Helmet Laws, Etc.

[Ty]

you are on a roll today ...

Boredom + curiosity... And there you go. I'll get into research tandems on occasion. I'll be thinking "Why did I just spend 2 hours researching Tucker?"

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Boredom + curiosity... And there you go. I'll get into research tandems on occasion. I'll be thinking "Why did I just spend 2 hours researching Tucker?"

Thanks for your effort- will they get together to iron-out a bill that both houses will approve?

 

[JEBar]

Boredom + curiosity... And there you go. I'll get into research tandems on occasion. I'll be thinking "Why did I just spend 2 hours researching Tucker?"

it would be great if you happen to come across anything new from NC ..

 

[Ty]

Thanks for your effort- will they get together to iron-out a bill that both houses will approve?

It looks like they will. There are usually only minor tweaks between readings and/or Houses. Since there isn't anything controversial or that will have money involved, they will typically approve it. I don't know whether that's to help pad their stats or what but it seems to be the norm.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

It looks like they will. There are usually only minor tweaks between readings and/or Houses. Since there isn't anything controversial or that will have money involved, they will typically approve it. I don't know whether that's to help pad their stats or what but it seems to be the norm.

Great! keep us posted. Every (no matter how small) positive "news" can all help keep the momentum from slowing

 

[Ty]

it would be great if you happen to come across anything new from NC ..

Like this?

Publish Date:
Mar 27, 2015
RALEIGH, N.C. – An autocycle bill making its way through the state legislature has passed a speed bump, as the House voted unanimously March 26 to approve the new vehicle category for three-wheelers.
Elio Motors-backed H 6 defines an autocycle as “A three-wheeled motorcycle that has a steering wheel, pedals, seat safety belts for each occupant, antilock brakes, air bag protection, completely enclosed seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, and is otherwise manufactured to comply with federal safety requirements for motorcycles.”
Rep. John Torbett, a Stanley Republican, said without the change, North Carolina would consider Elio a motorcycle and require its passengers to wear helmets unnecessarily. H 6 does not apply to the Polaris Slingshot, which has no airbags and is governed under motorcycle law in North Carolina.
After the 113-0 House vote, the autocycle bill now goes to the Senate.

This:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2015&BillID=H6

Here's the Bill's Text:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2015/Bills/House/PDF/H6v2.pdf

Here are the highlights:
10 (a3) Autocycles. – For purposes of this section, the term "motorcycle" shall not include autocycles. To drive an autocycle, a person shall have a regular drivers license.

SECTION 11. G.S. 20-140.4(a) reads as rewritten: 6

"(a) No person shall operate a motorcycle or moped upon a highway or public vehicular 7 area: 8 (1) When the number of persons upon or within such motorcycle or moped, 9 including the operator, shall exceed the number of persons which it was 10 designed to carry. 11
(2) Unless the operator and all passengers thereon wear on their heads, with a 12 retention strap properly secured, safety helmets of a type that complies with 13 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. This subdivision 14 shall not apply to an operator of an autocycle or any passengers within an 15 autocycle."
In short, they've passed the House and now it is up to the Senate... No helmet for Autocycles and only a regular drivers license will be required.

Let me make my own update here... The Senate has already passed it on the first reading. It is now at a Committee for their approval (they'll get it) and then it goes to a second and finally, a third reading after which they'll vote. It'll then probably go to the governor for signing. After he signs, it'll be appointed a chapter number and it'll go from being a Bill to a Law.

The 2nd and 3rd reading in the House were on the same day as the first reading so it shouldn't take much longer for the Senate. I'll bet by next Friday, it'll be at the Governor's for signature. He has seven days to sign. If he doesn't, it is automatically approved.

 

[JEBar]

After the 113-0 House vote, the autocycle bill now goes to the Senate.

really do appreciate the effort .... that was the last we have heard .... no clue if there is holdup in the Senate or if that is just the way it goes in the Old North State .... as already noted, a 113-0 vote in the NC House is doesn't happen often

 

[Ty]

really do appreciate the effort .... that was the last we have heard .... no clue if there is holdup in the Senate or if that is just the way it goes in the Old North State .... as already noted, a 113-0 vote in the NC House is doesn't happen often

... because there are 120 members? LOL... I know you meant a unanimous vote. 1 N/V and 6 Absenses left the 113 to vote on it. It only took them a single day to do the three readings and the Committee referral.

 

[pistonboy]

Are they also changing the law in some states requiring motorcycles to park with their rear wheel touching the curb?

 

[Ty]

Are they also changing the law in some states requiring motorcycles to park with their rear wheel touching the curb?

I haven't heard of a law that requires that... In fact, I've been told that motorcycles can park in the stripped lines at the end of parking rows (if they are even there). I'm sure the Elio won't be doing that as it's too wide and long.