HB 5204 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF LOW-SPEED VEHICLES.

LCO324 7 sHB5204 File No.

1490324 6control of 19 Raised Bill No.5204 (30) "Driver's license" or "operator's license" means a validcommercial Connecticut motor vehiclevehicle, operator's license or awho licenseis issuedrequired by another state or foreign jurisdiction authorizing the holder thereof to operatehold a motorcommercial vehicledriver's onlicense; the highways;

(30) "Driver's license" or "operator's license" means a valid Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license or a license issued by another state or foreign jurisdiction authorizing the holder thereof to operate a motor vehicle on the highways;

(36) "Felony" means any offense, as defined in section 53a-25 and includessHB5204 any/ offenseFile designatedNo. as a felony under federal law;

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1490324 7includes ofany 19offense Raiseddesignated Bill No.5204 (37) "Fatality" means the death of a person as a resultfelony ofunder afederal motorlaw; vehicle accident;

(37) "Fatality" means the death of a person as a result of a motor vehicle accident;

The GVWR of a combination (articulated) vehicle commonly referred to as the "gross combinationsHB5204 weight/ rating"File or GCWR is the GVWR of the power unit LCO No.

1490324 89 ofsHB5204 19File RaisedNo. Bill No.5204 plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units;

324 combination weight rating" or GCWR is the GVWR of the power unit plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units;

(47) "Imminent hazard" means the existence of a condition that presents a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe personalinjuryorasubstantialendangermenttohealth,property,orthepersonalinjuryorasubstantialendangerment tohealth,property,orthe environment may occur before the reasonably foreseeable completion dateofaformalproceedingbeguntolessentheriskofthatdeath,illness, injury or endangerment;

LCOsHB5204 / File No.

1490324 910 ofsHB5204 19File RaisedNo. Bill No.5204 (49) "Light weight" means the weight of an unloaded motor vehicle as ordinarily equipped and ready for use, exclusive of the weight of the operator of the motor vehicle;

324 (49) "Light weight" means the weight of an unloaded motor vehicle as ordinarily equipped and ready for use, exclusive of the weight of the operator of the motor vehicle;

[(52)](53)"Maintenance vehicle"meansanyvehiclevehicle"meansanyvehicleinuse inuse by thestate or by any town, city, borough or district, any state bridge or parkway authority or any public service company, as defined in section 16-1, in the maintenance of public highways or bridges and facilities located within the limits of public highways or bridges;

[(56)] (57) "Motor bus" includes any motor vehicle, except a taxicab, LCOsHB5204 / File No.

1490324 1011 ofsHB5204 19File RaisedNo. Bill No.5204 as defined in section 13b-95, operated in whole or in part on any street or highway in a manner affording a means of transportation by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers, or running on a regular route or over any portion of a regular route or between fixed termini;

324 as defined in section 13b-95, operated in whole or in part on any street or highway in a manner affording a means of transportation by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers, or running on a regular route or over any portion of a regular route or between fixed termini;

[(60)] (61) "Motorcycle" means (A) an autocycle, as defined in this LCOsection, or (B) a motor vehicle, with or without a side car, that has (i) not sHB5204 / File No.

1490324 1112 ofsHB5204 19File RaisedNo. Bill No.5204 section, or (B) a motor vehicle, with or without a side car, that has (i) not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, (ii) a saddle or seat which the rider straddles or a platform on which the rider stands, and (iii) handlebars with which the rider controls the movement of the vehicle.

324 more than three wheels in contact with the ground, (ii) a saddle or seat which the rider straddles or a platform on which the rider stands, and (iii) handlebars with which the rider controls the movement of the vehicle.

[(68)](69)"Operator"meansany personwhooperatesamotor vehicle LCOor who steers or directs the course of a motor vehicle being towed by sHB5204 / File No.

1490324 1213 ofsHB5204 19File RaisedNo. Bill No.5204 or who steers or directs the course of a motor vehicle being towed by another motor vehicle and includes a driver;

324 another motor vehicle and includes a driver;

LCO[(75)] (76) "Person" includes any individual, corporation, limited sHB5204 / File No.

