H‑0331.2   _____________________________________________

 

HOUSE BILL 1802

 

           _____________________________________________

 

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Dunshee, Mielke, Murray, Hankins, Skinner, Hurst and Romero

 

Read first time 02/05/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

_1      AN ACT Relating to providing incentives to reduce air pollution

_2  through the licensing and use of neighborhood electric vehicles;

_3  amending RCW 46.04.320; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW;

_4  adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; prescribing penalties;

_5  and providing an effective date.

     

_6  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     

_7      Sec. 1.  RCW 46.04.320 and 1961 c 12 s 46.04.320 are each amended

_8  to read as follows:

_9      "Motor vehicle" ((shall)) means every vehicle which is self-

10  propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power

11  obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.

12  "Motor vehicle" includes a neighborhood electric vehicle as

13  defined in section 2 of this act and operated pursuant to section

14  3 of this act.

     

15      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 46.04

16  RCW to read as follows:

17      "Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled,

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_1  electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle that has a speed

_2  attainable in one mile that does not exceed twenty-five miles per

_3  hour and conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R.

_4  Part 571.500.

     

_5      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 46.61

_6  RCW to read as follows:

_7      (1) Absent prohibition by local authorities authorized under

_8  this section and except as prohibited elsewhere in this section, a

_9  person may operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon a highway

10  of this state having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour

11  or less as long as:

12      (a) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle

13  upon streets and highways which are parts of the state highway

14  system which are subject to the provisions of Title 47 RCW;

15      (b) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle

16  upon a highway of this state without first having obtained and

17  having in full force and effect a current and proper vehicle

18  license and displays vehicle license number plates in compliance

19  with chapter 46.16 RCW;

20      (c) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle

21  upon a highway of this state without first obtaining a valid

22  driver's license issued to Washington residents in compliance with

23  chapter 46.20 RCW;

24      (d) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle

25  subject to registration under chapter 46.16 RCW on a highway of

26  this state unless the person is insured under a motor vehicle

27  liability policy in compliance with chapter 46.30 RCW;

28      (e) A person operating a neighborhood electric vehicle does not

29  cross a roadway with a speed limit in excess of thirty-five miles

30  per hour, unless the crossing begins and ends on a roadway with a

31  speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less and occurs at an

32  intersection of approximately ninety degrees, except that the

33  operator of a neighborhood electric vehicle must not cross an

34  uncontrolled intersection of streets and highways which are part

35  of the state highway system subject to the provisions of Title 47

36  RCW unless that intersection has been authorized by local

37  authorities provided elsewhere in this section.

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_1      (2) Any person who violates this section commits a traffic

_2  infraction.

_3      (3) The provisions of this section do not prevent local

_4  authorities, with respect to streets and highways under their

_5  jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of their police

_6  power, from regulating the operation of neighborhood electric

_7  vehicles on streets and highways under their jurisdiction by

_8  resolution or ordinance of the governing body, if the regulation

_9  is consistent with the provisions of this title, except that:

10      (a) Local authorities may not authorize the operation of

11  neighborhood electric vehicles on streets and highways which are

12  part of the state highway system subject to the provisions of

13  Title 47 RCW;

14      (b) Local authorities may not prohibit the operation of

15  neighborhood electric vehicles upon highways of this state having

16  a speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour or less;

17      (c) Local authorities are prohibited from establishing any

18  requirements for the registration and licensing of neighborhood

19  electric vehicles.

     

20      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  This act takes effect January 1, 2002.

 

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