UNCONVENTIONAL VEHICLES

VEHICLES AND TECHNOLOGY ARE CHANGING MANUFACTURERS ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MARKET THEIR PRODUCT THEY LOOK AT THE FEDERAL MOTORVEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS AND IF THEY DON’T MEET THEM THEY LOOK TO SEE WHAT STANDARDS THEY DO MEET

IN THE CASE OF THE VEHICLES CURRENTLY BEING BROUGHT IN THEY DO NOT MEET THE FMSS HOWEVER THEY DO MEET THE FEDERAL MOTORCYCLE SAFETY STANDARDS MANUFACTURERS ARE REPRESENTING AND MARKETING THEIR VEHICLES AS MOTORCYCLES

WEST VIRGINIA CODE DEFINITIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS "Vehicle" means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. (b) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails. (c) "Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle, including motor-driven cycles and mopeds as defined in sections five and five-a, article one, chapter seventeen-c of this code, having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.

§17C-15-44. Safety equipment and requirements for motorcyclists, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles and mopeds; motorcycle safety standards and education committee. No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless the person is wearing securely fastened on his or her head by either a neck or chin strap a protective helmet designed to deflect blows, resist penetration and spread impact forces. Any helmet worn by an operator or passenger shall meet the current performance specifications established by the American National Standards Institute Standard, Z 90.1, the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 or Snell Safety Standards for Protective Headgear for Vehicle Users.

(b) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless the person is wearing safety, shatter-resistant eyeglasses (excluding contact lenses), or eye goggles or face shield that complies with the performance specifications established by the American National Standards Institute for Head, Eye and Respiratory Protection, Z 2.1. In addition, if any motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped is equipped with a windshield or windscreen, the windshield or windscreen shall be constructed of safety, shatter-resistant material that complies with the performance specifications established by Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 and American National Standards Institute, Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operated on Land Highways, Standard Z 26.1.

(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped on which the handlebars or grips are more than fifteen inches higher than the uppermost part of the operator's seat when the seat is not depressed in any manner.

(d) A person operating a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped shall ride in a seated position facing forward and only upon a permanent operator's seat attached to the vehicle. No operator shall carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on the vehicle unless the vehicle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride behind the operator upon the permanent operator's seat if it is designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the vehicle to the rear of the operator's seat and equipped with footrests designed and located for use by the passenger or in a sidecar firmly attached to the vehicle. No person shall ride side saddle on a seat. An operator may carry as many passengers as there are seats and footrests to accommodate those passengers. Additional passengers may be carried in a factory produced sidecar provided that there is one passenger per seat. Passengers riding in a sidecar shall be restrained by safety belts.

WEST VIRGINIA CODE §17C-15-45. Certification labels on mopeds. Every moped sold in this state shall have permanently affixed to it a certification label which shall contain the following information: (1) Name of manufacturer; (2) Month and year of manufacture; (3) Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR); (4) Gross axle weight rating for front and rear axles (GAWR); (5) Vehicle identification number; (6) Classification type; and (7) Statement of conformance to federal standards as required by federal law.

HOMEMADE TRIKE

DRIVER AREA STALLION PONY

STALLION PONY

WILDFIRE MOTORS

XEBRA ELECTRIC

T-REX

T-REX

SO WHAT DO WE DO ????????????????????????

LEGISLATION CHANGES IN DEFINITIONS?? LEGISLATIVE RULE CHANGES?? JUST REGISTER THEM AS MOTORCYCLES? DO NOTHING??

WV POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FIRST AND FOREMOST A ROUNDTABLE THAT INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING AT A MINIMUM; DMV REPRESENTATIVE TO COMMISSIONER DMV TITLES AND REGISTRATION PERSONNEL HIGHWAY & MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PERSONNEL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL

DISCUSS WHAT SOLUTIONS ARE POSSIBLE AND FIT THE SITUATIONS

LEGISLATIVE CODE CHANGES THESE TAKE TIME AND REQUIRE WORKING CLOSLEY WITH LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES TO ENSURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE CHANGES THEY ARE NEEDED WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING UP AREAS LIKE DEFINITIONS TO ENSURE CLARITY THEY DO MAKE IT SMOOTHER WHEN REGISTERING AND TITLING VEHICLES IT CAN MAKE ENFORCEMENT MUCH EASIER ALSO

LEGISLATIVE RULE CHANGES THESE TAKE TIME ALSO HOWEVER ARE SOMETIMES EASIER TO GET THRU LEGISLATIVE RULES COMMITTEES RULES CAN MAKE THE CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY AND VEHICLE DESIGN EASIER TO DEAL WITH MAY ALLOW THE COMMISSIONER TO ESTABLISH SUB-CATEGORIES TO COVER THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARISE

WV CURRNET PROPOSED SOLUTION CLEAN UP CODES AND DEFINITIONS PROPOSE A RULE FOR COMMISSIONER TO CREATE SUB-CATGORIES CONTINUE TO WORK AS A TEAM WHENEVER NEW VEHICLES ARE INTRODUCED TO ENSURE ALL CAN DO THEIR PART TO SERVE THE PUBLIC WHILE KEEPING CODES IN TACT

Titles/Registrations Endorsements/Restrictions If it is on the road it requires title/registration/insurance If someone is driving it then they need proper endorsement and Restriction Regardless of CC of HP will require title/registration/insurance Skills test only administered on vehicles above 50cc meaning those Under 50cc will still require a skills test but will have to be on a Vehicle larger than 50cc

Titles/Registrations Endorsements/Restrictions continued If skills test is done on three wheels then a restriction 9 Trike is also put on license Must apply for “F” endorsement and go through the process as normal up until the skills test

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS DMV, HIGHWAY SAFETY, MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST FORM PANELS/COMMITTEES AND KEEP EACH OTHER INFORMED OF THE NEW VEHICLES A CONSENSUES NEEDS TO BE REACHED BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES AS IT DOES AFFECT ALL OF THE ABOVE AND THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON ANY CHANGES

JUST AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!