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 <-2 3. Chapter 35 of Title 75 is amended by adding a
22subchapter to read:

23SUBCHAPTER F

24OPERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES

25Sec.

263591. Scope of subchapter.

273592. Required equipment.

283593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

293594. Same treatment as passenger cars.

303595. Seating limitation.

13596. Waiver of liability.

2§ 3591. Scope of subchapter.

3This subchapter applies to the operation of neighborhood
4electric vehicles on certain highways or roadways in this
5Commonwealth.

6§ 3592. Required equipment.

7(a) General rule.--A neighborhood electric vehicle operated
8upon any highway or roadway in this Commonwealth shall be
9maintained in proper condition and comply with the equipment
10requirements and standards as set forth in 49 CFR § 571.500
11(relating to Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles). A
12neighborhood electric vehicle operated upon any highway or
13roadway in this Commonwealth shall be equipped with the
14following additional equipment:

15(1) Brakes adequate to control the movement of and to
16stop such vehicle.

17(2) An odometer.

18(3) A speedometer.

19(4) The original manufacturer's vehicle identification
20number die stamped upon the body or frame, or both, of the
21vehicle or the original manufacturer's vehicle identification
22number die stamped upon the engine or motor of the vehicle.

23(5) A windshield wiper.

24(6) A horn.

25(7) A battery charge indicator.

26(b) Exemption.--A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be
27exempt from equipment requirements not enumerated in this
28subchapter.

29(c) 25 MPH vehicle decal.--A neighborhood electric vehicle 
30shall have a safety information decal as provided by the 

1manufacturer affixed in a conspicuous place on the rear of the 
2vehicle which shall display in prominent lettering "25 MPH 
3Vehicle." The decal shall be at least 4 inches in height by 10 
4inches in length.

5(d) Penalties.--Any person who operates a neighborhood
6electric vehicle without the equipment prescribed in this
7section shall be subject to the penalties under section 6502
8(relating to summary offenses).

9§ 3593. Operation on certain highways or roadways.

10(a) Operation on State highways.--

11(1) Except as otherwise provided under paragraphs (2)
12and (3), a neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated
13upon any highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of the
14department with a posted speed in excess of 25 miles per
15hour.

16(2) The secretary may, by order, permit the use of a
17neighborhood electric vehicle upon any highway or roadway
18under the jurisdiction of the department where the posted
19speed limit is greater than 25 miles per hour but not greater
20than 35 miles per hour.

21(3) The secretary may, by order, prohibit the use of a
22neighborhood electric vehicle on any street under the
23jurisdiction of the department where the secretary determines
24that the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle would
25constitute a hazard.

26(4) Any order issued by the secretary under paragraph
27(2) or (3) shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

28(b) Operation on local roadways.--

29(1) Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2) or
30(3), a neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated upon

1any highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of a local
2authority with a posted speed limit in excess of 25 miles per
3hour.

4(2) Local authorities may, by ordinance or resolution,
5as appropriate, in the case of any roadway under their
6jurisdiction, permit the use of a neighborhood electric
7vehicle where the posted speed limit is greater than 25 miles
8per hour but not greater than 35 miles per hour.

9(3) A local authority may, by ordinance or resolution,
10as appropriate, prohibit the use of a neighborhood electric
11vehicle on any roadway where the local authority determines
12that the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle would
13constitute a hazard.

14(c) Intersection with State highways.--

15(1) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
16intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the 
17jurisdiction of the department where the posted speed limit 
18is 35 miles per hour or less, provided that, if the highway 
19or roadway is more than two lanes or is divided, such 
20crossing shall only occur at a signalized intersection.

21(2) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
22intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the 
23jurisdiction of the department where the posted speed limit 
24is in excess of 35 miles per hour only at a signalized 
25intersection.

26(d) Intersection with local roadways.--

27(1) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
28intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the 
29jurisdiction of a local authority where the posted speed 
30limit is 35 miles per hour or less, provided that, if the 

1highway or roadway is more than two lanes or is divided, such 
2crossing shall only occur at signalized intersections.

3(2) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an 
4intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the 
5jurisdiction of a local authority where the posted speed 
6limit is in excess of 35 miles per hour only at a signalized 
7intersection.

8(e) Violation.--Any person operating a neighborhood electric
9vehicle upon a highway or roadway or crossing a highway or
10roadway in violation of this section shall be subject to the
11penalties under section 6502 (relating to summary offenses).

12§ 3594. Same treatment as passenger cars.

<-13(a) General rule.--A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be 
14considered a passenger car for the purposes of Part II (relating 
15to title, registration and licensing) and section 4581 (relating 
16to restraint systems).

<-17(b) Financial responsibility.--An operator of a neighborhood
18electric vehicle shall maintain financial responsibility in a
19type and amount of coverage as defined in section 1702 (relating
20to definitions). No policyholder shall be required to purchase
21and an insurer shall not be required to offer or make available
22any other coverages contained in Chapter 17 (relating to
23financial responsibility).

24§ 3595. Seating limitation.

25A neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated at a time
26in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of
27available safety belts in the vehicle.

28§ 3596. Waiver of liability.

29(a) General rule.--A purchaser of a new neighborhood
30electric vehicle in this Commonwealth shall execute a waiver and

1certify that the neighborhood electric vehicle was purchased
2with full knowledge of the potentially hazardous characteristics
3of such vehicles as detailed by the manufacturer or the
4manufacturer's agent or dealer.

5(b) Manufacturer responsibility.--The waiver shall be
6prepared by the manufacturer and kept in the possession of the
7manufacturer and the manufacturer's agent or dealer of
8neighborhood electric vehicles. An executed copy shall be
9provided to the purchaser.

10(c) Signing by purchaser.--The signing of the waiver by the
11purchaser shall serve to eliminate any liability of the
12manufacturer and the manufacturer's agent or dealer of
13neighborhood electric vehicles.

14Section <-3 4. Section 4703(b) of Title 75 is amended by
15adding a paragraph to read:

16§ 4703. Operation of vehicle without official certificate of
17inspection.

18* * *

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

20* * *

21(14) A neighborhood electric vehicle.

22* * *

23Section <-4 5. This act shall take effect in 180 days.