AB 718

Under current law, a "neighborhood electric vehicle" (NEV) is a motor vehicle

that is propelled by electric power and that meets certain standards for low-speed

vehicles (LSVs) under federal law, but does not include a golf cart. A municipality

may, by ordinance, allow the use of NEVs on roadways under its jurisdiction that

have a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. However, a municipal ordinance may

not allow the use of NEVs on connecting highways within the municipality, or where

the municipality's roadways cross state trunk highways, unless all of the following

apply: 1) the municipality provides written notice to the Department of

Transportation (DOT) of the ordinance, including identification of any connecting

highway or state trunk highway intersection to which the ordinance will apply; and

2) within 21 days of receiving this notice, DOT consents or fails to object to the use

of NEVs on the connecting highway or through the intersection crossing the state

trunk highway.

Also under current law, DOT assesses demerit points against the driving record

of persons convicted of certain traffic law violations.

This bill authorizes the operation of LSVs on certain highways. The bill

eliminates the requirement that an NEV be propelled by electric power and redefines

an NEV as an LSV. With exceptions, the bill allows the operation of LSVs on

highways under the jurisdiction of a municipality or county that have a speed limit

of 35 miles per hour or less. However, a municipality or county may adopt an

ordinance prohibiting the operation of LSVs on highways under its jurisdiction.

Also, an LSV may not be operated through an intersection crossing an expressway,

freeway, or controlled-access highway and an LSV may be operated through other

intersections crossing state trunk highways or connecting highways only if the state

trunk highway or connecting highway has a speed limit at the intersection of 35 miles

per hour or less and traffic at the intersection is controlled by traffic control signals.

An LSV may be operated on a connecting highway only if the connecting highway has

a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less or the municipality or county with

jurisdiction over the connecting highway has adopted an ordinance, with the written

consent of DOT, allowing such operation.

The bill prohibits any person from operating an LSV on a highway other than

a highway on which operation is authorized under the bill. The bill also prohibits any

person from operating an LSV at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour and is subject

to the assessment by DOT of two demerit points against the person's driving record.

Any person violating either of these prohibitions may be required to forfeit not more

than $200.