<-1Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2Statutes, further providing for definitions; and providing
3for regulation and operation of neighborhood electric
4vehicles.

<-5Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated 
6Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for 
7for definitions; in special vehicles and pedestrians, 
8providing for operation of pedalcycles with electric assist 
9and for regulation and operation of neighborhood electric 
10vehicles; in other required equipment, further providing for 
11slow moving vehicle emblem; and, in inspection of vehicles, 
12further providing for operation of vehicle without official 
13certificate of inspection.

14The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15hereby enacts as follows:

<-16Section 1. The definition of "motor vehicle" in section 102
17of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended
18and the section is amended by adding a definition to read:

19§ 102. Definitions.

20Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
21provisions of this title which are applicable to specific

1provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
2used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
3indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

4* * *

5"Motor vehicle." A vehicle which is self-propelled except an
6electric personal assistive mobility device, a neighborhood
7electric vehicle or a vehicle which is propelled solely by human
8power.

9* * *

10"Neighborhood electric vehicle." A four-wheeled electric
11vehicle that has a maximum design speed of not less than 20
12miles per hour and of not more than 25 miles per hour and that
13complies with the Federal safety standards established in 49 CFR
14571.500 (relating to standard no. 500; low-speed vehicles).

15* * *

16Section 2. Chapter 35 of Title 75 is amended by adding a
17subchapter to read:

18SUBCHAPTER F

19OPERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES

20Sec.

213591. Scope of subchapter.

223592. Required equipment.

233593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

243594. Certificate of title and registration required.

253595. License and financial responsibility required.

263596. Exemption.

27§ 3591. Scope of subchapter.

28This subchapter applies to the operation of neighborhood
29electric vehicles on certain highways or roadways in this
30Commonwealth.

1§ 3592. Required equipment.

2A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be equipped in
3accordance with 49 CFR 571.500 (relating to standard no. 500;
4low-speed vehicles). This equipment shall include the following:

5(1) Headlamps.

6(2) Stop lamps.

7(3) Turn signal lamps.

8(4) Reflex reflectors.

9(5) Parking brake.

10(6) Rearview exterior mirror.

11(7) Rearview interior mirror.

12(8) Windshield.

13(9) Windshield wiper.

14(10) Speedometer.

15(11) Odometer.

16(12) Braking for each wheel.

17(13) Seat belts.

18(14) Vehicle identification number.

19(15) Other equipment as required by Federal regulations.

20§ 3593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

21A neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated on any
22highway or roadway where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per
23hour or less. This section does not prohibit a person from
24operating a neighborhood electric vehicle across an intersection
25where the highway or roadway has a posted speed limit of more
26than 35 miles per hour.

27§ 3594. Certificate of title and registration required.

28A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be properly titled and
29registered with the department as required by Chapters 11
30(relating to certificate of title and security interests) and 13

1(relating to registration of vehicles).

2§ 3595. License and financial responsibility required.

3An operator of a neighborhood electric vehicle must have a
4valid driver's license and maintain financial responsibility as
5required by Chapters 15 (relating to licensing of drivers) and
617 (relating to financial responsibility).

7§ 3596. Exemption.

8A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be exempt from any
9emissions testing required under this title or other law.

10Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

<-11Section 1. The definition of "pedalcycle" in section 102 of
12Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended
13and the section is amended by adding definitions to read:

14§ 102. Definitions.

15Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
16provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
17provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
18used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
19indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

20* * *

21"Neighborhood electric vehicle." A four-wheeled electric
22vehicle that has a maximum design speed of not less than 20
23miles per hour and of not more than 25 miles per hour and that
24complies with the Federal safety standards established in 49 CFR
25571.500 (relating to standard no. 500; low-speed vehicles).

26* * *

27"Pedalcycle." A vehicle propelled solely by human-powered
28pedals or a pedalcycle with electric assist. The term does not
29mean a three-wheeled human-powered pedal-driven vehicle with a
30main driving wheel 20 inches in diameter or under and primarily

1designed for children six years of age or younger.

2"Pedalcycle with electric assist." A vehicle weighing not
3more than 100 pounds with two or three wheels more than 11
4inches in diameter, manufactured or assembled with an electric
5motor system rated at not more than 750 watts and equipped with
6operable pedals and capable of a speed not more than 20 miles
7per hour on a level surface when powered by the motor source
8only. The term does not include a device specifically designed
9for use by persons with disabilities.

