HLS 21RS-349 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 501
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHAMERHORN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TRANSPORTATION: Authorizes the operation of certain utility terrain vehicles on
highway shoulders
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 32:1(110) and 299.3(B)(3), relative to the use of utility terrain vehicles; to
3 provide for the authorization of the use of utility terrain vehicles on highway
4 shoulders; to provide for definitions related to motor vehicles and traffic regulations;
5 to direct the Louisiana State Law Institute to reorder certain definitions; and to
6 provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 32:1(110) and 299.3(B)(3) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §1. Definitions
10 * * *
11 (110) "Utility terrain vehicle" means any recreational motor vehicle designed
12 for and capable of travel over designated roads, traveling on four or more tires with
13 a maximum tire width of twenty-seven inches, a maximum wheel cleat or lug of
14 three-fourths of an inch, a minimum width of fifty inches but not exceeding
15 seventy-four inches, a minimum weight of at least seven hundred pounds but not
16 exceeding two thousand pounds, and a minimum wheelbase of sixty-one inches but
17 not exceeding one hundred ten inches. "Utility terrain vehicle" shall include those
18 vehicles not equipped with a certification label as required by 49 CFR Part 567.4.
19 (a) "Utility terrain vehicle" does not include golf carts, vehicles specially
20 designed to carry a disabled person, or vehicles otherwise registered under R.S.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-349 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 501
1 32:299. A "utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV" also means a recreational off-highway
2 vehicle or ROV.
3 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 32:299.3 to the contrary, a
4 "utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV" may operate on the shoulders of any publicly
5 maintained highway with improved asphalt or concrete shoulders except an interstate
6 highway for the purpose of moving between agricultural properties as provided in
7 R.S. 32:298.
8 * * *
9 §299.3. Off-road vehicles; utility terrain vehicles
10 * * *
11 B. Notwithstanding the provisions in R.S. 32:299, the operation of a utility
12 terrain vehicle upon the public roads or streets of this state is prohibited, except as
13 follows:
14 * * *
15 (3) Notwithstanding any of the provisions contained in this Subsection to the
16 contrary, utility terrain vehicles used for the purpose of moving between agricultural
17 properties may operate on the shoulders of any publicly maintained highway with
18 improved asphalt or concrete shoulders except an interstate highway.
19 * * *
20 Section 2. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
21renumber in consecutive sequence and to reorder the definitions in R.S. 32:1 in alphabetical
22sequence.
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 501 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Schamerhorn
Abstract: Authorizes a utility terrain vehicle to operate on highway shoulders for the
purpose of moving between agricultural properties.
Present law provides definitions related to motor vehicles and traffic regulations.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-349 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 501
Present law defines a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) as any recreational motor vehicle
designed for and capable of travel over designated roads, traveling on four or more tires, a
maximum tire width of 27 inches, a maximum wheel cleat of 3/4th inches, a minimum width
of 50 inches but not exceeding 74 inches, a minimum weight of at least 700 pounds but not
exceeding 2000 pounds, and having a minimum wheelbase of 61 inches but not exceeding
110 inches. Present law adds that a UTV does not include golf carts, vehicles specially
designed to carry a disabled person, or vehicles otherwise registered under present law. A
UTV also means a recreational off-highway vehicle or ROV.
Proposed law adds the present law definition for UTV to the definitions related to motor
vehicles and traffic regulations provided in present law.
Present law generally restricts the operation of utility terrain vehicles on public roads and
streets, except in the following circumstances:
(1)A utility terrain vehicle operated on a parish road or municipal street designated by
a parish or municipality for use by a utility terrain vehicle.
(2)A utility terrain vehicle may cross a divided highway, highway, roadway, or street
with a posted speed limit in excess of 35 miles per hour at an intersection.
Proposed law retains present law and further authorizes the operation of UTVs on the
shoulder of a highway with improved asphalt or concrete shoulders except an interstate
highway for the purpose of moving between agricultural properties.
(Adds R.S. 32:1(110) and 299.3(B)(3))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.