§ 10-1-8. Neighborhood Electric Vehicles.

(a)

Authority and Purpose. This section is adopted pursuant to Sec. 349.26, Wis. Stats., and is adopted for the protection of the public health, safety, benefit and welfare of the city.

(b)

Definition. "Neighborhood electric vehicle" (NEV) means a self-propelled motor vehicle that has successfully completed the neighborhood electric vehicle America test program conducted by the United States Department of Energy, and that conforms to the definition and requirements for low-speed vehicles as adopted in the federal motor vehicle safety standards for low-speed vehicles under 49 CFR §§ 571.3(b) and 571.500. Neighborhood electric vehicle does not include a golf cart.

(c)

Permitted Use of NEV on City Streets. A person may operate a NEV on city streets that have a posted speed limit of twenty-five (25) miles per hour or less, subject to the following restrictions:

(1)

The person operating the NEV must hold a valid Wisconsin operator's license or a valid operator's license from another state.

(2)

The NEV must be licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

(3)

The NEV shall:

a.

Be a four-wheeled vehicle.

b.

Have a speed range of at least 20 miles per hour and not more than 25 miles per hour on a paved surface.

c.

Have a gross vehicle weight at rest of less than 3,000 pounds.

d.

Be operated with headlamps on at all times.

(4)

The NEV shall be equipped with the following:

a.

Headlamps.

b.

Front and rear turn signal lamps.

c.

Tail lamps.

d.

Stop lamps

e.

Have an audible warning horn capable of producing 90 decibels (db) at 10 feet.

f.

Reflex reflectors: one red on each side as far to the rear as practicable, and one red on the rear (three total).

g.

An exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or an interior rearview mirror.

h.

A parking brake.

i.

A windshield that conforms to the requirements of the federal motor vehicle safety standard on glazing materials in 49 CFR § 571.205.

j.

A vehicle identification number (VIN) that complies with federal law pursuant to 49 CFR § 565.

k.

A Type 1 or Type 2 seatbelt assembly conforming to 49 CFR § 571.209 and Federal Motor Safety Standard No. 209, for each designated seating position.

l.

Satisfies the general test conditions under 49 CFR § 571.500.

(d)

Other Laws Applicable. NEVs shall comply with all applicable state and local traffic laws, including but not limited to Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the City Code of Ordinances, and owners and operators of NEVs shall be subject to citations and forfeitures for any such violation.

(e)

Enforcement and Penalties. Any person who violates this Section shall be subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions set forth in Sections 10-1-50 and 10-1-51.

(f)

Severability. If any portion of this section, or its application to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the validity of this section as a whole, or any other provision herein and its application to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected.

(Ord. No. 08-746, 7-14-08)