1Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2Statutes, <-in preliminary provisions, further providing for 
3definitions; in financial responsibility, providing for 
4neighborhood electric vehicles; in special vehicles and
5pedestrians, providing for regulation and operation of
6neighborhood electric vehicles<-; and, in inspection of 
7vehicles, further providing for operation of vehicle without 
8official certificate of inspection.

9The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10hereby enacts as follows:

<-11Section 1. Section 102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
12Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:

13§ 102. Definitions.

14Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
15provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
16provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
17used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
18indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

19* * *

20"Neighborhood electric vehicle." A four-wheeled electric

1vehicle that has a maximum design speed of not less than 20
2miles per hour and of not more than 25 miles per hour and that
3is certified by the manufacturer to comply with the Federal
4motor vehicle safety standards established in 49 CFR § 571.500
5(relating to Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles).

6* * *

7Section 2. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:

8§ 1788. Neighborhood electric vehicles.

9(a) Minimum coverage requirements.--A neighborhood electric
10vehicle that is registered or operated on a highway shall be
11covered by financial responsibility in the amount of $15,000 for
12injury to one person in any one accident, in the amount of
13$30,000 for injury to two or more persons in any one accident
14and in the amount of $5,000 for damage of property of others in
15any one accident. The financial responsibility shall be in a
16form acceptable to the department.

17(b) Exemption from other coverages.--For a neighborhood
18electric vehicle, no person shall be required to purchase and no
19insurer shall be required to offer or make available any other
20coverages contained in this chapter.

21Section 3. Chapter 35 of Title 75 is amended by adding a
22subchapter to read:

<-23Section 1. Chapter 35 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania 
24Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:

25SUBCHAPTER F

26OPERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES

27Sec.

283591. Scope of subchapter.

293592. Required equipment.

303593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

13594. Same treatment as passenger cars.

23595. Seating limitation.

33596. Waiver of liability.

4§ 3591. Scope of subchapter.

5This subchapter applies to the operation of neighborhood
6electric vehicles on certain highways or roadways in this
7Commonwealth.

8§ 3592. Required equipment.

9(a) General rule.--A neighborhood electric vehicle operated
10upon any highway or roadway in this Commonwealth shall be
11maintained in proper condition and comply with the equipment
12requirements and standards as set forth in 49 CFR § 571.500
13(relating to Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles). A
14neighborhood electric vehicle operated upon any highway or
15roadway in this Commonwealth shall be equipped with the
16following additional equipment:

17(1) Brakes adequate to control the movement of and to
18stop such vehicle.

19(2) An odometer.

20(3) A speedometer.

21(4) The original manufacturer's vehicle identification
22number die stamped upon the body or frame, or both, of the
23vehicle or the original manufacturer's vehicle identification
24number die stamped upon the engine or motor of the vehicle.

25(5) A windshield wiper.

26(6) A horn.

27(7) A battery charge indicator.

28(b) Exemption.--A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be
29exempt from equipment requirements not enumerated in this
30subchapter.

1(c) 25 MPH vehicle decal.--A neighborhood electric vehicle 
2shall have a safety information decal as provided by the 
3manufacturer affixed in a conspicuous place on the rear of the 
4vehicle which shall display in prominent lettering "25 MPH 
5Vehicle." The decal shall be at least 4 inches in height by 10 
6inches in length.

7(d) Penalties.--Any person who operates a neighborhood
8electric vehicle without the equipment prescribed in this
9section shall be subject to the penalties under section 6502
10(relating to summary offenses).

11§ 3593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

12(a) Operation on State highways.--

13(1) Except as otherwise provided under paragraphs (2)
14and (3), a neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated
15upon any highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of the
16department with a posted speed in excess of 25 miles per
17hour.

18(2) The secretary may, by order, permit the use of a
19neighborhood electric vehicle upon any highway or roadway
20under the jurisdiction of the department where the posted
21speed limit is greater than 25 miles per hour but not greater
22than 35 miles per hour.

23(3) The secretary may, by order, prohibit the use of a
24neighborhood electric vehicle on any street under the
25jurisdiction of the department where the secretary determines
26that the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle would
27constitute a hazard.

28(4) Any order issued by the secretary under paragraph
29(2) or (3) shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

30(b) Operation on local roadways.--

1(1) Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2) or
2(3), a neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated upon
3any highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of a local
4authority with a posted speed limit in excess of 25 miles per
5hour.

6(2) Local authorities may, by ordinance or resolution,
7as appropriate, in the case of any roadway under their
8jurisdiction, permit the use of a neighborhood electric
9vehicle where the posted speed limit is greater than 25 miles
10per hour but not greater than 35 miles per hour.

11(3) A local authority may, by ordinance or resolution,
12as appropriate, prohibit the use of a neighborhood electric
13vehicle on any roadway where the local authority determines
14that the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle would
15constitute a hazard.

16(c) Intersection with State highways.--

17(1) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
18intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the 
19jurisdiction of the department where the posted speed limit 
20is 35 miles per hour or less, provided that, if the highway 
21or roadway is more than two lanes or is divided, such 
22crossing shall only occur at a signalized intersection.

23(2) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
24intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the 
25jurisdiction of the department where the posted speed limit 
26is in excess of 35 miles per hour only at a signalized 
27intersection.

28(d) Intersection with local roadways.--

29(1) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
30intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the
 

1jurisdiction of a local authority where the posted speed 
2limit is 35 miles per hour or less, provided that, if the 
3highway or roadway is more than two lanes or is divided, such 
4crossing shall only occur at signalized intersections.

5(2) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
6intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the 
7jurisdiction of a local authority where the posted speed 
8limit is in excess of 35 miles per hour only at a signalized 
9intersection.

10(e) Violation.--Any person operating a neighborhood electric
11vehicle upon a highway or roadway or crossing a highway or
12roadway in violation of this section shall be subject to the
13penalties under section 6502 (relating to summary offenses).

14§ 3594. Same treatment as passenger cars.

15A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be considered a 
16passenger car for the purposes of Part II (relating to title, 
17registration and licensing) and section 4581 (relating to 
18restraint systems).

19§ 3595. Seating limitation.

20A neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated at a time
21in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of
22available safety belts in the vehicle.

23§ 3596. Waiver of liability.

24(a) General rule.--A purchaser of a new neighborhood
25electric vehicle in this Commonwealth shall execute a waiver and
26certify that the neighborhood electric vehicle was purchased
27with full knowledge of the potentially hazardous characteristics
28of such vehicles as detailed by the manufacturer or the
29manufacturer's agent or dealer.

30(b) Manufacturer responsibility.--The waiver shall be

1prepared by the manufacturer and kept in the possession of the
2manufacturer and the manufacturer's agent or dealer of
3neighborhood electric vehicles. An executed copy shall be
4provided to the purchaser.

5(c) Signing by purchaser.--The signing of the waiver by the
6purchaser shall serve to eliminate any liability of the
7manufacturer and the manufacturer's agent or dealer of
8neighborhood electric vehicles.

<-9Section 4. Section 4703(b) of Title 75 is amended by adding
10a paragraph to read:

11§ 4703. Operation of vehicle without official certificate of
12inspection.

13* * *

14(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to:

15* * *

16(14) A neighborhood electric vehicle.

17* * *

18Section 5 2. This act shall take effect <-in 180 days <-May 1, 
192015.