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2013 -- H 5395 | |
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LC00257 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES - LOW SPEED VEHICLES | |
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Introduced By: Representative Larry Valencia | |
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Date Introduced: February 12, 2013 | |
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Referred To: House Municipal Government | |
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It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 31-19.4 of the General Laws entitled "Prudence Island |
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Low Speed Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 31-19.4 |
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LOW SPEED VEHICLES |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 31-19.4 of the General Laws entitled "Prudence Island Low Speed |
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Vehicles" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
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31-19.4-2. Low speed vehicles authorized for use on state, city and town roadways. – |
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(a) For the purposes of this chapter, a low speed vehicle means a self-propelled, |
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electrically or gas powered motor vehicle which: is designed to carry four (4) or fewer persons; is |
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designed to be, and is, operated at speeds of twenty-five (25) miles per hour or less; and conforms |
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to the maximum safety equipment requirements as adopted in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety |
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Standard No. 500, Low Speed vehicles (49 C.F.R. 571.500). |
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(b) Every city and town is hereby authorized, by ordinance, to allow the operation of low |
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speed vehicles upon state, city or town roadways within its jurisdiction, notwithstanding any law |
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or regulation to the contrary, if it meets the requirements of this section. |
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(c) The ordinance must specify the number of miles from a golf course club house (or |
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first tee, if no club house) within which the low speed vehicle is permitted to operate. |
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(d) Each person operating a low speed vehicle on a roadway of the state, a city or a town |
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shall possess a valid driver's license issued pursuant to section 31-10-1. |
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(e) Every operator of a low speed vehicle shall maintain financial responsibility on such |
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low speed vehicle if the low speed vehicle is to be operated upon the roadways of the state, a city, |
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or a town. |
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(f) Every person operating a low speed vehicle shall be granted all the rights and shall be |
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subject to all duties applicable to the driver of any motor vehicle except as to the special |
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regulations in this section and except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no |
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application. |
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(g) The operator of a low speed vehicle shall observe all traffic laws and local ordinances |
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regarding the rules of the road. A low speed vehicle shall not be operated on a street or a highway |
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with a posted speed limit greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour. The provisions of this |
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subsection shall not prohibit a low speed vehicle from crossing a street or highway with a posted |
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speed limit greater than thirty-five (35) miles per hour. |
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(h) No person shall operate a low speed vehicle: (1) In any careless way as to endanger |
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the person or property of another; or (2) While under the influence of alcohol or any controlled |
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substance. Low speed vehicles shall be manufactured and comply with the standards of the |
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National Traffic Safety Administration Standards for low speed vehicles as set out in 49 C.F.R. |
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571.000, as amended. |
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(i) A low speed vehicle shall only be operated during the hours of 6:00 am through 6:00 |
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pm. |
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC00257 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
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BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
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OF | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES - LOW SPEED VEHICLES | |
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This act would permit cities and towns by ordinance to authorize the use of low speed |
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vehicles on state, city or town roads within a specified distance from a golf course. |
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This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC00257 | |
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