S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6996
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 18, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RABBITT -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to permitting
the use of low speed electric vehicles on highways with a posted speed
limit of not more than thirty-five miles per hour
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 121-f of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by
chapter 698 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
S 121-f. Low speed vehicle. 1. A limited use automobile which has a
maximum performance speed of greater than twenty miles an hour, but not
greater than twenty-five miles an hour or a truck which has a maximum
performance speed of greater than twenty miles an hour, but not greater
than twenty-five miles an hour and whose gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) is less than three thousand pounds. All such vehicles shall
comply with the safety standards established in 49 C.F.R. 571.500.
2. LOW SPEED VEHICLES SHALL ONLY BE OPERATED ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS WHERE
THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS NOT MORE THAN THIRTY-FIVE MILES PER HOUR. A
LOW SPEED VEHICLE MAY CROSS A PUBLIC HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT
IN EXCESS OF THIRTY-FIVE MILES PER HOUR WHERE SUCH HIGHWAY INTERSECTS
WITH A HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF THIRTY-FIVE MILES PER HOUR
OR LESS. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MAY PROHIBIT LOW SPEED VEHI-
CLES FROM DESIGNATED HIGHWAYS.
S 2. Nothing in this act shall be deemed to limit the authority of a
county, city, town or village from adopting or amending a local law or
ordinance which prohibits the operation of low speed vehicles on public
highways located in such county, city, town or village, so long as such
local law or ordinance is consistent with its authority to protect the
order, conduct, health, safety and general welfare of persons or proper-
ty. Nothing in this act shall be deemed to alter or invalidate any
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10112-03-9
A. 6996 2
local law or ordinance already in effect as of the effective date of
this act.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the amendment, addi-
tion and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the timely
implementation of this act upon its effective date is hereby authorized
to be made on or before such effective date.