House File 533 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY WHITAKER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the operation of medium=speed electric 2 vehicles on certain roads, providing registration fees for 3 low=speed and medium=speed electric vehicles, and providing a 4 penalty. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 2202YH 83 7 dea/nh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 321.1, Code 2009, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 37A. a. "Medium=speed electric vehicle" 1 4 means a self=propelled, electrically powered four=wheeled 1 5 motor vehicle that meets all of the following conditions: 1 6 (1) Is equipped with a roll cage or has a crush=proof body 1 7 design. 1 8 (2) Has a wheelbase of forty inches or greater and a wheel 1 9 diameter of ten inches or greater. 1 10 (3) Is fully enclosed and has at least one door for entry. 1 11 (4) Is capable of attaining a maximum speed exceeding 1 12 twenty=five miles per hour but not exceeding fifty miles per 1 13 hour on a paved, level surface, as certified by the 1 14 manufacturer. 1 15 (5) Except with respect to maximum speed, meets or exceeds 1 16 federal motor vehicle safety standards in 49 C.F.R. } 571.500. 1 17 b. A medium=speed electric vehicle which is in compliance 1 18 with the equipment requirements in 49 C.F.R. } 571.500 shall 1 19 be deemed to be in compliance with all equipment requirements 1 20 of this chapter. 1 21 Sec. 2. Section 321.116, Code 2009, is amended to read as 1 22 follows: 1 23 321.116 ELECTRICAUTOMOBILESVEHICLES. 1 24 For an electric motor vehicle the annual fee is twenty=five 1 25 dollars. However, if an electric motor vehicle is more than 1 26 five model years old, the annual registration fee is fifteen 1 27 dollars.This section does not apply to low=speed vehicles 1 28 that are electric.1 29 Sec. 3. Section 321.381A, Code 2009, is amended to read as 1 30 follows: 1 31 321.381A OPERATION OF LOW=SPEED VEHICLES AND MEDIUM=SPEED 1 32 ELECTRIC VEHICLES. 1 33 1. A low=speed vehicle shall not be operated on a street 1 34 with a posted speed limit greater than thirty=five miles per 1 35 hour. This section shall not prohibit a low=speed vehicle 2 1 from crossing a street with a posted speed limit greater than 2 2 thirty=five miles per hour. 2 3 2. A medium=speed electric vehicle shall not be operated 2 4 on a street or highway with a posted speed limit greater than 2 5 fifty=five miles per hour. This subsection shall not prohibit 2 6 a medium=speed electric vehicle from crossing a street or 2 7 highway with a posted speed limit greater than fifty=five 2 8 miles per hour. 2 9 EXPLANATION 2 10 This bill regulates the operation of medium=speed electric 2 11 vehicles on certain Iowa roads and establishes annual 2 12 registration fees for low=speed and medium=speed electric 2 13 vehicles. 2 14 Currently, Iowa law regulates the operation of certain 2 15 low=speed vehicles, which are capable of maximum speeds of up 2 16 to 25 miles per hour and are permitted on roads with a speed 2 17 limit of 35 miles per hour or less. 2 18 The bill defines "medium=speed electric vehicle" as a 2 19 self=propelled, electrically powered four=wheeled motor 2 20 vehicle that is equipped with a roll cage or has a crush=proof 2 21 body design; has a wheelbase of 40 inches or greater and a 2 22 wheel diameter of 10 inches or greater; is fully enclosed with 2 23 at least one entry door; can attain a maximum speed exceeding 2 24 25 miles per hour but not exceeding 50 miles per hour on a 2 25 paved, level surface as certified by the manufacturer; and 2 26 meets or exceeds federal motor vehicle equipment and safety 2 27 standards for low=speed vehicles. The bill specifies that if 2 28 those federal equipment standards are met, a medium=speed 2 29 electric vehicle is deemed to be in compliance with motor 2 30 vehicle equipment standards under Iowa law. 2 31 The bill restricts the operation of medium=speed electric 2 32 vehicles to roads with a posted speed limit no greater than 55 2 33 miles per hour. A violation is punishable as a simple 2 34 misdemeanor, subject to a scheduled fine of $50. This is the 2 35 same penalty that currently applies to the operation of a 3 1 restricted low=speed vehicle on a road with a speed limit 3 2 greater than 35 miles per hour. 3 3 Otherwise, provisions in existing law that apply to 3 4 titling, registration, and operation of motor vehicles apply 3 5 to medium=speed electric vehicles. Pursuant to current law, 3 6 the annual registration fee for electric vehicles is $25. The 3 7 fee drops to $15 when the vehicle is more than five model 3 8 years old. However, low=speed vehicles that are electric are 3 9 subject to fees based on the weight and value of the vehicle. 3 10 Under the bill, the flat fees for electric vehicles apply to 3 11 all electric vehicles including low=speed and medium=speed 3 12 electric vehicles. 3 13 LSB 2202YH 83 3 14 dea/nh/8.1