Road Use Regulations Roundup – November, 2011

Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:

• A lot of action the past few months on ordinances allowing ATVs, UTVs, mini-trucks and modified and sometimes un-modified golf cars on public roads.  While some concerns about safety still persist, we may be looking at an expansion of the type of small, task-oriented vehicles that are allowed on public roads.
• With Nebraska passing a LSV law and Pennsylvania in the process of passing one, only Connecticut, Mississippi and Montana (no LSV but an MSV law) have not passed an LSV law.
• Higher ordinance activity areas:  Minnesota which is usually active and Ohio which is a relative newcomer
• Some more activity at the county level in the past few months

State Level Regulations

Pennsylvania - State House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that

“…authorizes travel in NEVs on roadways with a posted speed limit of no more than 25 mph and allows NEVs to cross roadways posted with a higher maximum speed. They can only be operated during daylight hours. NEVs will be required to be equipped with most basic safety equipment, such as brakes, mirrors, seatbelts, windshield and wipers, speedometer, odometer, headlamps, stop lamps, turn signals and reflectors, and a slow-moving vehicle emblem. In addition, NEV drivers must possess a valid license certificate of title, registration and insurance.”

The state is one of only a few that have not passed a LSV law yet.

Nebraska - The governor signed a law allowing NEVs/LSVs on low speed roads.  LSV owners will be required to have a valid operator’s license and liability insurance coverage. The vehicles will be subject to titling requirements, a registration fee of $15 and a new alternative fuel fee of $75 for vehicles using a source of energy not taxed under the motor fuel laws. The alternative fuel fee will replace the alternative fuel tax.

Louisiana - State legislature is debating allowing mini-trucks on public roads.

 Municipality Level Regulations

Wapello, IA – City council is discussing allowing golf cars and utility vehicles on city streets and receiving a mixed reaction from residents.

Sunman, IN – City council will allow golf cars on city streets. Vehicles need to be inspected and have safety features like turn signals, safety belts, reflectors and slow moving vehicle emblems.

Marathon, FL – City allows modified golf cars on low speed streets.  Under the auspicies of the state statue, any golf car meeting the safety and speed requirements will be able to use streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less.  A city ordinance with different requirements would of required the city to do their own licensing and other onerous administrative duties regarding the vehicles.

Dundee, IL – Village Trustee is pushing the town to revisit the idea of allowing NEVs and LSVs on low speed village roads.

Lauderdale-by-the-sea, FL – The town is creating four parking spaces in their commercial area specifically for use by NEVs.

Augusta County, VA – Supervisors passed an ordinance allowing golf cars and utility vehicles on country roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less.

Bryan City, OH – Initiated ordinance that allows “neighborhood electric vehicles, urban electric vehicles and golf cars/carts” which have been modified to meet certain criteria to use roads with speed limits up to 25 mph.   Driving hours on public roads for the vehicles is limited to daylight hours.

Findlay, OH – City is considering allowing modified golf cars on low speed city streets.

Tecumseh, NE - Town council allows the use of ATVs and UTVs on city streets.  The ordinance allows ATVs and utility vehicles during daylight hours for licensed drivers with liability insurance. Vehicles must be equipped with a bicycle safety flag and not exceed 30 mph.

Riverside County, CA – The governor of California signed legislation that lets Riverside County open up more low speed roads for low speed vehicles.

Mankato, MN – City passed an ordinance that allowed UTVs and mini-trucks on city streets.  Lower speed golf cars were removed from the ordinance.

Canyon Lake, CA – LSVs/NEVs will not be allowed to use Railroad Canyon Road because of safety concerns related to the vehicles mixing with faster traffic.

Polk County, MN – County commissioners passed an ordinance that authorizes the use of four-wheel ATVs, mini trucks and golf carts on county roads.

Morris, MN – City council is considering an ordinance that allows ATVs, UTVs, mini-trucks and golf cars on city streets.

Reedsburg, WI – City council amended an ordinance to now allow gas as well as electric LSVs on public roads.