1490324 1314 ofsHB5204 19File RaisedNo. Bill No.5204 [(75)] (76) "Person" includes any individual, corporation, limited liability company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business trust or other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state or any political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or requires;

324 liability company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business trust or other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state or any political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or requires;

[(83)] (84) "Resident", for the purpose of registering motor vehicles, includes any person who is a legal resident of this state, as the commissioner may presume from the fact that such person occupies a place of dwelling in this state for more than six months in a year, or any LCOperson, firm or corporation owning or leasing a motor vehicle used or sHB5204 / File No.

1490324 1415 ofsHB5204 19File RaisedNo. Bill No.5204 person, firm or corporation owning or leasing a motor vehicle used or operated in intrastate business in this state, or a firm or corporation having its principal office or place of business in this state;

324 operated in intrastate business in this state, or a firm or corporation having its principal office or place of business in this state;

(G) failure to carry a commercial driver's license in violation LCOof No.section 14-44a;

1490(H) 15failure to have the proper class of 19license Raisedor Billendorsement, No.5204or violation of a license restriction in violation of section 14-44a;sHB5204 / File No.

(H)324 failure16 tosHB5204 haveFile theNo. proper class of license or endorsement, or violation of a license restriction in violation of section 14-44a;

324 14-44a;

[(91)] (92) "Solid tires" means tires of rubber, or other elastic material approved bytheCommissionerbythe Commissioner ofTransportation,whichdo not depend on confined air for the support of the load;

[(95)] (96) "Student" means any person under the age of twenty-one years who is attending a preprimary, primary or secondary school LCOprogram No.of education;

1490sHB5204 16/ ofFile 19No. Raised Bill No.5204 program of education;

[(96)]324 (97)17 "TailsHB5204 lamp"File meansNo. a lighting device affixed to the rear of a motorvehicle showingaredlightto therear andindicating thepresence of the motor vehicle when viewed from behind;

324 [(96)] (97) "Tail lamp" means a lighting device affixed to the rear of a motorvehicle showingaredlightto therear andindicating thepresence of the motor vehicle when viewed from behind;

[(105)] (106) "Utility trailer" means a trailer designed and used to transport personal property, materials or equipment, whether or not LCOpermanently No.affixed to the bed of the trailer;

1490[(106)] 17(107) of"Vanpool 19vehicle" Raisedincludes Billall No.5204motor permanentlyvehicles, affixed to the bedsHB5204 of/ theFile trailer;No.

[(106)]324 (107)18 "VanpoolsHB5204 vehicle"File includesNo. all motor vehicles, the primary purpose of which is the daily transportation, on a prearranged nonprofit basis, of individuals between home and work, and which:

324 primary purpose of which is the daily transportation, on a prearranged nonprofit basis, of individuals between home and work, and which:

[(108)] (109) "Vehicle identification number" or "VIN" means a series ofArabicnumbersandRomanlettersthatisassignedtoofArabicnumbersand Romanlettersthatisassignedto eachnewmotor vehicle that is manufactured within or imported into the United States, in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 565, unless another sequence of numbers and letters has been assigned to a motor vehicle by the commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of section 14- 149;

LCOSec. No.

14904. 18 of 19 Raised Bill No.

5204 Sec.

3.

(1)sHB5204 "All-terrain/ vehicle"File meansNo. any three or more wheeled motorized vehicle, generally characterized by large, low-pressure tires, a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering, which is intended for off-road use by an individual rider on various types of nonpaved terrain.

Such324 vehicles19 dosHB5204 notFile includeNo. trail bikes, golf carts, agricultural tractors, farm implements, [and] construction machines and low-speed vehicles;

324 (1) "All-terrain vehicle" means any three or more wheeled motorized vehicle, generally characterized by large, low-pressure tires, a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering, which is intended for off-road use by an individual rider on various types of nonpaved terrain.

[Such vehicles do] "All-terrain vehicle" does not include trail bikes, golf carts, agricultural tractors, farm implements, [and] construction machines and low-speed vehicles;

2 October 1, 2024 14-114-12(f) October 1, 2024 Sec.

3 October14-1 1,Sec. 2024 14-390f(a)(1) Statement of Purpose:

To4 provideOctober for1, the2024 registration14-390f(a)(1) ofStatement low-speed vehicles and the operation of suchLegislative vehiclesCommissioners: on highways with posted speed limits of thirty-five miles per hour or less.

