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| PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 37 | PRINTER'S NO. 1896 |
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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, PIPPY AND BOSCOLA, JANUARY 12, 2011 |
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| SENATOR CORMAN, APPROPRIATIONS, RE-REPORTED AS AMENDED, JANUARY 17, 2012 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated |
2 | Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for |
3 | definitions; in special vehicles and pedestrians, providing |
4 | for regulation and operation of neighborhood electric |
5 | vehicles; and, in inspection of vehicles, further providing |
6 | for operation of vehicle without official certificate of |
7 | inspection. |
8 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
9 | hereby enacts as follows: |
10 | Section 1. Section 102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania |
11 | Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read: |
12 | § 102. Definitions. |
13 | Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent |
14 | provisions of this title which are applicable to specific |
15 | provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when |
16 | used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly |
17 | indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section: |
18 | * * * |
19 | "Neighborhood electric vehicle." A four-wheeled electric |
20 | vehicle that has a maximum design speed of not less than 20 |
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1 | miles per hour and of not more than 25 miles per hour and that |
2 | is certified by the manufacturer to comply with the Federal |
3 | motor vehicle safety standards established in 49 CFR § 571.500 |
4 | (relating to Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles). |
5 | * * * |
6 | Section 2. Chapter 35 of Title 75 is amended by adding a |
7 | subchapter to read: |
8 | SUBCHAPTER F |
9 | OPERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES |
10 | Sec. |
11 | 3591. Scope of subchapter. |
12 | 3592. Required equipment. |
13 | 3593. Operation on certain highways or roadways. |
14 | 3594. Licensing, financial responsibility, titling and | <-- |
15 | registration Same treatment as passenger cars. | <-- |
16 | 3595. Seating limitation. |
17 | 3596. Waiver of liability. |
18 | § 3591. Scope of subchapter. |
19 | This subchapter applies to the operation of neighborhood |
20 | electric vehicles on certain highways or roadways in this |
21 | Commonwealth. |
22 | § 3592. Required equipment. |
23 | (a) General rule.--A neighborhood electric vehicle operated |
24 | upon any highway or roadway in this Commonwealth shall be |
25 | maintained in proper condition and comply with the equipment |
26 | requirements and standards as set forth in 49 CFR § 571.500 |
27 | (relating to Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles). A |
28 | neighborhood electric vehicle operated upon any highway or |
29 | roadway in this Commonwealth shall be equipped with the |
30 | following additional equipment: |
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1 | (1) Brakes adequate to control the movement of and to |
2 | stop such vehicle. |
3 | (2) An odometer. |
4 | (3) A speedometer. |
5 | (4) The original manufacturer's vehicle identification |
6 | number die stamped upon the body or frame, or both, of the |
7 | vehicle or the original manufacturer's vehicle identification |
8 | number die stamped upon the engine or motor of the vehicle. |
9 | (5) A windshield wiper. | <-- |
10 | (6) A horn. |
11 | (7) A battery charge indicator. |
12 | (b) Exemption.--A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be |
13 | exempt from equipment requirements not enumerated in this |
14 | subchapter. |
15 | (c) Slow moving vehicle emblem.--A neighborhood electric | <-- |
16 | vehicle shall have a slow moving vehicle emblem affixed in a |
17 | conspicuous place on the rear of the vehicle consistent with the |
18 | provisions of section 4529 (relating to slow moving vehicle |
19 | emblem). 25 MPH vehicle decal.--A neighborhood electric vehicle | <-- |
20 | shall have a safety information decal as provided by the |
21 | manufacturer affixed in a conspicuous place on the rear of the |
22 | vehicle which shall display in prominent lettering "25 MPH |
23 | Vehicle." The decal shall be at least 4 inches in height by 10 |
24 | inches in length. |
25 | (d) Penalties.--Any person who operates a neighborhood |
26 | electric vehicle without the equipment prescribed in this |
27 | section shall be subject to the penalties under section 6502 |
28 | (relating to summary offenses). |
29 | § 3593. Operation on certain highways or roadways. |
30 | (a) Operation on State highways.-- |
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1 | (1) Except as otherwise provided under paragraphs (2) |
2 | and (3), a neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated |
3 | upon any highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of the |
4 | department with a posted speed in excess of 25 miles per |
5 | hour. |
6 | (2) The secretary may, by order, permit the use of a |
7 | neighborhood electric vehicle upon any highway or roadway |
8 | under the jurisdiction of the department where the posted |
9 | speed limit is greater than 25 miles per hour but not greater |
10 | than 35 miles per hour. |
11 | (3) The secretary may, by order, prohibit the use of a |
12 | neighborhood electric vehicle on any street under the |
13 | jurisdiction of the department where the secretary determines |
14 | that the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle would |
15 | constitute a hazard. |
16 | (4) Any order issued by the secretary under paragraph |
17 | (2) or (3) shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. |
18 | (b) Operation on local roadways.-- |
19 | (1) Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2) or |
20 | (3), a neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated upon |
21 | any highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of a local |
22 | authority with a posted speed limit in excess of 25 miles per |
23 | hour. |