Road Use Regulations Roundup – November, 2010

Some themes in this latest regulation roundup:

• More municipalities pass ordinances allowing the use of LSVs on public low speed roads.
• Some municipalities rejecting the use of golf cars and mini-trucks on public roads because of safety concerns while another moves ahead on allowing the vehicles.
• Expanded access on-road and off-road for UTVs

Fresno, CA – A bill passed by the Senate and was later signed by the governor that would allow Fresno to develop a neighborhood electric vehicle plan. A similar bill was signed that would authorize the County of Amador and the cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Amador City, jointly or individually, to establish a similar neighborhood electric vehicle transportation plan.

Sicamous, British Columbia – City council voted not to allow LSVs on roads with speed limits greater than 40km/hr stating liability issues and the fact that the province has not endorsed LSVs yet.

Manitoba, CA – The provincial transportation department will be testing an LSV for performance in cold weather conditions as a precursor to potentially allowing LSVs on low speed provincial streets.

Platteville, IA – City council approved the use of LSVs on city streets.

Hudson, WI – City passes ordinance to allow NEVs on certain streets.

Columbia, IL – City council voted to allow the use of LSVs on local roads despite the police chief’s concern over safety.

New Westminster, Canada – The city is amending their laws to allow LSVs on low speed streets.

Madison, GA – City council decided not to allow golf cars on city streets.  the council previously passed an ordinance allowing LSVs on the streets.

Southern Shores, TX – Town council decided against allowing golf cars to be driven on city streets with the police chief citing accident statistics regarding golf cars and the lack of safety features.  The town does allow LSVs.

Faribault, MN – City council is looking to ease restrictions on driving golf cars and mini-trucks on city streets.

Chadron, SD – City council voted to allow UTVs on city streets under the same rules that currently apply to ATVs.

Duluth, MN – City council voted to not allow mini-trucks on public roads.

Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is opening three of their eight off-highway vehicle parks to utility vehicles.

Road Use Regulations Roundup – February, 2010

Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:

• A lot of legislative of action at the state level as the new year began
• More public road access for mini-trucks and UTVs
• Legislation benefiting LSVs including increasing speed limits, lowering speed limits, removing legislative roadblocks and equipment requirements
• More public road access for golf cart

Nebraska – A recently introduced bill would permit the use of mini-trucks on all Nebraska roads except interstate highways, controlled-access highways and expressways. The bill also provides definitions for UTVs and mini-trucks. The story notes that mini-trucks would be used not only in rural areas but by lawn service providers in urban areas as well.

Indiana – The Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill which would allow the use of mini-trucks on local roads and state roads if properly titled and registered by the BMV. Mini-truck dealers must also register as a dealer in Indiana. The bill effectively creates a separate classification for mini-trucks which currently fall under the off-road vehicle category which includes UTVs, ATVs and golf cars.

Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Assembly Ag Committee unanimously passed the so-called “Gator Bill” which would allow light utility vehicles to be operated on roadways for agriculture use. The bill is expected to come to a vote shortly.

Mower County, MN - In the last week of December, the Mower County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance to license and allow mini-trucks on county roads. Under the new ordinance, the mini-trucks are allowed on township and county roads, but cities in the county need to pass separate ordinances.

Santa Rosa Beach, FL – A citizen group is proposing that the speed limit for an 18.5 mile stretch of county road 30A be lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph to accommodate the use of LSVs. There is some opposition to the change.

Wisconsin – A bill working its way through the Senate would give municipalities greater ability to permit neighborhood electric vehicles (“NEV”) on roads that connect to highways or cross state highways without obtaining state DOT approval.

Alaska – The Alaska State Legislature today passed a bill that allows expanded access for LSVs on certain roads in Alaska. The bill will allow low-speed electric vehicles on roads with posted speed limits of 45 mph or less. Current Alaska law only allows these vehicles to operate on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.

Fresno, CA – The legislative process has been started to allow the city of Fresno to seek permission from the state to develop a neighborhood electric vehicle plan. The plan would clear the way for special lanes, signs and other upgrades required to allow the mini-cars on more city streets.

Utah – Utah lawmakers will consider a bill that would allow low-speed vehicles go without a speedometer, odometer and braking for each wheel. According to the story Utah and Louisiana are the only states that require speedometers, odometers and brakes on all four wheels.

South Carolina – A House Subcommittee agreed Wednesday to allow a driver to operate a golf cart up to 5 miles from their home or business as opposed to the current 2 mile limit. The bill moved forward despite opposition from the State Public Safety Director but still has several hurdles to overcome before becoming law.

