Senate Bill 0996er
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1999 Legislature SB 996, 2nd Engrossed
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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"; defining the term "utility
9 vehicle"; amending s. 320.08001, F.S.;
10 prescribing a license tax for low-speed
11 vehicles; amending s. 316.2126, F.S.;
12 authorizing the use of golf carts and utility
13 vehicles by municipalities for municipal
14 purposes and subject to certain conditions;
15 amending s. 320.105, F.S.; exempting golf carts
16 and utility vehicles from requirements to
17 display license plates; amending s. 325.203,
18 F.S.; exempting golf carts and utility vehicles
19 from inspection requirements; providing an
20 effective date.
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22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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24 Section 1. Section 316.2122, Florida Statutes, is
25 created to read:
26 316.2122 Operation of a low-speed vehicle on certain
27 roadways.--The operation of a low-speed vehicle, as defined in
28 s. 320.01(42), on any road as defined in s. 334.03(15) or s.
29 334.03(33), is authorized with the following restrictions:
30 (1) A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on
31 streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or
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1999 Legislature SB 996, 2nd Engrossed
1 less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing
2 a road or street at an intersection where the road or street
3 has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
4 (2) A low-speed vehicle must be equipped with
5 headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex
6 reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields,
7 seat belts, and vehicle identification numbers.
8 (3) A low-speed vehicle must be registered and insured
9 in accordance with s. 320.02.
10 (4) Any person operating a low-speed vehicle must have
11 in his or her possession a valid driver's license.
12 (5) A county or municipality may prohibit the
13 operation of low-speed vehicles on any road under its
14 jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or
15 municipality determines that such prohibition is necessary in
16 the interest of safety.
17 (6) The Department of Transportation may prohibit the
18 operation of low-speed vehicles on any road under its
19 jurisdiction if it determines that such prohibition is
20 necessary in the interest of safety.
21 Section 2. Subsection (22) of section 320.01, Florida
22 Statutes, is amended and subsections (42) and (43) are added
23 to that section to read:
24 320.01 Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida
25 Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:
26 (22) "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle that is
27 designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for
28 sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of
29 exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.
30 (42) "Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled
31 electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per
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1999 Legislature SB 996, 2nd Engrossed
1 hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including
2 neighborhood electric vehicles. Low-speed vehicles must comply
3 with the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. 571.500 and s.
4 316.2122.
5 (43) "Utility vehicle" means a motor vehicle designed
6 and manufactured for general maintenance, security, and
7 landscaping purposes, but the term does not include any
8 vehicle designed or used primarily for the transportation of
9 persons or property on a street or highway, or a golf cart, or
10 an all-terrain vehicle as defined in s. 316.2074.
11 Section 3. Section 320.08001, Florida Statutes, is
12 amended to read:
13 320.08001 Electric vehicles; license tax.--The license
14 tax for an electric vehicle or low-speed vehicle is the same
15 as that prescribed in s. 320.08, for a vehicle that is not
16 electrically powered.
17 Section 4. Section 316.2126, Florida Statutes, is
18 amended to read:
19 316.2126 Use of golf carts and utility vehicles by
20 certain municipalities.--In addition to the powers granted by
21 ss. 316.212 and 316.2125, municipalities older than 400 years
22 old are hereby authorized to utilize golf carts and utility
23 vehicles, as defined in s. 320.01, upon any state, county, or
24 municipal roads located within the corporate limits of such
25 municipalities, subject to the following conditions:
26 (1) Golf carts and utility vehicles must comply with
27 the operational and safety requirements operated beyond the
28 authority granted in ss. 316.212 and 316.2125 and shall may
29 only be operated by municipal employees for municipal
30 purposes, including, but not limited to, police patrol,
31 traffic enforcement, and inspection of public facilities.
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1999 Legislature SB 996, 2nd Engrossed
1 (2) In addition to the safety equipment required in s.
2 316.212(6), such golf carts and utility vehicles must be
3 equipped with sufficient lighting and turn signal equipment.
4 (3) The Golf carts and utility vehicles may only be
5 operated on state roads that have a posted speed limit of 30
6 miles per hour or less.
7 (4) A municipal employee operating a golf cart or
8 utility vehicle pursuant to this section must possess a valid
9 driver's license as required by s. 322.03.
10 Section 5. Section 320.105, Florida Statutes, is
11 amended to read:
12 320.105 Golf carts and utility vehicles;
13 exemption.--Golf carts and utility vehicles, as defined in s.
14 320.01, when operated in accordance with s. 316.212 or s.
15 316.2126, are exempt from provisions of this chapter which
16 require the registration of vehicles or the display of license
17 plates.
18 Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
19 325.203, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
20 325.203 Motor vehicles subject to annual inspection;
21 exemptions.--
22 (4) The following motor vehicles are not subject to
23 inspection:
24 (c) Golf carts and utility vehicles, as defined in s.
25 320.01.
26 Section 7. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
27 law.
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