Colorado § 42-4-109.5 - Low-speed electric vehicles.

§ 42-4-109.5. Low-speed electric vehicles.

(1) (a) A low-speed electric vehicle may be operated only on a roadway that has a speed limit equal to or less than thirty-five miles per hour; except that it may be operated to directly cross a roadway that has a speed limit greater than thirty-five miles per hour at an at-grade crossing to continue traveling along a roadway with a speed limit equal to or less than thirty-five miles per hour.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), a low-speed electric vehicle may be operated on a state highway that has a speed limit equal to forty miles per hour or cross a roadway with a speed limit equal to forty miles per hour to cross at-grade, if:

(I) Such roadway's lane width is eleven feet or greater;

(II) Such roadway provides two or more lanes in either direction; and

(III) The department determines, in consultation with local government and law enforcement, upon the basis of a traffic investigation, survey, appropriate design standards, or projected volumes, that the operation of a low-speed electric vehicle on the roadway poses no substantial safety risk or hazard to motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, or other persons.

(c) The department may waive the necessity of a traffic investigation or survey pursuant to section 42-4-1102 or may conduct a traffic investigation or survey to determine where low-speed electric vehicles can be driven safely on state highways or portions thereof. The department shall conduct this traffic investigation or survey using existing appropriations.

(2) No person shall operate a low-speed electric vehicle on a limited-access highway.

(3) Any person who violates subsection (1) or (2) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.

(4) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2009, (SB 09-075), ch. 418, p. 2321, § 5, effective August 5, 2009.)

(5) The Colorado department of transportation may regulate the operation of a low-speed electric vehicle on a state highway located outside of a municipality. The regulation shall take effect when the Colorado department of transportation places an appropriate sign that provides adequate notice of the regulation.

Source: L. 97: Entire section added, p. 394, § 7, effective August 6. L. 2009: Entire section amended, (SB 09-075), ch. 418, p. 2321, § 5, effective August 5. L. 2012: (1) amended, (SB 12-013), ch. 148, p. 532, § 1, effective May 3.