10* * *

11Section 2. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:

12§ 3514. Operation of pedalcycles with electric assist.

13No person under 16 years of age shall operate a pedalcycle
14with electric assist.

15Section 3. Chapter 35 of Title 75 is amended by adding a
16subchapter to read:

17SUBCHAPTER F

18OPERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES

19Sec.

203591. Scope of subchapter.

213592. Required equipment.

223593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

233594. Licensing, financial responsibility, titling and
24registration.

253595. Seating limitation.

263596. Hours of operation.

27§ 3591. Scope of subchapter.

28This subchapter applies to the operation of neighborhood
29electric vehicles on certain highways or roadways in this
30Commonwealth.

1§ 3592. Required equipment.

2(a) General rule.--A neighborhood electric vehicle operated
3upon any highway or roadway in this Commonwealth shall be
4maintained in proper condition and comply with the equipment
5requirements and standards as set forth in 49 CFR § 571.500
6(relating to standard No. 500; low-speed vehicles). A
7neighborhood electric vehicle operating on any highway or
8roadway shall have a slow moving vehicle emblem affixed in a
9conspicuous place on the rear of the vehicle consistent with
10section 4529 (relating to slow moving vehicle emblem). A
11neighborhood electric vehicle operated upon any highway or
12roadway in this Commonwealth shall be equipped with the
13following additional equipment:

14(1) Brakes.

15(2) An odometer.

16(3) A speedometer.

17(4) The original manufacturer's vehicle identification
18number die stamped upon the body or frame, or both, of the
19vehicle or the original manufacturer's vehicle identification
20number die stamped upon the engine or motor of the vehicle.

21(5) Pneumatic tires.

22(6) Windshield wipers.

23(b) Exemption.--A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be
24exempt from equipment requirements not enumerated in this
25subchapter.

26(c) Penalties.--Any person who operates a neighborhood
27electric vehicle without the equipment prescribed in this
28section shall be subject to the penalties under section 6502
29(relating to summary offenses).

30§ 3593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

1(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
2Chapter 33 (relating to rules of the road in general), a
3neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated only on a highway
4or roadway with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less. A
5neighborhood electric vehicle may not enter an intersection with
6a highway or roadway with a posted speed limit of more than 25
7miles per hour, or cross a highway or roadway with a posted
8speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour, unless traffic on
9that highway or roadway is stopped by a traffic-control signal
10at the point the highway is crossed. A neighborhood electric
11vehicle may not cross a divided highway or limited access
12highway.

13(b) Violation.--Any person operating a neighborhood electric
14vehicle upon a highway or roadway or crossing a highway or
15roadway in violation of this section shall be subject to the
16penalties under section 6502 (relating to summary offenses).

17§ 3594. Licensing, financial responsibility, titling and
18registration.

19A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be considered a
20passenger car for the purposes of Part II (relating to title,
21registration and licensing) and section 4581 (relating to
22restraint systems).

23§ 3595. Seating limitation.

24A neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated at a time
25in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of
26available safety belts in the vehicle.

27§ 3596. Hours of operation.

28A neighborhood electric vehicle shall not be operated from
29sunset to sunrise or during periods of decreased visibility.

30Section 4. Section 4529(a) of Title 75 is amended to read:

1§ 4529. Slow moving vehicle emblem.

2(a) General rule.--All implements of husbandry, commercial
3implements of husbandry, neighborhood electric vehicles and
4special mobile equipment designed to operate at 25 miles per
5hour or less and all animal-drawn vehicles shall, when traveling
6on a highway, display on the rear of the vehicle a reflective
7slow moving vehicle emblem as specified in regulations of the
8department. The use of the slow moving vehicle emblem shall be
9in addition to any other lighting devices or equipment required
10by this title.

11* * *

12Section 5. Section 4703(b) of Title 75 is amended by adding
13a paragraph to read:

14§ 4703. Operation of vehicle without official certificate of
15inspection.

16* * *

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

18* * *

19(14) A neighborhood electric vehicle.

20Section 6. This act shall take effect as follows:

21(1) The following provisions shall take effect in 180
22days:

23(i) The addition of the definition of "neighborhood
24electric vehicle" in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102.

25(ii) The addition of 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 35 Subch. F.

26(iii) The amendment of 75 Pa.C.S. § 4529(a).

27(iv) The addition of 75 Pa.C.S. § 4703(b)(14).

28(2) The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60
29days.