Operation of low-speed vehicles on highways and providing a penalty

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.