HF 3835

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; defining medium-speed electric vehicles; requiring
medium-speed electric vehicles to be registered and titled; identifying roads on
which medium-speed electric vehicles may be operated; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2006, sections 168.011, subdivision 7; 168A.05, subdivision 9; 169.01,
by adding a subdivision; 169.224.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168.011, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Passenger automobile.

(a) "Passenger automobile" means any motor
vehicle designed and used for carrying not more than 15 individuals, including the driver.

(b) "Passenger automobile" does not include motorcycles, motor scooters, buses,
school buses, or commuter vans as defined in section 168.126.

(c) "Passenger automobile" includes, but is not limited to:

(1) pickup trucks and vans, including those vans designed to carry passengers, with
a manufacturer's nominal rated carrying capacity of one ton; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(2) neighborhood electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 91 new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (3) medium-speed electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 93 new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168A.05, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Neighborhood electric vehicle new text begin and medium-speed electric vehicles new text end ;
certificate required.

Neighborhood electric vehicles new text begin and medium-speed electric vehicles new text end ,
as defined in section 169.01, deleted text begin subdivision deleted text end new text begin subdivisions new text end 91 new text begin and 93 new text end , must be titled as
specified in section 168A.02. The department shall not issue a title for a neighborhood
electric vehicle new text begin or a medium-speed electric vehicle new text end (1) that lacks a vehicle identification
number, and (2) for which a manufacturer's certificate of origin clearly labeling the
vehicle as a neighborhood electric vehicle or similar designation has not been issued. The
department shall not issue a vehicle identification number to a homemade neighborhood
electric or low-speed vehicle or retrofitted golf cart, and such vehicles do not qualify as
neighborhood electric vehicles.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 93. new text end

new text begin Medium-speed electric vehicle. new text end

new text begin "Medium-speed electric vehicle"
means an electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle, equipped with a roll cage or
crushproof body design, that can attain a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour as certified
by the manufacturer, is fully enclosed and has at least one door for entry, has a wheelbase
of 40 inches or greater and a wheel diameter of ten inches or greater, and otherwise meets
or exceeds regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 571.500, and
successor requirements.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.224, is amended to read:

169.224 NEIGHBORHOOD new text begin AND MEDIUM-SPEED new text end ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

Subdivision 1.

Definition.

For purposes of this section, "road authority" means the
commissioner, as to trunk highways; the county board, as to county state-aid highways
and county highways; the town board, as to town roads; and the governing body of
a city, as to city streets.

Subd. 2.

Required equipment.

Notwithstanding any other law, a neighborhood
electric vehicle new text begin or a medium-speed electric vehicle new text end may be operated on public streets and
highways if it meets all equipment and vehicle safety requirements in Code of Federal
Regulations, title 49, section 571.500, and successor requirements.

Subd. 3.

Operation.

A neighborhood electric vehicle new text begin or a medium-speed electric
vehicle new text end may not be operated on a street or highway with a speed limit greater than 35 miles
per hour, except to make a direct crossing of that street or highway.

Subd. 4.

Restrictions and prohibitions.

(a) A road authority, including the
commissioner of transportation by order, may prohibit or further restrict the operation
of neighborhood electric vehicles new text begin and medium-speed electric vehicles new text end on any street or
highway under the road authority's jurisdiction.

(b) new text begin Neither new text end a neighborhood electric vehicle new text begin nor a medium-speed electric vehicle new text end may
deleted text begin not deleted text end be used to take any examination to demonstrate ability to exercise control in the
operation of a motor vehicle as required under section 171.13.