HLS 15RS-266 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 248
BY REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
MOTOR VEHICLES: Authorizes the use of "neighborhood vehicles" on certain roads
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 32:299.3, relative to off-road vehicles; to provide relative to "neighborhood
3 vehicles" as "off-road vehicles"; to provide relative to safety equipment required for
4 neighborhood vehicles; to provide for restrictions on speed and eligible roadways to
5 be used by neighborhood vehicles; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 32:299.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง299.3. Neighborhood vehicles; safety equipment requirements; exemptions;
9 registration
10 A. "Neighborhood vehicle" means an electric four-wheeled vehicle
11 originally intended for use off-road on golf courses and other green spaces whose
12 maximum speed is twenty-five miles per hour.
13 B. A neighborhood vehicle may be operated at a speed not to exceed twenty-
14 five miles per hour on any roadway or street where the posted speed limit is thirty-
15 five miles per hour or less and may cross any divided highway, highway, roadway,
16 or street with a posted speed limit in excess of thirty-five miles per hour at an
17 intersection.
18 C. A neighborhood vehicle operated on any roadway or street shall be
19 equipped with the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for motor vehicle
20 safety including headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps,
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-266 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 248
1 reflex reflectors, including one on each side as far to the rear as practicable, and one
2 red reflector on the rear of the vehicle, an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's
3 side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of
4 the vehicle or an interior mirror, a parking brake, a windshield that conforms to the
5 American National Standard Institute's "Safety Code for Safety Glazing Materials
6 for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways", a windshield wiper,
7 speedometer, odometer, braking for each wheel, a seat belt assembly installed at each
8 designated seating position, and a vehicle identification number.
9 D. Any neighborhood vehicle operated upon any roadway or street, including
10 any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street, shall be registered with the state
11 of Louisiana through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of
12 motor vehicles, as an off-road vehicle and shall display a decal issued by the office
13 of motor vehicles.
14 E. No neighborhood vehicle shall be operated by an unlicensed driver.
15 F. Any neighborhood vehicle operated upon a highway of this state shall
16 have liability insurance with the same minimum limits as required by the provisions
17 of R.S. 32:900(B).
18 G.(1) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to prohibit the
19 Department of Transportation and Development from prohibiting the operation of
20 any neighborhood vehicle on any state highway under its jurisdiction if the
21 department determines that such prohibition is necessary for the safety of the
22 motoring public.
23 (2) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to prohibit parish or
24 municipal governments from prohibiting the operation of any neighborhood vehicle
25 on any parish or municipal road or highway under its jurisdiction if such parish or
26 municipal government determines that such prohibition is necessary for the safety
27 of the motoring public.
28 H. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor
29 vehicles, may adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-266 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 248
1 Procedure Act, subject to oversight by the House and Senate committees on
2 transportation, highways, and public works, as necessary to implement the provisions
3 of this Section.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 248 Original 2015 Regular Session Lambert
Abstract: Authorizes the use of "neighborhood vehicles" on certain roads.
Proposed law defines a "neighborhood vehicle" as an electric four-wheeled vehicle originally
intended for use off-road on golf courses and other green spaces whose maximum speed is
25 mph. Authorizes such vehicles to be operated at 25 mph or less on any road or street
posted with a 35 mph maximum speed limit. Requires certain minimum safety equipment
on neighborhood vehicles operating on the roadways and streets including signal lights, tail
lights, break lights, reflectors, exterior mirrors, a safety glass windshield, wipers, a
speedometer, an odometer, brakes for each wheel, seat belts, and a vehicle identification
number.
Proposed law further requires registration of a neighborhood vehicle with the office of motor
vehicles (OMV) as an off-road vehicle and requires display of a decal issued by the OMV.
Prohibits operation by an unlicensed driver. Requires appropriate liability insurance.
Allows the Dept. of Transportation and Development or parish or municipal governments
to prohibit the operation of neighborhood vehicles on roads under their jurisdictions.
Authorizes the promulgation of necessary rules by the OMV.
(Adds R.S. 32:299.3)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.