Bill Text: WV SB690 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Permitting street-legal special purpose vehicles on highways
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-04-14 - Chapter 217, Acts, Regular Session, 2020 [SB690 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-SB690-Enrolled.html
WEST virginia legislature
2020 regular session
Enrolled
Committee Substitute
for
Senate Bill 690
Senators Maynard and Cline, original sponsors
[Passed March 7, 2020; in effect 90 days from passage]
AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §17A-13-1, relating to the operation of street-legal special purpose vehicles; permitting the operation of street-legal special purpose vehicles on highways; providing for registration of street-legal special purpose vehicles; establishing licensing and equipment requirements for street-legal special purpose vehicles; defining terms; requiring rulemaking; clarifying that low-speed vehicles are not special purpose vehicles or street-legal special purpose vehicles; and allowing low speed vehicles to cross state routes at traffic lights when the state route does not have a posted speed limit greater than 40 miles per hour.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 13. Street-Legal Special Purpose Vehicles.
§17A-13-1. Street-legal special purpose vehicles; operation on highways; registration procedures; licensing requirements; equipment requirements.
(a) Except as required in subsection (c) of this section, an individual may operate a “street-legal special purpose vehicle” on a street or highway.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Special purpose vehicle” includes all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, mini-trucks, pneumatic-tired military vehicles, and full-size special purpose-built vehicles, including those self-constructed or built by the original equipment manufacturer and those that have been modified.
(2) “Street-legal special purpose vehicle” is a special purpose vehicle that meets the requirements of this section.
(c) An individual may not operate a special purpose vehicle as a street-legal special purpose vehicle on a highway if:
(1) The highway is a controlled-access system, including, but not limited to, interstate systems; or
(2) The county, municipality, or the Division of Natural Resources where the highway is located prohibits special purpose vehicles.
(d) Street-legal special purpose vehicles are prohibited from traveling a distance greater than 20 miles on a highway displaying centerline pavement markings.
(e) All street-legal special purpose vehicles are subject to the certificate of title provisions of §17A-1-1 et seq. of this code.
(f) Nothing in this section authorizes the operation of a street-legal special purpose vehicle in an area that is not open to motor vehicle use.
(g) A street-legal special purpose vehicle may be registered in the same manner as provided for motorcycles pursuant to this chapter.
(h) Upon registration of any street-legal special purpose vehicle pursuant to this section, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall issue a registration plate that is of the same size as Class G special registration plates for motorcycles.
(i) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a street-legal special purpose vehicle shall comply with the Division of Motor Vehicles’ licensing, fee, and other requirements pursuant to this chapter.
(j) The owner of a special purpose vehicle being operated as a street-legal special purpose vehicle shall ensure the vehicle is equipped with:
(1) One or more headlamps;
(2) One or more tail lamps;
(3) One or more brake lamps;
(4) A tail lamp or other lamp constructed and placed to illuminate the registration plate with a white light;
(5) One or more red reflectors on the rear;
(6) Amber electric turn system, one on each side of the front;
(7) Amber or red electric turn signals;
(8) A braking system, other than a parking brake;
(9) A horn or other warning device;
(10) A muffler and, if required by an applicable federal statute or rule, an emission control system;
(11) Rearview mirrors on the right and left side of the driver;
(12) A windshield, unless the operator wears eye protection while operating the vehicle;
(13) A speedometer, illuminated for nighttime operation;
(14) For vehicles designed by the manufacturer for carrying one or more passengers, a seat designed for passengers; and
(15) Tires that have at least 2/32 inches or greater tire tread.
(16) When owners of a street-legal special purpose vehicle have ensured that such vehicles are equipped as required by this subsection, and those owners obtain a valid registration card and certificate of insurance for such vehicles, those vehicles are eligible to apply for a motorcycle trailer sticker.
(k) Mini-trucks may not be operated as street-legal special purpose vehicles on highways that have been constructed pursuant to a federal highways program.
(I) Low-speed vehicles as defined in §17A-1-1 of the code are not considered special purpose vehicles or street-legal special purpose vehicles under this section. However, low-speed vehicles may cross state routes at traffic lights when the state route does not have a posted speed limit greater than 40 miles per hour.
(m) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement this section.
