ELECTRIC PATROL VEHICLES
Senate Bill 589 as enacted
Public Act 90 of 2018
Sponsor: Sen. Peter MacGregor
House Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Transportation
Complete to 6-20-19
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 589 amends the Electric Patrol Vehicle Act to allow a political subdivision to operate an electric patrol vehicle on a sidewalk within its boundaries, to allow electric patrol vehicles to have three or fewer wheels, and to allow a political subdivision to exempt an electric patrol vehicle from the act’s equipment requirements.
Political subdivision means a village, city, township, county, or university.
Under the act, an electric patrol vehicle is an electrically powered motor vehicle designed to carry up to four persons at a speed of not more than 25 miles an hour. Electric patrol vehicles are limited to streets or highways with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less, but may cross a street or highway with a posted speed limit of up to 50 miles per hour. The act requires an electric patrol vehicle to have certain specific equipment, including brakes, a windshield, a horn, a parking brake, safety belts, red and amber reflectors, and at least two headlights in front and two rear (brake) lights.
Previously under the act, electric patrol vehicles were defined as having four wheels. The bill allows an electric patrol vehicle to have fewer than four wheels. The bill retains the act’s original equipment requirements for four-wheeled patrol vehicles, but does not require an electric patrol vehicle with three or fewer wheels to have a windshield or safety belts and allows them to be equipped with only one headlight and one rear (brake) light, as long as the headlight still enables the driver to see a person 100 feet away.
The bill also allows a political subdivision, by ordinance, to exempt an electric patrol vehicle from the applicable equipment requirements.
Finally, under the bill, a political subdivision may authorize its law enforcement, emergency service, and parking enforcement employees to operate electric patrol vehicles on sidewalks within its jurisdiction, in addition to the streets and highways where they were previously authorized.
The bill took effect June 24, 2018.
MCL 257.1572 et al.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Senate Bill 589 would result in potential cost savings to villages, cities, townships, counties, local law enforcement agencies, and state universities by providing additional, and possibly less expensive, options for electric patrol vehicles that may be operated under the Electric Patrol Vehicle Act. There would be no direct fiscal impact on state government.
Fiscal Analysts: Michael Cnossen
Kent Dell
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.