24 | (2) Local authorities may, by ordinance or resolution, |
25 | as appropriate, in the case of any roadway under their |
26 | jurisdiction, permit the use of a neighborhood electric |
27 | vehicle where the posted speed limit is greater than 25 miles |
28 | per hour but not greater than 35 miles per hour. |
29 | (3) A local authority may, by ordinance or resolution, |
30 | as appropriate, prohibit the use of a neighborhood electric |
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1 | vehicle on any roadway where the local authority determines |
2 | that the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle would |
3 | constitute a hazard. |
4 | (c) Intersection with State highways.-- |
5 | (1) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an |
6 | intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the |
7 | jurisdiction of the department where the posted speed limit |
8 | is 35 miles per hour or less, provided that, if the highway |
9 | or roadway is more than two lanes or is divided, such |
10 | crossing shall only occur at a signalized intersection or at | <-- |
11 | a nonsignalized intersection as the secretary determines is |
12 | appropriate for such crossings either on the secretary's own |
13 | motion or at the request of a local authority. |
14 | (2) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an |
15 | intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the |
16 | jurisdiction of the department where the posted speed limit |
17 | is in excess of 35 miles per hour only at a signalized |
18 | intersection or at such nonsignalized intersection as the | <-- |
19 | secretary determines is appropriate for such crossing either |
20 | upon the secretary's own motion or at the request of a local |
21 | authority. |
22 | (d) Intersection with local roadways.-- |
23 | (1) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an |
24 | intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the |
25 | jurisdiction of a local authority where the posted speed |
26 | limit is 35 miles per hour or less, provided that, if the |
27 | highway or roadway is more than two lanes or is divided, such |
28 | crossing shall only occur at signalized intersections or at | <-- |
29 | such nonsignalized intersections as the local authority by |
30 | ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, determines are |
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1 | appropriate for such crossing. |
2 | (2) A neighborhood electric vehicle may enter an |
3 | intersection and cross any highway or roadway under the |
4 | jurisdiction of a local authority where the posted speed |
5 | limit is in excess of 35 miles per hour only at a signalized | <-- |
6 | intersection or at such nonsignalized intersection as the | <-- |
7 | local authority by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, |
8 | determines to be appropriate for such crossing. |
9 | (e) Violation.--Any person operating a neighborhood electric |
10 | vehicle upon a highway or roadway or crossing a highway or |
11 | roadway in violation of this section shall be subject to the |
12 | penalties under section 6502 (relating to summary offenses). |
13 | § 3594. Licensing, financial responsibility, titling and | <-- |
14 | registration Same treatment as passenger cars. | <-- |
15 | (a) General rule.--A neighborhood electric vehicle shall be | <-- |
16 | considered a passenger car for the purposes of Part II (relating |
17 | to title, registration and licensing) and section 4581 (relating |
18 | to restraint systems). |
19 | (b) License and financial responsibility.--An operator of a | <-- |
20 | neighborhood electric vehicle must have a valid driver's license |
21 | and maintain financial responsibility as required by Chs. 15 |
22 | (relating to licensing of drivers) and 17 (relating to financial |
23 | responsibility). |
24 | (c) Certificate of title and registration.--A neighborhood |
25 | electric vehicle shall be properly titled and registered with |
26 | the department as required by Chs. 11 (relating to certificate |
27 | of title and security interests) and 13 (relating to |
28 | registration of vehicles). |
29 | (d) Possession of information.--The driver's license, the |
30 | registration certificate of a motor vehicle and an insurance |
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1 | identification card shall be in the possession of the driver or |
2 | operator at all times when the driver or operator is in charge |
3 | of a neighborhood electric vehicle on the highways or roadways |
4 | of this Commonwealth. |
5 | § 3595. Seating limitation. |
6 | A neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated at a time |
7 | in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of |
8 | available safety belts in the vehicle. |
9 | § 3596. Waiver of liability. |
10 | (a) General rule.--A purchaser of a new neighborhood |
11 | electric vehicle in this Commonwealth shall execute a waiver and |
12 | certify that the neighborhood electric vehicle was purchased |
13 | with full knowledge of the potentially hazardous characteristics |
14 | of such vehicles as detailed by the manufacturer or the |
15 | manufacturer's agent or dealer. |
16 | (b) Manufacturer responsibility.--The waiver shall be |
17 | prepared by the manufacturer and kept in the possession of the |
18 | manufacturer and the manufacturer's agent or dealer of |
19 | neighborhood electric vehicles. An executed copy shall be |
20 | provided to the purchaser. |
21 | (c) Signing by purchaser.--The signing of the waiver by the |
22 | purchaser shall serve to eliminate any liability of the |
23 | manufacturer and the manufacturer's agent or dealer of |
24 | neighborhood electric vehicles. |
25 | Section 3. Section 4703(b) of Title 75 is amended by adding |
26 | a paragraph to read: |
27 | § 4703. Operation of vehicle without official certificate of |
28 | inspection. |
29 | * * * |
30 | (b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to: |
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1 | * * * |
2 | (14) A neighborhood electric vehicle. |
3 | * * * |
4 | Section 4. This act shall take effect in 180 days. |
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