What's happening
This bill creates new rules for the registration, operation, and licensing of three-wheeled "autocycles" in New York State.
Why it matters
Clarifies the legal status and definition of "autocycles". three-wheeled, steering-wheel-equipped vehicles that do not require the driver to sit astride—distinguishing them from both traditional motorcycles and cars, which could affect insurance, safety, and regulatory treatment.
Sets registration, inspection, and insurance requirements for autocycles. that align closely with motorcycles, but also grants the state commissioner authority to establish different equipment or inspection standards for varying types of autocycles, allowing flexibility for future vehicle innovations.
Specifies who can sell autocycles and how they are tracked. by requiring dealers to be properly registered, to use demonstrator plates under strict rules, and to ensure that each autocycle has a compliant vehicle identification number, increasing accountability and traceability in sales.
Updates driver's license classes. so that a standard (Class D) license allows for autocycle operation, while motorcycle-specific (Class M) licensing is not required, making autocycles more accessible to the general public and potentially expanding their use.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Register Autocycles Like Cars
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Committee discharged and committed to transportation
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Full text
4 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
66
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ROBACH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the registration and operation of autocycles; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new article 48-D to read as follows:
ARTICLE 48-D
REGISTRATION OF AUTOCYCLES Section 2500. Definitions.
2501. Registration.
2502. Revocation and suspension.
2503. Display of registration number plate or plates.
2504. Equipment, inspection and insurance.
2505. Dealers and manufacturers.
2506. Exemptions.
2507. Rules and regulations.
§ 2500. Definitions. As used in this article: 1. "Autocycle" means a three-wheeled motor vehicle that has a steering wheel and seating which does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride and is manufactured to comply with federal safety requirements for motorcycles.
2. "Dealer" means any person engaged in the business of selling autocycles at wholesale or retail.
§ 2501. Registration. 1. Notwithstanding section four hundred ten-a of this chapter and except as hereinafter provided, no person shall operate any autocycle on a public highway or street within this state unless such autocycle has been registered in accordance with article fifteen of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05151-01-9
S. 66 2
this chapter, the registration for such autocycle is in full force and effect and the registration number plate or plates are displayed as hereinafter provided.
2. The fees for the registration, renewal, reregistration or amendment or duplicate of a registration of an autocycle shall be the same fees as if such vehicle were registered pursuant to section four hundred ten of this chapter.
3. Every person operating an autocycle registered in accordance with any of the provisions of this article, shall, upon the demand of any magistrate, police officer, peace officer, when acting pursuant to his or her special duties, or motor vehicle hearing officer, produce for inspection the certificate of registration for such autocycle and shall furnish to such person any information necessary for the identification of such autocycle and its owner. The failure to produce the certificate of registration as provided herein shall not be an offense, but shall be presumptive evidence of the operation of an autocycle not registered as required by this article.
4. The registration provisions of this article shall not apply to a non-resident who has registered his or her autocycle in compliance with the registration or licensing laws of the state, province or country of his or her residence, provided that the autocycle is appropriately identified by an identification plate, sticker or other identifying device issued by such state, province or country.
§ 2502. Revocation and suspension. The registration of an autocycle may be revoked or suspended in the same manner and to the same effect as that of a motorcycle registered pursuant to article fifteen of this chapter.
§ 2503. Display of registration number plate or plates. 1. The registration number plate or plates assigned to an autocycle shall be displayed on the autocycle at all times such vehicle is operated on the public highways in such manner as the commissioner may, by regulation, prescribe. One or two registration number plates, as determined by the commissioner, shall be issued by the commissioner for an autocycle. No number other than the registration number plate assigned to an autocycle by the commissioner, or the identification number of the registration issued by another state shall be painted, attached or otherwise displayed on an autocycle when such autocycle is being operated on a public highway. Nothing herein shall prohibit the display of a vehicle identification number plate or number affixed by the manufacturer or his or her agent in accordance with section four hundred fifteen of this chapter.
2. Dealer demonstrator number plates shall conform to the requirements set forth in subdivision one of this section with the exception that such number plates may be temporarily but firmly affixed to the autocycle being demonstrated or tested.
3. The use of dealer demonstrator number plates shall be subject to the provisions of sections four hundred fifteen and four hundred sixteen of this chapter.
4. No dealer shall permit a dealer demonstrator number plate to be used on any autocycle unless such autocycle would qualify for the issuance of such a number plate when registered.
§ 2504. Equipment, inspection and insurance. 1. An autocycle shall be manufactured to comply with federal safety requirements for a motorcycle and, as otherwise provided pursuant to this section, shall be subject to the equipment requirements of this chapter that are applicable to a motorcycle. The equipment and operator of an autocycle shall be subject
S. 66 3
to the requirements of subdivisions six, seven, nine, nine-a and ten of section three hundred eighty-one of this chapter; provided however, that the commissioner may, by regulation, provide for different equipment requirements for different types of autocycles. No person shall operate an autocycle on the public highways of this state in violation of the provisions of this section or regulations promulgated by the commissioner thereunder.
