Report Title:

Medium speed electric vehicles; Traffic code; highways

 

Description:

Allows medium-speed electric vehicles to be operated on roads with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

144

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to highways.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§291C-     Medium-speed electric vehicles; speed; restrictions.  (a)  A medium-speed electric vehicle shall not be operated at a speed of more than thirty-five miles per hour.

     (b)  A medium-speed electric vehicle shall not be driven on a highway that has a posted speed limit of more than forty-five miles per hour.  This subsection does not prohibit a medium-speed electric vehicle from crossing a highway that has a posted speed limit of more than forty-five miles per hour at an intersection.

     (c)  A medium-speed electric vehicle shall have a notice of the operational restrictions applying to the vehicle permanently attached to or painted on the vehicle in a location that is in clear view of the driver.

     (d)  The director of transportation shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 as may be necessary to regulate the use of medium-speed electric vehicles."

     SECTION 2.  Section 291C-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Medium-speed electric vehicle" means any self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle with a roll cage or hard surface body design, which is designed to be operated at speeds of thirty-five miles per hour or less."

     SECTION 3.  Section 286-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Application for the registration of a vehicle shall be made upon the appropriate form furnished by the director of finance and shall contain the name, occupation, and address of the owner and legal owner; and, if the applicant is a member of the United States naval or military forces, the applicant shall give the organization and station.  All applications shall also contain a description of the vehicle, including the name of the maker, the type of fuel for the use of which it is adapted (e.g., gasoline, diesel oil, liquefied petroleum gas), the serial or motor number, and the date first sold by the manufacturer or dealer, and such further description of the vehicle as is called for in the form, and such other information as may be required by the director of finance, to establish legal ownership.  A person applying for initial registration of a neighborhood electric vehicle or medium-speed electric vehicle shall certify in writing that a notice of the operational restrictions applying to the vehicle as provided in section 291C-134 or 291C-    , as may be applicable, are contained on a permanent notice attached to or painted on the vehicle in a location that is in clear view of the driver."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________