Complete Bill History



House File 358       



                                    HOUSE FILE       
                                    BY  SWEENEY

                                         A BILL FOR

     1 An Act relating to the definition of off=road utility vehicle
     2    and the operation of off=road utility vehicles on public
     3    areas and trails designated for all=terrain vehicle use.
     4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
       TLSB 2456HH (1) 84
       dea/rj

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 321I.1, subsection 16, Code 2011, is
  1  2 amended to read as follows:
  1  3    16.  a.  "Off=road utility vehicle" means a motorized
  1  4 flotation=tire vehicle with not less than four and not more
  1  5 than eight low=pressure tires that is limited in engine
  1  6 displacement to less than one thousand five hundred cubic
  1  7 centimeters and in total dry weight to not more than one
  1  8 thousand eight hundred pounds and that has a seat that is of
  1  9 bucket or bench design, not intended to be straddled by the
  1 10 operator, and a steering wheel or control levers for control,
  1 11 including but not limited to a mini dune buggy.
  1 12    b.  An owner of an off=road utility vehicle may register
  1 13 or title an off=road utility vehicle in order to legally
  1 14 operate the off=road vehicle on public ice, a designated
  1 15 riding area, or a designated riding trail. The operator of an
  1 16 off=road utility vehicle is subject to provisions governing
  1 17 the operation of all=terrain vehicles in section 321.234A and
  1 18 this chapter, but is exempt from the safety instruction and
  1 19 certification program requirements of sections 321I.25 and
  1 20 321I.26. An operator of an off=road utility vehicle shall not
  1 21 operate the vehicle on a designated riding area or designated
  1 22 riding trail unless the department has posted signage
  1 23 indicating the riding area or trail is open to the operation
  1 24 of off=road utility vehicles. Off=road utility vehicles are
  1 25 exempt from the dealer registration and titling requirements
  1 26 of this chapter. A motorized vehicle that was previously
  1 27 titled or is currently titled under chapter 321 shall not be
  1 28 registered or operated as an off=road utility vehicle.
  1 29    Sec. 2.  Section 321I.14, subsection 4, Code 2011, is amended
  1 30 by striking the subsection.
  1 31    Sec. 3.  Section 805.8B, subsection 2A, paragraph b,
  1 32 subparagraph (3), Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
  1 33    (3)  For operating violations under section 321I.14,
  1 34 subsection 1, paragraphs "a", "e", "f", "g", and "h", and
  1 35 subsections 2, 3, 4, and 5, the scheduled fine is one hundred
  2  1 dollars.
  2  2                           EXPLANATION
  2  3    This bill amends the definition of "off=road utility
  2  4 vehicle" to specify that the term includes vehicles known as
  2  5 mini dune buggies.  An off=road utility vehicle is defined as
  2  6 a motorized flotation=tire vehicle with at least four but not
  2  7 more than eight low=pressure tires that is limited in engine
  2  8 displacement to less than 1,500 cubic centimeters and in total
  2  9 dry weight to not more than 1,800 pounds and that has a seat
  2 10 that is of bucket or bench design, not intended to be straddled
  2 11 by the operator, and a steering wheel or control levers for
  2 12 control.
  2 13    Under current law, the registration of off=road utility
  2 14 vehicles is required if the owner intends to use the vehicle
  2 15 on public ice, designated riding areas, or designated riding
  2 16 trails.  However, off=road utility vehicles are only permitted
  2 17 on those designated riding areas and trails where the
  2 18 department of natural resources has posted signs indicating
  2 19 that the riding area or trail is open to off=road utility
  2 20 vehicles.
  2 21    This bill removes the restriction on the operation of
  2 22 off=road utility vehicles on certain designated riding areas or
  2 23 trails, so that a registered off=road utility vehicle may be
  2 24 operated on any public riding area or trail designated for the
  2 25 operation of all=terrain vehicles.
       LSB 2456HH (1) 84
       dea/rj