Senate Bill 0996
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 996
By the Committee on Transportation
306-676A-99
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to motor vehicles; creating s.
3 316.2122, F.S.; authorizing the use of
4 low-speed vehicles on certain public roads;
5 providing restrictions for such operation;
6 amending s. 320.01, F.S.; providing a speed
7 restriction for golf carts; defining the term
8 "low-speed vehicle"; amending s. 320.08001,
9 F.S.; prescribing a license tax for low-speed
10 vehicles; providing an effective date.
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12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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14 Section 1. Section 316.2122, Florida Statutes, is
15 created to read:
16 316.2122 Operation of a low-speed vehicle on certain
17 roadways.--The operation of a low-speed vehicle, as defined in
18 s. 320.01(42), upon the public roads or streets of this state
19 is authorized with the following restrictions:
20 (1) A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on
21 streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or
22 less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing
23 a road or street at an intersection where the road or street
24 has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
25 (2) A low-speed vehicle must be equipped with
26 headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex
27 reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields,
28 seat belts, and vehicle identification numbers.
29 (3) A low-speed vehicle must be registered and insured
30 in accordance with s. 320.02.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 996
306-676A-99
1 (4) Any person operating a low-speed vehicle must have
2 in his or her possession a valid driver's license.
3 (5) A county or municipality may prohibit the
4 operation of low-speed vehicles on any street or highway under
5 its jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or
6 municipality determines that such prohibition is necessary in
7 the interest of safety.
8 (6) The Department of Transportation may prohibit the
9 operation of low-speed vehicles on any street or highway under
10 its jurisdiction if it determines that such prohibition is
11 necessary in the interest of safety.
12 Section 2. Subsection (22) of section 320.01, Florida
13 Statutes, is amended and subsection (42) is added to that
14 section to read:
15 320.01 Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida
16 Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:
17 (22) "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle that is
18 designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for
19 sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of
20 exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.
21 (42) "Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled
22 electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per
23 hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including
24 neighborhood electric vehicles. Low-speed vehicles must comply
25 with the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. 571.500 and s.
26 316.2122.
27 Section 3. Section 320.08001, Florida Statutes, is
28 amended to read:
29 320.08001 Electric vehicles; license tax.--The license
30 tax for an electric vehicle or low-speed vehicle is the same
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 996
306-676A-99
1 as that prescribed in s. 320.08, for a vehicle that is not
2 electrically powered.
3 Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
4 law.
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7 SENATE SUMMARY
8 Provides for golf carts to cross city, county, or state
streets, roads, or highways under certain circumstances.
9 Establishes guidelines for the operation of low-speed
vehicles upon public roads or streets. Provides
10 definitions of "golf cart" and "low-speed vehicle."
Provides a license tax for low-speed vehicles.
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