Dunedin, FL – City officials are looking into allowing golf carts on downtown roadways, in part to pro-actively address future parking problems.

Road Use Regulations Roundup – September

Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:

• Some cities and states are expanding road use regulations to include mini-trucks and other off-road vehicles
• LSV/NEV road use ordinances continue to be passed by local municipalities although safety concerns, usually raised by the local police department, remain an issue
• In some localities the new LSV ordinances prohibit the use of golf cars which previously had been allowed
• Texas MSV and Massachusetts LSV laws went into effect

Boonville, Ind - Warrick County officials have taken the first steps to allowing ATVs to use some county roads.

Baraboo, WI – City Council approves ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on most city streets.

Minnesota – Minnesota House of Representatives passes bill allowing the use of mini-trucks on local streets and highways under a special permit issued by the local governments.

Ocean City, NJ – Ordinance banning the use LSVs on city streets which was supported by the police department failed to pass.

Peabody, KS – Local ordinance is passed allowing alternative transportation vehicles on city streets including ATVs, golf carts and mini-trucks.

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada – City Council bans the use of NEVs on city streets because of concerns about the safety of vehicles in crashes with highway speed vehicles.

Neoga, IL – City Council passes ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on city streets.

Wheeling, IL – Village Board passes ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on city streets.

Massachusetts – On July 31, 2009 the states NEV ordinance , which allows vehicles to operate on streets with speed limits of 30 mp or less, went into effect.

Colorado – State Senate passed a bill allowing NEVs and street legal golf cars to be operated on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

Texas - On September 1, 2009 the state’s MSV law, which allows NEVs to be operated on streets with speed limits of 45 mph or less, went into effect. In addition a new law stops the state DMV from registering golf carts but allows cities to pass their own ordinances governing golf cars.

Chesterton, IN – State LSV law went into effect on July 1, 2009 that excludes the use of golf cars on the city streets.  Chesterton previously allowed the use of golf cars on city streets.

Nebraska – State legislature is considering whether mini-trucks and other off-road vehicles should be allowed on public roads.

Abilene, KS – City passes ordinance allowing the use of work-site utility vehicles and mini-trucks on city streets except main thoroughfares.

MSV and Mini Truck State Laws

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has compiled information regarding medium speed vehicle (MSV) and mini-truck laws by state. According to the institute Kentucky, Montana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Washington currently have MSV laws. Oregon’s law will go into effect at the end of September and Colorado has a law that will be triggered by the US DOT’s setting of MSV standards. The latter may not happen anytime soon:

In 2008 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) denied several petitions to create a new class of vehicles known as medium-speed vehicles (MSVs), which would have a top speed of 35 mph. The petitioners asked that MSVs be subject to a set of safety standards greater than those applied to low-speed vehicles (LSVs) but substantially less than those applied to conventional passenger cars. NHTSA denied the petition because unlike LSVs, which are permitted to have a top speed of 25 mph and are intended for use in controlled, low-speed communities, MSVs are traveling in higher risk traffic situations and should comply with all of the safety standards set for passenger cars.

Kentucky, Montana and Colorado’s laws allow for a top speed of 45 mph for MSVs while all the other states with laws allow for a top speed of 35 mph. Learn more: IIHS.org

The following states have mini-truck laws: Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming. There is more variance in the laws for these vehicles since states classify them differently. Some are classified as mini trucks or mini utility trucks and others as utility vehicles, off highway vehicles, or even LSVs or MSVs since some mini trucks are speed restricted although many can go 45 to 55 mph. Top speeds allowed by the vehicles vary from 25 mph to a high of 55 mph, and the types of roads they can be used on vary as well. Learn more: IIHS.org

Tampa Allows Free NEV Service To Return

The Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission voted to rescind their earlier decision that effectively stopped NEVs from being offered for free transportation.  The vehicles charged no fee for short rides in the downtown area but sold advertising and allowed drivers to accept tips.  The service angered local taxi drivers and the commission passed an earlier ruling halting the service.  There is some disagreement over the commission’s right to regulate the vehicles since they may not technically be taxis since they are free.  The commission is trying to obtain a legal ruling in that regard, and establish some regulatory procedures.  While that process moves forward, they are asking NEV operators to voluntarily follow some safety and insurance guidelines.  Learn more:  Tampabay.com

