Pennsylvania Act 1992-139 — VEHICLE CODE (75 PA.C.S.) - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS

Act text

VEHICLE CODE (75 PA.C.S.) - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS
                 Act of Dec. 14, 1992, P.L. 870, No. 139              Cl. 75
                             Session of 1992
                               No. 1992-139

     HB 184

                                  AN ACT

     Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
        Statutes, further providing for definitions, for reduced
        combustion vehicles,  for inspection certificates and for
        movement of construction equipment.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Section 102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
     Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
      § 102.  Definitions.
        Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
     provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
     provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
     used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
     indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
        * * *
        "Electric vehicle."  A motor vehicle which operates solely by
     use of a battery or battery pack and which meets the applicable
     Federal motor vehicle safety standards. The term includes a
     motor vehicle which is powered mainly through the use of an
     electric battery or battery pack but which uses a flywheel that
     stores energy produced by the electric motor or through
     regenerative braking to assist in operation of the motor
     vehicle.
        * * *
        "Hybrid electric vehicle."  An electric vehicle which allows
     power to be delivered to the drive wheels solely by a battery-
     powered electric motor but which also incorporates the use of a
     combustion engine to provide power to the battery and which
     meets the applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. The
     primary source of power for the motor must be the electric
     battery or battery pack and not the combustion engine.
        * * *
        "Zero-emission vehicle."  A motor vehicle which produces no
     emissions of any criteria of pollutants under any operational
     mode and under any conditions and which meets the applicable
     Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
        Section 2.  Sections 1919 and 1958 of Title 75 are amended to
     read:
      § 1919.  [Electric] Reduced combustion vehicles.
        [The annual fee for registration of a vehicle which is
     propelled by electric power shall be $12.]
        (a)  General rule.--There shall be no annual fee for
     registration of any of the following:
            (1)  An electric vehicle.
            (2)  A hybrid electric vehicle.
            (3)  A zero-emission vehicle.
        (b)  Expiration.--This section shall expire December 31,
     1996.
      § 1958.  Certificate of inspection.
        (a)  General rule.--The department shall charge $2 for each
     annual certificate of inspection and $1 for each semiannual
     certificate of inspection.
        (b)  Credit.--
            (1)  Once each calendar year, every official inspection
        station which inspects an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric
        vehicle or a zero-emission vehicle shall be eligible to claim
        a credit for the cost of the certificate of inspection for
        said vehicle. The official inspection station may only claim
        the credit one time in any calendar year and shall claim it
        within 12 months of the inspection on a form prescribed by
        the department. The vehicle owner shall not be required to
        pay the cost of the certificate of inspection.
            (2)  This subsection shall expire December 31, 1996.
        Section 3.  Section 4970 of Title 75 is amended by adding a
     subsection to read:
      § 4970.  Permit for movement of construction equipment.
        * * *
        (b.1)  Construction trucks.--An annual permit may be issued
     for a construction truck to exceed the registered gross weight
     permitted in section 4941(c) and the maximum allowable axle
     weight permitted in section 4943(a) on highways and bridges
     designated by the department. This subsection shall:
            (1)  only apply to trucks registered prior to October 10,
        1980; and
            (2)  expire on May 31, 1998.
        Section 4.  The addition of 75 Pa.C.S. § 4970(b.1) shall
     apply retroactively to May 31, 1992. Permits issued under 75
     Pa.C.S. § 4970(b) prior to May 31, 1992, which, except for the
     expiration of 75 Pa.C.S. § 4970(b), would still be valid on the
     effective date of this section shall be deemed issued under 75
     Pa.C.S. § 4970(b.1).
        Section 5.  This act shall take effect as follows:
            (1)  The amendment of 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 102, 1919 and 1958
        shall take effect in 60 days.
            (2)  The remainder of this act shall take effect
        immediately.

     APPROVED--The 14th day of December, A. D. 1992.

     ROBERT P. CASEY