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PRINTER'S NO. 1309
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1172
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SMITH, BANTA, JAMES, MOUL, BARGER, COOK, BARTON,
STRUZZI, ARMANINI, OWLETT, BASHLINE, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND
KERWIN, APRIL 9, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, APRIL 9, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, further
providing for definitions, for designation of snowmobile and
ATV roads and for operation in safe manner.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7702 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
§ 7702. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV." A motorized off-highway
vehicle equipped with four or more tires, bucket or bench seats,
not including a saddle, that has:
(1) a maximum width of 64 inches and a maximum dry
weight of 1,700 pounds; or
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(2) a width which exceeds 64 inches or a dry weight
which exceeds 1,700 pounds.
The term does not include an ATV, snowmobile, trail bike,
motorboat, golf cart, aircraft, dune buggy, automobile,
construction machine, truck or home utility machine; military,
fire, emergency and law enforcement vehicle; implement of
husbandry; multipurpose agricultural vehicle; vehicle used by
the department; any vehicle that is or is required to be
registered under Chapter 13; or an off-road motor vehicle used
exclusively as a utility vehicle for an agricultural or business
operation and incidentally operated or moved upon the highway.
* * *
Section 2. Section 7722 heading and (a) of Title 75 are
amended to read:
§ 7722. Designation of snowmobile, UTV and ATV roads.
(a) [General rule.--The] Authority to designate.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), the
Department of Transportation on State-designated highways and
local authorities on any highway, road or street within its
jurisdiction may designate any highway, road or street within
its jurisdiction as a snowmobile road, a UTV road, an ATV
road, or [both] combination, and may, in its discretion,
determine whether such road shall be closed to vehicular
traffic or whether snowmobiles, UTV's and ATV's may share
this designated road with vehicular traffic.
(2) A county may, through the adoption of a resolution,
designate a State-designated highway located within the
boundaries of the county as a snowmobile road, a UTV road, an
ATV road, or combination, on which snowmobiles, UTV's, ATV's
or a combination may share the State-designated highway with
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vehicular traffic within the boundaries of the county.
* * *
Section 3. Section 7726(c) introductory paragraph and (5) of
Title 75 are amended and the section is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
§ 7726. Operation in safe manner.
* * *
(c) Operation on highways and streets open to snowmobiles
[or], UTV's, ATV's and vehicular traffic.--No person shall
operate a snowmobile, UTV or ATV in any of the following ways on
highways and streets open to snowmobiles, UTV's or ATV's and
vehicular traffic:
* * *
[(5) Without a securely fastened helmet on the head of
an individual who operates or is a passenger on a snowmobile
or ATV or who is being towed or otherwise propelled by a
snowmobile. The department shall specify the types of helmets
allowed through rules and regulations.]
(d) Helmets.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), an
individual may not operate a snowmobile or ATV on highways
and streets open to snowmobiles or ATV's and vehicular
traffic without a securely fastened helmet on the head of the
individual and any passenger on the snowmobile or ATV or
being towed or otherwise propelled by the snowmobile or ATV.
(2) A helmet is not required for an individual who is at
least 18 years of age and operates or is a passenger on a UTV
that is equipped with all of the following:
(i) A bucket or bench seat in lieu of a saddle seat.
(ii) A seat belt for the operator and each
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passenger.
(iii) A roll cage.
(3) The department shall specify the types of helmets
allowed under this subsection through rules and regulations.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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