vehicle charging stations. This is being shared with lawmakers as a resource to consult when drafting future bills.

Stay tuned to @PlugInSites for developments affecting EV charging stations.