Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 120
04/08/2009 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB140 | |
| HB194 | |
| HB138 | |
| HB9 | |
| HJR30 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 194 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 138 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 140 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 194 - LOW-SPEED MOTOR VEHICLES 1:31:42 PM CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 194, "An Act relating to the operation of low- speed vehicles." [Before the committee was CSHB 194 (TRA).] 1:32:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, noted that HB 194 was introduced at the urging of constituents in two of her communities, and offered that low-speed vehicles ("LSVs") are very useful in small communities such as those in her district, and fill a transportation niche not being met by standard passenger vehicles, which are not efficient at low speeds or over short distances. House Bill 194 would give smaller communities - those with [a population of less] than 35,000 - the option to allow LSVs on roads that have a maximum speed limit of 45 miles per hour (mph). 1:33:07 PM REID HARRIS, Staff, Representative Peggy Wilson, Alaska State Legislature, added on behalf of the sponsor, Representative Wilson, that the intent of HB 194 is to increase the number of roads available to LSVs in order to promote their use in small communities, and that the bill does so [in part] by allowing LSVs in certain, qualifying communities to be used on roads that have a maximum speed limit of 45 mph; currently, LSVs cannot be used on roads that have a maximum speed limit of more than 35 mph. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Alaska's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) define an LSV as a passenger vehicle that has four wheels, has a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 3,000 pounds, and can attain a minimum speed of 20 mph and a maximum speed of 25 mph. The NHTSA has adopted regulatory standards for LSVs that require much of the same technology found in standard passenger vehicles, including headlights, taillights, turn signals, reflectors, a windshield that conforms to federal standards, and seatbelts for all designated seats. MR. HARRIS noted that the term "low-speed vehicle" refers to a legal class of vehicle that meets the aforementioned standards, and not to slow-moving vehicles such as farm, construction, or snow-removal equipment. The bill provides a unique opportunity for small and rural communities to allow themselves a new form of transportation. Such vehicles are convenient and can be cheaper for short trips than standard passenger vehicles; not all people want to drive their full-size vehicle the short distance to the grocery store, for example, particularly given the high price of gasoline in rural communities. Low-speed vehicles can reduce gasoline usage, dramatically cut down the amount of air-borne pollution a community produces, satisfy the demand for reduced-emission transportation, and be powered by gasoline, electricity, or a combination of both gasoline and electricity. MR. HARRIS said that although there are concerns that LSVs will cause congestion on public roads, the bill seeks to alleviate those concerns by requiring that qualifying communities have a population of less than 35,000 and not be connected by road to Anchorage or Fairbanks. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that an LSV may only cross a highway that has a maximum speed limit greater than 45 mph if the crossing is made at an intersection where the roads on both sides of the highway are eligible for LSV use. In conclusion, he mentioned that the bill also stipulates that otherwise qualifying communities must also pass a local ordinance allowing for the operation of LSVs as provided for in the bill; this will ensure that LSVs are welcome in the communities that choose to accept them, and not a burden on those communities that do not. REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM, noting that she believes in the intent of HB 194, asked what position law enforcement agencies, the DMV, and insurance companies have taken on the bill. MR. HARRIS said he's not yet spoken with representatives from any of those groups, but surmised that law enforcement officers would be able to ticket any LSV that isn't complying with the law. In response to other questions, he reiterated that LSVs are required to have all the standard safety features that regular passenger vehicles are required to have, and indicated that studded tires are probably available for LSVs, and that certain models might come with all-wheel drive and traction control. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO expressed concern that LSVs be capable of driving in [winter] conditions. CHAIR RAMRAS, in response to comments, noted that existing law already addresses LSV usage, and that HB 194 would just be expanding that existing law. MR. HARRIS remarked that it would be up to an LSV's owner to decide whether he/she wanted to drive his/her LSV in less than optimum driving conditions. In response to a question, he reiterated that LSVs can be powered by gasoline, electricity, or a combination of both gasoline and electricity, adding that LSVs are required to be self propelled. In response to another question, he offered his understanding that [Segway-type] vehicles are not LSVs, and would probably not be practical for the communities HB 194 is intended to address. 1:43:37 PM GERALD HERBRANDSON, Solar Wind of Alaska, said that there are currently 10 LSVs operating in Petersburg, with a combined mileage of well over 10,000 miles. These LSVs are small, four- door sedans with hatchbacks; they seat four adult passengers comfortably; they have all the same lights that conventional cars have; and, with snow tires or studded tires, they are very aggressive in snow and slush, and have bypassed four-wheel drive vehicles that have gotten stuck. The only difference between regular vehicles and LSVs is that the LSVs go slower and conserve energy. In Petersburg, there a couple of short stretches of the highway that have a maximum speed limit greater than 35 mph, and so passage of HB 194 would allow LSVs on even those stretches, thereby making LSVs ideally suited for the community of Petersburg and other similar communities. MR. HERBRANDSON offered his belief that regular passenger vehicles are not well-suited to driving short distances, whereas LSVs are ideal for such trips, and that most drivers [in Petersburg] generally don't drive very far when taking care of daily errands. Low-speed vehicles are energy efficient, convenient to use, and can be fully insured through numerous insurance companies. He mentioned that he's given the local police chief a ride in an LSV, and found the police chief to be supportive of the concept of LSVs. In conclusion, he mentioned that LSVs do have heaters, and that he appreciates the opportunity [being provided via HB 194] for people to be more energy conscious. 