HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1523

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 249-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending the definition of "bicycle" to read:

     ""Bicycle" means [every device]:

     (1)  A device propelled solely by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels sixteen inches in diameter or greater, and including any device generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels[.]; or

     (2)  A low-speed electric bicycle, as defined under title 15 United States Code section 2085."

     2.  By amending the definition of "moped" to read:

     ""Moped" means a device upon which a person may ride which has two or three wheels in contact with the ground, a motor having a maximum power output capability measured at the motor output shaft, in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers standards, of two horsepower (one thousand four hundred ninety-two watts) or less and, if it is a combustion engine, a maximum piston or rotor displacement of 3.05 cubic inches (fifty cubic centimeters) and which will propel the device, unassisted, on a level surface at a maximum speed no greater than thirty miles per hour; and a direct or automatic power drive system which requires no clutch or gear shift operation by the moped driver after the drive system is engaged with the power unit[.], but excludes low-speed electric bicycles."

     3.  By amending the definition of "motor vehicle" to read:

     ""Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power but which is not operated upon rails, but excludes mopeds[.] and low-speed electric bicycles."

     4.  By amending the definition of "vehicle" to read:

     ""Vehicle" means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, but excludes devices moved by human power or devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks [and], mopeds[.], and low-speed electric bicycles."

     SECTION 2.  Section 286-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending the definition of "bicycle" to read:

     ""Bicycle" means [every device]:

     (1)  A device propelled solely by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels sixteen inches in diameter or greater, and including any device generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels[.]; or

     (2)  A low-speed electric bicycle, as defined under title 15 United States Code section 2085."

     2.  By amending the definition of "moped" to read:

     ""Moped" means a device upon which a person may ride which has two or three wheels in contact with the ground, a motor having a maximum power output capability measured at the motor output shaft, in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers standards, of two horsepower (one thousand four hundred ninety-two watts) or less and, if it is a combustion engine, a maximum piston or rotor displacement of 3.05 cubic inches (fifty cubic centimeters) and which will propel the moped, unassisted, on a level surface at a maximum speed no greater than thirty miles per hour; and a direct or automatic power drive system which requires no clutch or gear shift operation by the moped driver after the drive system is engaged with the power unit[.], but excludes low-speed electric bicycles."

     3.  By amending the definition of "motor vehicle" to read:

     ""Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power but which is not operated upon rails, but excludes a moped[.] and a low-speed electric bicycle."

     4.  By amending the definition of "vehicle" to read:

     ""Vehicle" means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, but excludes devices moved by human power or devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks [and], mopeds[.], and low-speed electric bicycles."

     SECTION 3.  Section 291C-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending the definition of "bicycle" to read:

     ""Bicycle" means [every vehicle]:

     (1)  A vehicle propelled solely by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, and including any vehicle generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels except a toy bicycle[.]; or

     (2)  A low-speed electric bicycle, as defined under title 15 United States Code section 2085."

     2.  By amending the definition of "moped" to read:

     ""Moped" means a device upon which a person may ride which has two or three wheels in contact with the ground, a motor having a maximum power output capability measured at the motor output shaft, in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers standards, of two horsepower (one thousand four hundred ninety-two watts) or less and, if it is a combustion engine, a maximum piston or rotor displacement of 3.05 cubic inches (fifty cubic centimeters) and which will propel the device unassisted, on a level surface at a maximum speed no greater than thirty miles per hour; and a direct or automatic power drive system which requires no clutch or gear shift operation by the moped driver after the drive system is engaged with the power unit[.], but excludes low-speed electric bicycles."

     3.  By amending the definition of "motor vehicle" to read:

     ""Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power but not operated upon rails but excludes a moped[.] and a low-speed electric bicycle."

     SECTION 4.  Section 291C-148, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Unless otherwise prohibited, a bicycle may be driven at a speed of ten miles per hour or less on a sidewalk or sidewalk area; provided that the driver of the bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and that bicycle riding shall be prohibited on sidewalks in business districts[.]; provided further that low-speed electric bicycle riding shall be prohibited on all sidewalks."

     SECTION 5.  Section 293-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§293-1[]]  Defacing serial numbers, etc., of bicycles.  It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully deface, destroy, or alter the serial number, a component part number, or identification mark of any bicycle, including a low-speed electric bicycle as defined under title 15 United States Code section 2085, so placed or stamped on any bicycle by the manufacturer for the purpose of identifying the bicycle or its component parts.

     This section does not prohibit the restoration by an owner of an original mark or number, when the restoration is authorized in writing by the county treasurer or director of finance, nor prevent any manufacturer from placing in the ordinary course of business, numbers or marks upon new bicycles or new parts thereof.  Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor and shall result in a fine of not more than $500."

     SECTION 6.  Section 293-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§293-2[]] Bicycle dealers, records required.  All persons selling new bicycles [to others], including a low-speed electric bicycle as defined under title 15 United States Code section 2085, as a business shall keep a record for four years after the sale of a bicycle of the name of the purchaser, and the serial number, description, and make of the bicycle sold to the purchaser.  This record may be inspected by the police during reasonable business hours."

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Low-speed Electric Bicycles; Bicycles

 

Description:

Clarifies the definition of "bicycles" for purposes of county vehicular taxes, highway safety laws, statewide traffic code, and bicycle laws by adding "low-speed electric bicycles" and defining low-speed electric bicycles.  Excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definitions of "moped", "motor vehicle", and "vehicle".  Prohibits low-speed electric bicycle riding on all sidewalks.

 

 

 

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