[ProposedIn deletionsSection are1(a), enclosed"otherwise" inwas brackets.inserted for clarity;

Proposedand additionsin areSection indicated2, bysection underline,14-12 exceptwas thatamended whenin thelieu entire text of asection bill14-169 orfor resolutionconsistency orwith astandard sectiondrafting ofconventions aand bill"in oran resolutionattempt" iswas new,added itfor isclarity. not underlined.] LCO No.

1490TRA 19Joint ofFavorable 19Subst.

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324 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 25 $ FY 26 $ Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential See Below See Below Revenue Gain Department of Motor Vehicles TF - Potential See Below See Below Revenue Gain Note:

GF=General Fund;

TF=Transportation Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill authorizes the operation of "low-speed vehicles" (LSV) on public roads, defines them as "motor vehicles" for purposes of motor vehicle laws, and creates an infraction for improper use.

ThebillresultsinpotentialrevenuegaintotheSpecialTransportation Fund from LSV registration fees, though it is unknown how many will be registered.

It also results in potential revenue gain to the General Fund to the extent that infractions occur.

Infractions are not crimes and are punishable by fines that usually range from $100 to $300.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to LSV registrations and violations for improper use.

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324 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5204 AN ACT CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF LOW-SPEED VEHICLES.

SUMMARY Thisbillgenerallyallowstheoperationof“low-speedvehicles”(LSV) on highways (i.e., public roads) in the state with speed limits of 25 mph or less.

Under the bill and federal regulations, an LSV is a four-wheeled motor vehicle that has a (1) speed attainable in one mile of more than 20 mph but not more than 25 mph on a paved, level surface and (2) gross vehicle weight rating of 3,000 pounds or less.

Under the bill, LSVs are “motor vehicles” under state motor vehicle laws (i.e., Title 14 of the General Statutes).

This means, among other things, that LSVs must be registered, titled, and insured;

their drivers must hold a valid driver’s license;

and businesses selling or repairing them must hold dealer or repairer licenses, respectively.

Currently, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) does not register LSVs, and they may not be driven on public roads.

The bill prohibits DMV from issuing a title for a homemade LSV or a golf cart that has been retrofitted from the original manufacturer’s specifications in an attempt to qualify as an LSV.

The bill allows the Office of the State Traffic Administration and local traffic authorities to prohibit or limit LSV use on roads under their jurisdictions.

It also requires that LSVs meet state motor vehicle equipment standards except for those that are inapplicable to or inconsistent with the federal motor vehicle safety standards for LSVs.

Violations of the road restrictions or equipment requirements are infractions (see BACKGROUND).

Lastly, the bill makes technical and conforming changes.

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324 EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2024 BACKGROUND Infractions Infractions are punishable by fines, usually set by Superior Court judges, of between $35 and $90, plus a $20 or $35 surcharge and an additional fee based on the amount of the fine.

There may be other added charges depending upon the type of infraction.

For example, certain motor vehicle infractions trigger a Special Transportation Fund surcharge of 50% of the fine.

An infraction is not a crime, and violators can pay the fine by mail without making a court appearance.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for LSVs Under federal regulations, LSVs must satisfy certain requirements under specified testing conditions and be equipped with the following:

1.

headlights, turn signals, tail lights, and brake lights;

2.

reflex reflectors;

3.

an exterior mirror on the driver’s side and either an exterior mirror on the passenger’s side or an interior mirror (in addition to meeting other specified rear visibility requirements);

4.

a parking brake;

5.

a windshield meeting federal standards on glazing materials;

6.

a vehicle identification number (VIN) meeting federal requirements;

7.

a seatbelt assembly meeting federal requirements;

and 8.

a pedestrian alert sound (i.e., noise that certain electric and hybrid vehicles must make at speeds less than 18.6 mph that pedestrians can hear over background noises) (49 C.F.R.

§ 571.500).

COMMITTEE ACTION Transportation Committee sHB5204 / File No.

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324 Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 35 Nay 0 (03/20/2024) sHB5204 / File No.

324 24