Serious Penalties for ICEing
Virginia Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi wants to impose serious punishment against people who are guilty of “ICEing” an EV charging station. She has introduced an anti-ICEing bill (SB 911) that proposes a $500 penalty for violators in addition to being subject to being towed.
About a dozen US states have already adopted laws to prohibit non plug-in cars from blocking a parking space reserved for electric vehicle charging. For a list of states see: Legislation Reference – Reserved Parking for Plug-In Vehicle Charging
If Senator Hashmi’s bill is enacted without amendments, Virginia would have one on the harshest anti-ICEing laws in the United States. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and has a long way to go before the 2020 lawmaking session in Richmond ends on March 7th.
Virginia Senate Bill 911
This is the language of the bill as introduced.
SENATE BILL NO. 911
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-1219.3 as follows:
§ 46.2-1219.3. Parking of vehicles in parking spaces reserved for charging electric vehicles; civil penalties.
A. It shall constitute a traffic infraction for any person to park a vehicle not capable of receiving an electric charge in a parking space clearly marked as reserved for charging electric vehicles. A violation of this subsection is subject to a civil penalty of $500.
B. Any vehicle not capable of receiving an electric charge and parked in such a spot shall also be subject to towing and impoundment as a trespassing vehicle pursuant to this article or any local ordinance adopted pursuant to the same provided that the general parking area contains necessary signage to authorize towing.
C. The governing body of any county, city, or town may adopt an ordinance not inconsistent with the provisions of this section. The civil penalty for violating any such ordinance shall not exceed the civil penalties provided in subsection A.
D. In the prosecution of an offense established under this section, prima facie evidence that the vehicle described in the summons issued pursuant to this section was parked in violation of this section, together with proof that the defendant was at the time of such violation the owner, lessee, or renter of the vehicle, shall constitute in evidence a rebuttable presumption that such owner, lessee, or renter of the vehicle was the person who committed the violation. A violation of this section may be charged on the uniform traffic summons form.
Track Virginia SB 911 at the PlugInSites Electric Vehicle Legislation Tracker
