Neighborhood electric vehicles.

WORKING DRAFT
2006
STATE OF
WYOMING
06LSO-0369

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0078

Neighborhood electric vehicles.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Townsend

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; authorizing the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles as specified;
providing a criminal offense for unauthorized operation;
providing a definition; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

W.S. 31
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5
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1701 is created to read:

ARTICLE 17
NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES

31
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5
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1701.

Neighborhood electric vehicles authorized; local regulation.

(a)

Unless prohibited by local authorities as authorized in this section, a person may operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon a highway or roadway of this state having a speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour or less, subject to the following:

(i)

The person shall not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon a state highway;

(ii)

The owner of the neighborhood electric vehicle has been issued a certificate of title and the vehicle displays a valid license plate, both as provided in chapter 2 of this title;

(iii)

The operator of the neighborhood electric vehicle has a valid license as required by the Driver's License Act;

(iv)

The neighborhood electric vehicle is insured under a motor vehicle liability insurance policy as required by W.S. 31
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4
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103(a);

(v)

The neighborhood electric vehicle shall not cross a state highway or a roadway with a speed limit in excess of thirty-five (35) miles per hour, unless the crossing begins and ends on a roadway with a speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour or less, occurs at an intersection of approximately ninety (90) degrees and the local authorities have authorized the crossing.

(b)

Any person who operates a neighborhood electric vehicle upon a highway or roadway in this state, except in accordance with this section, commits a misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 31
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5
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1201.

(c)

Local authorities may regulate the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles on highways and roadways under their jurisdiction if the regulation is consistent with the provisions of this section, provided that:

(i)

Local authorities shall not authorize the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles upon state highways; and

(ii)

Local authorities shall not prohibit the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles upon highways or roadways having a speed limit of twenty-five (25) miles an hour or less.

Section 2.

W.S. 31
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1
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101(a)(xv) by creating a new subparagraph (M) is amended to read:

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1
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101.

Definitions.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided, as used in this act:

(xv)

"Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled except vehicles moved solely by human power or motorized skateboards. The term includes the following vehicles as hereafter defined:

(M)

"Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle whose speed attainable in one (1) mile is more than twenty (20) miles per hour and not more than twenty-five (25) miles per hour and which conforms to federal regulations under 49 C.F.R. part 571.500.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2006.

(END)

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SF0078