What's happening
This bill allows certain three-wheeled motor vehicles to be operated with a standard or motorcycle driver's license in New York.
Why it matters
Expands driving options for certain three-wheeled vehicles. The bill allows people with a standard (Class D) driver’s license, not just a motorcycle license (Class M), to drive three-wheeled motor vehicles that have car-like controls (steering wheel, non-straddle seating, seatbelts) and meet federal motorcycle safety standards—making these vehicles more accessible to non-motorcyclists.
Clarifies safety and design requirements. Only three-wheeled vehicles with specific safety features—steering wheel, seatbelts for all occupants, non-straddle seating, and compliance with federal safety standards for motorcycles (49 C.F.R. part 571)—are covered, ensuring that more “car-like” trikes (not traditional motorcycles or open trikes) are included.
Excludes these vehicles from motorcycle road test requirements. When taking a road test for a motorcycle license, you cannot use one of these car-like three-wheeled vehicles to fulfill the “representative vehicle” requirement, maintaining the standard that actual motorcycles must be used for motorcycle road tests.
Could encourage use of alternative vehicles. By making it easier to legally drive these safer, car-like three-wheeled vehicles, the bill may encourage the adoption of alternative, potentially more accessible or eco-friendly forms of transportation, broadening mobility options for various drivers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Three-Wheeled Cars
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A5390B
- Ordered to third reading cal.882
- Reported and committed to rules
- Print number 4580c
- Amend (t) and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Amended on third reading 4580b
Show 5 earlier actions
- Amended on third reading (t) 4580a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1076
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Three-Wheeled Car Operation
Vetoed · Sponsor Donna Lupardo
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4580--C
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading -- again amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading -- recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the operation of a three-wheeled vehicle
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraphs (iv) and (vii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 501 of the vehicle and traffic law, subparagraph (iv) as amended by chapter 339 of the laws of 2005, subparagraph (vii) as added by chapter 173 of the laws of 1990, are amended to read as follows:
(iv) Class D. Such license shall be valid to operate any passenger or limited use automobile or any truck with a GVWR of not more than twenty-six thousand pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR of not more than ten thousand pounds, or any such vehicle towing another vehicle with a GVWR of more than ten thousand pounds provided such combination of vehicles has a GCWR of not more than twenty-six thousand pounds, or any personal use vehicle with a GVWR of not more than twenty-six thousand pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR of not more than ten thousand pounds, except it shall not be valid to operate a tractor, a motorcycle other than a class B or C limited use motorcycle, a vehicle used to transport passengers for hire or for which a hazardous materials endorsement is required, or a vehicle defined as a bus in subdivision one of section five hundred nine-a of this title.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05151-14-0
S. 4580--C 2
Such license also shall be valid to operate a three-wheeled motor vehicle that has a steering wheel and seating which does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, is equipped with safety belts for all occupants and is manufactured to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles including, but not limited to, 49 C.F.R. part 571.
(vii) Class M. Such license shall be valid to operate any motorcycle, or any motorcycle, other than a limited use motorcycle, towing a trailer. Such license also shall be valid to operate a three-wheeled motor vehicle that has a steering wheel and seating which does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, is equipped with safety belts for all occupants and is manufactured to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles including, but not limited to, 49 C.F.R. part 571.
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 355 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Upon successful completion of the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this subdivision which shall include an alcohol and drug education component as described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, a "Road Rage" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-1) of this subdivision and a "Work Zone Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-2) of this subdivision, and a "Motorcycle Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-3) of this subdivision the commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a road test in a representative vehicle of a type prescribed by the commissioner which shall be appropriate to the type of license for which application is made, except that the commissioner may waive the road test requirements for certain classes of applicants. Provided, however, that the term "representative vehicle" shall not include a three-wheeled motor vehicle that has a steering wheel and seating which does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, is equipped with safety belts for all occupants and is manufactured to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles including, but not limited to, 49 C.F.R. part 571. The commissioner shall have the power to establish a program to allow persons other than employees of the department to conduct road tests in representative vehicles when such tests are required for applicants to obtain a class A, B or C license. If she chooses to do so, she shall set forth her reasons in writing and conduct a public hearing on the matter. She shall only establish such a program after holding the public hearing.
§ 3. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 513 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Upon successful completion of the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this subdivision which shall include an alcohol and drug education component as described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, a "Road Rage" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-1) of this subdivision and a "Work Zone Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-2) of this subdivision, a "Motorcycle Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-3) of this subdivision, and a "School Bus Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-4) of this subdivision the commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a road test in a representative vehicle of a type prescribed by the commissioner which shall be appropriate to the type of license for which application is made, except that the commissioner may waive the road
S. 4580--C 3
test requirements for certain classes of applicants. Provided, however, that the term "representative vehicle" shall not include a three-wheeled motor vehicle that has a steering wheel and seating which does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, is equipped with safety belts for all occupants and is manufactured to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles including, but not limited to, 49 C.F.R. part 571. The commissioner shall have the power to establish a program to allow persons other than employees of the department to conduct road tests in representative vehicles when such tests are required for applicants to obtain a class A, B or C license. If she chooses to do so, she shall set forth her reasons in writing and conduct a public hearing on the matter. She shall only establish such a program after holding the public hearing.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that if chapter 513 of the laws of 2019 shall not have taken effect on or before such date then section three of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as such chapter of the laws of 2019, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the opera- tion of a three-wheeled vehicle
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to amend the vehicle and traffic law to update requirements related to the operation of autocycles, three- wheeled motor vehicles that are widely available in New York State.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: The bill authorizes the operation of autocycles with either a class D driver's license or class M motorcyclist's license. Autocycles are described as a three-wheeled motor vehicle having a steering wheel and seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, is equipped with seat safety belts for all occupants, and is manufactured to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles.
Section 2: The bill prohibits the use of autocycles in road tests.
Section 3: The bill prohibits the use of autocycles in road tests, and takes effect after May eighteenth, 2020
Section 4: Section 2 or Section 3 will take effect immediately; depend- ing on the date that chapter 513 of the laws of 2019 takes effect.
Justification
Autocycles are a recent development in the motor vehicle market. An autocycle is a three-wheeled motorcycle that has two wheels in the front of the vehicle and one in the back, a steering wheel, and a bucket seat that allows the operator to sit within the vehicle and not to straddle or sit astride during operation. Under federal and New York state laws, autocycles are classified as motorcycles because they have less than four wheels and have other equipment and safety features consistent with motorcycles. However, operation of an autocycle is like that of an auto- mobile, since the operator sits in the autocycle, steers with a steering wheel, and uses pedals (gas, brake and clutch) during operation of the autocycle.
This bill would eliminate the need for New York operators to have a motorcycle license, as is currently required, in order to test drive or otherwise operate an autocycle. Although a person would not be allowed to take a road test in an autocycle, they could operate one with either a class D driver's license or class M motorcyclist's license. New York law has been amended over the years to reflect the availability of new types of motor vehicles - from all-terrain vehicles to limited use auto- mobiles. This bill would address the newest vehicle on the market, the autocycle.
Prior legislative history
2018: A.8482A Referred to Transportation/S.7857 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.