1:46:45 PM MEGAN PASTERNACK, in response to a question, relayed that her LSV, which she has owned for more than a year, still has less than 3,000 miles on it. She offered her understanding that currently there are at least nineteen LSVs in Southeast Alaska, two in Kodiak, and possibly more throughout the rest of the state. Her LSV is a fully enclosed vehicle with a crush-proof body; it has lights, windshield wipers, mirrors, front wheel drive, and turn indicators; it meets or exceeds the federal motor vehicle safety standards for LSVs - "FMVSS 500"; and it is fully insured. She opined that HB 194 is about much more than just cheap transportation - it is also another much-needed step toward helping eliminate pollution and protecting the environment, and will help legislators, Alaska's communities, the state of Alaska, the United States, and the world. House Bill 194 will help those who must transit 45-mph zones for work or other purposes and who have had reservations about owning an LSV because of the current 35-mph limitation; if the bill passes, such people would then be able to make the decision to join others who are trying to [lessen] their carbon footprints. MS. PASTERNAK said that as an LSV driver, she is very conscious of the traffic around her, and does not impede others who wish to go faster than her allowed speed of 25 mph; that to that end, she waits to enter a roadway until approaching traffic [has gone past], and pulls over whenever possible to allow other drivers to pass her. She surmised that other LSV drivers are just as conscientious. Many LSVs are in use in Europe, and have been for quite some time. She offered her understanding that one of the reasons LSVs are safe is that when involved in a crash, they are so lightweight that they tend to just bounce away rather than absorb the full force of the impact. House Bill 194 has great flexibility in that it requires individual communities to decide, based on local conditions, whether to allow LSVs to travel in 45-mph zones. Although some have argued that owners of LSVs won't be contributing to the building and upkeep of roads and highways because they won't be purchasing [as much if any] fuel and thus won't be paying the associated taxes, she would be more than willing to pay a tax or fee specific to LSVs when registering or renewing license tabs, she relayed. Furthermore, she posited, her 1,200-pound LSV does far less damage to the roads then overloaded dump trucks that traverse them. MS. PASTERNAK, in conclusion, opined that if legislators would like to do more to encourage LSV usage, they should also consider allowing LSVs to be modified so that they can go 35 mph; her LSV had that capability but the modification allowing such had to be removed in order for her to comply with Alaska's LSV registration and licensing requirements. REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM asked whether the DMV supports HB 194. 1:50:55 PM CARL SPRINGER, JR., Registrar, Director's Office, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration (DOA), said the DMV is not opposed to the bill and has the understanding that it would only change which roads LSVs could travel on and would have no effect on the DMV's workload. In response to another question, he said that the two-year registration fee of $100 is the same for LSVs as it is for regular passenger vehicles. In response to a further question, he explained that the federal and state definitions of what constitutes an LSV address the minimum and maximum speeds at which an LSV can travel, not the size or type of engine or how much horsepower it has; if an LSV is modified to exceed that maximum speed, it cannot be registered as an LSV in Alaska. In response to more questions, he said that LSVs are manufactured to meet their own standards, which are not as stringent as those of regular passenger vehicles; that such standards [in part] address the crash-worthiness of vehicles in head-on collisions; that he does not have any information regarding rear-end collisions of LSVs compared to regular passenger vehicles; that any such collisions will most likely cause damage unless the vehicle impacting the LSV is traveling at a very slow speed; that because LSVs are required to have seatbelts, they can therefore also accommodate child restraint systems; and that LSVs do not have airbags. CHAIR RAMRAS, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 194. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, in response to a question, relayed that he would not be offering the amendment labeled 26- LS0715\P.3, Luckhaupt, 4/1/09, which read: Page 1, line 6, following "may": Insert "operate that vehicle" Page 1, line 7: Delete "operate that vehicle" Page 2, lines 3 - 8: Delete all material and insert: "(2) across an intersection with [CROSS] a highway that has a maximum speed limit greater than is permissible [OF MORE THAN 35 MILES AN HOUR IF THE CROSSING IS MADE AT THE INTERSECTION WITH A HIGHWAY THAT IS AUTHORIZED] for low-speed vehicles under this subsection." REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES said she thought that that amendment would clarify the one part of the bill that she found confusing. REPRESENTATIVE WILSON, in response to a question, relayed that both she and the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) prefer the language currently in [CSHB 194(TRA)]. MR. HARRIS, in response to a question, relayed that LSVs cannot drive on the shoulder of the road but can pull over on it in order to let other vehicles pass; LSVs are to be operated in the same fashion as regular passenger vehicles. 1:58:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved to report CSHB 194(TRA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 194(TRA) was reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 01 HB138 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 138 |
| 01 HB194 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 194 |
| HB140 Amendment A.1.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| 02 HB138 CS version P.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 138 |
| 03 HB138 version S.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 138 |
| 04 HB138 DOC FN.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 138 |
| 05 HB138 LAW-CRIM-FN.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 138 |
| 06 HB138 Lettrs of SupportOpposition.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 138 |
| 02 HB194 Bill version P.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 194 |
| 03 HB194 DOT FN.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 194 |
| 04 HB194 Backup.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 194 |
| 05 HB194 Amendment P.3.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 194 |
| HJR 30 version R.pdf |
HJUD 4/8/2009 1:00:00 PM |