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
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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 ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILES VEHICLES.
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
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