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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 25, 2019 11:42 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kurt A. Masser |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | removal of jeep doors on highways (Foirmer HB 976) |
| I will soon re-introduce legislation aimed at permitting owners of Jeeps that have factory removable doors to be able to drive on the highways of the Commonwealth with those doors removed. As you may know, Jeep Wranglers are manufactured with such doors but because of they must get safety approval of the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) for their vehicles, they must warn purchasers that removing the doors is for off-road use only. This warning appears in the CJ owner’s manual, “Do not drive your vehicle on public roads with the doors removed as you will lose the protection that they can provide. This procedure is furnished for use during off-road operation only.” A vehicle being used on the highway after having this warning could endanger its insurance coverage if an accident were to occur. Further, the Vehicle Code currently states that it is unlawful to, “willfully or intentionally remove (other than for purposes of repair and replacement) or render inoperative, in whole or in part, any item of vehicle equipment which was required to be installed at the time of manufacture or thereafter upon any vehicle, by any law, rule, regulation or requirement of any officer or agency of the United States or of the Commonwealth, if it is intended that the vehicle be operated upon the highways of this Commonwealth unless the removal or alteration is specifically permitted by this title or by regulations promulgated by the department.” I feel that if it is indeed safe to remove doors off-road then it should be safe to do the same on highways. My legislation would provide an exception while requiring owners of Jeeps or other vehicles that have removal doors that wish to use their vehicle without doors to notify their insurance carrier of the intended use and carry acknowledgement of that notification in the vehicle during such operation. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB1240