Texas Passes MSV Law

Starting September 1, neighborhood electric vehicles will be able to go up to 45 mph in Texas. Learn more:  Financial Times

Road Use Regulations Roundup – May

Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:

• Some cities are expanding road use regulations to include golf cars
• NEV road use ordinances continue to be passed by local municipalities although safety concerns remain an issue for some
• Demand is in increasing for allowing utility vehicles and mini-trucks on public roads
• Another state looking to adopt a medium speed vehicle law

North Carolina – Bill in the state assembly would add Currituck and New Hanover counties to a state law that allows golf cars on streets in several resort communities.

Pontiac, IL – Ordinance being drafted that would allow the use of modified golf cars as NEVs.

Normal, IL – Considering an ordinance allowing the use of NEVs on city streets.

Merrill, WI – City council passed an ordinance allowing the use of NEVs on city streets.

Colorado – House passed a bill that would allow NEVs on public highways.

Palm Desert, CA – Safety concerns have stalled a bill in the state legislature that would broaden the use of NEVs on city streets.

Minnesota – Legislation has passed both the state house and senate that would allow counties to permit the use of mini-trucks, but not on interstate and state highways.

New York – The state DMV issued an opinion that utility vehicles are not allowed on roads or ATV trails unless the law is changed.

New Strawn, KS – City council approved an ordinance that allows work-site utility vehicles and micro utility vehicles to be driven legally on city streets.

Cushing, OK – Passed an ordinance regulating the operation of mini bikes, golf carts, ATVs and utility vehicles on the streets and highways of the city.

Utah – Cities are debating allowing the use of mini-trucks on public roads. Since they are classified as street legal ATVs there is concern about allowing the use of all types of ATVs.

Oregon – Governor has introduced a transportation bill that creates a medium speed vehicle designation aimed at increasing the adoption of NEVs

MSV Law Speeds Through Texas Legislature

According to reports, a bill that will allow NEVs to operate at speeds up to 35 mph on roads with speed limits of up to 45 mph is moving through the Texas legislature.  The bill was passed unaminously by the Transportation Committee and is expected to pass and become effective in May or June of this year.  Learn more:  houstonelectriccars.net

Road Use Regulations Round Up

This round up features some action in Canada, Wisconsin, Colorado and some other states as well as signs of growing interest in medium speed vehicle regulations.

Grand Chute, WI – Town asking state for help regarding the use of NEVs on some of the many roads under state jurisdiction that criss-cross the city.

Loveland, CO – House Bill 1026, which would allow neighborhood electric vehicles on public highways, passed the Judiciary Committee and will be going to a House vote.

North Vancouver, Canada – City council rejects staff recommendations to wait for additional LSV safety standards before allowing vehicles on roads.

Sedona, AZ - Public transportation commission recommends feasibility study to look at NEVs as a public transportation option.

British Columbia, Canada – Motor vehicle regulations amended to allow incidental use of roads by utility vehicles during their normal off-road use.

Kennebunk, ME - ZAP Xebra three-wheeled truck doesn’t pass registration as a motorcycle and therefore cannot be legally driven. Amendment to address issue in process.

Flower Mound, TX – Transportation commission is urged to look at LSV regulations in anticipation of increased usage of the vehicles.

Denver, CO – State Senate bill aims to create uniform road use regulations for LSVs

South Daytona, FL – After a favorable feasibility study, city officials are moving ahead on allowing golf carts to be used on city streets.

Manitoba, Canada – Manitoba province is looking at enacting similar legislation as Ontario and Quebec to allow LSVs on public roads.

Merrill, WI - City officials are drafting legislation to allow NEVs on public roads with speed limits of 35mph or less

Medium Speed Vehicle Regulations – At the end of February nine states were considering medium speed vehicle laws: Hawaii, New Mexico, Kentucky, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Georgia and Colorado. Speed limits proposed ranged from 35mph to 50 mph with most at 45 mph. Five states who have already adopted MSEV laws include Washington, Montana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Connecticut – Some State Representatives are pushing to legalize NEVs