2. Autocycles shall be subject to the inspection requirements of article five of this chapter. The commissioner may, by regulation, provide for different inspection procedures for different types of autocycles.
3. The insurance provisions of articles six, seven and eight of this chapter shall be applicable to autocycles.
§ 2505. Dealers and manufacturers. 1. No person shall engage in the business of selling autocycles unless there shall have been issued to the person a dealer registration in accordance with section four hundred fifteen of this chapter. The commissioner may, by regulation, provide for identification of dealers as dealers of autocycles, and the commissioner shall make provisions for the issuance of appropriate dealer demonstrator number plates to such dealers.
2. No dealer shall acquire any autocycles for the purpose of resale for use on the public highways within this state unless such autocycles have a vehicle identification number in a form and manner acceptable to the commissioner permanently affixed to the frame by the manufacturer or authorized agent of the manufacturer.
3. The commissioner may prescribe, by regulation, procedures to be followed by dealers with respect to record keeping and documents required upon the sale of an autocycle, and procedures to be followed by manufacturers with respect to the assignment and affixing of vehicle identification numbers.
§ 2506. Exemptions. 1. Fire and police vehicles are exempt from the provisions of this article, except that the operator of such a vehicle shall be required to be licensed as provided in article nineteen of this chapter.
2. Any autocycle registered pursuant to this article that would be exempt from the payment of registration fees if such vehicle were registered pursuant to title four of this chapter, shall be exempt from the payment of registration fees under this article.
§ 2507. Rules and regulations. The commissioner is hereby empowered to make such rules and regulations as he or she may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.
§ 2. Subparagraphs (iv), (vii) and (viii) 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 and subparagraphs (vii) and (viii) 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, autocycle, 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
S. 66 4
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.
(vii) Class M. Such license shall be valid to operate any motorcycle, or any motorcycle, other than a limited use motorcycle, towing a trailer, or an autocycle.
(viii) Class MJ. Such license shall be valid to operate any motorcycle or limited use motorcycle, but not an autocycle, by a person under eighteen years of age. Such license shall automatically become a class M license when the holder becomes eighteen years of age.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed 5 years after such date.
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 registration and operation of autocycles; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to amend the vehicle and traffic law to update requirements related to the registration and operation of autocy- cles, three-wheeled motor vehicles that are widely available in New York State.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill would amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to add a new article 48-D, entitled Registiation of Autocycles, which would establish the following:
Read the full memo (812 words)
*New S 2500 which defines "autocycle" as a three-wheeled motor vehicle with a steering wheel and non-straddle seat and is compliant with feder- al safety standards for motorcycles; and "dealer" as any a person who sells autocycles at wholesale or retail.
*New § 2501 which provides that the registration, registration fees, carrying certificate requirements and the recognition of out-of-state registrations for autocycles shall be the same as for motorcycles.
*New § 2502 which provides that the revocation and suspension of an autocycle registration shall be in accordance with the requirements for the suspension and revocation of a motorcycle registration.
*New § 2503 which requires that an autocycle license plate shall be displayed on such vehicle, whether one or two plates shall be required will be determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, and that deal- ers shall have license plate obligations.
*New § 2504 which establishes the equipment for an autocycle shall be in compliance with federal safety and state law requirements for motorcy- cles provided that autocycle operators shall be required to wear a helmet with goggles or a faceshield and have a rearview mirror unless the Commissioner provides different equipment requirements for different types of autocycles. This section also subjects autocycles to motor vehicle inspections, although the Commissioner is permitted to provide different inspection procedures for different autocycles. Autocycles shall further be subject to the insurance requirements for motorcycles.
*New § 2505 which provides that dealers of autocycles shall have a deal- er registration and keep records regarding the sale of an autocycle, and that the autocycle shall have a vehicle identification number before it may be sold.
*New § 2506 which provides that fire and police vehicles are exempt from the requirement of the bill, but that the operator must be licensed.
§ 2 of the bill would require the operator of an autocycle to have a Class D driver's license and that a Class M endorsement, which is neces-
sary to operate a motorcycle, shall not be required to operate an auto- cycle.
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. It is for these reasons that 30 states regulate autocycles as motorcycles for registration purposes while allowing operators with an automobile driver's license to operate the vehicle.
This bill would make New York's law consistent with the majority of other states and 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. The bill would also mandate the type of equipment required, including a helmet with goggles or a faceshield, unless the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles determines such other equip- ment is appropriate. The bill would further provide broad regulatory authority over the sale, registration, insurance, and all other elements necessary to safely and lawfully operate autocycles in New York and would ensure the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles has the authority to regulate such vehicles.
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 automobiles. This bill would further that regulatory approach to the newest vehicle on the market, the autocycle. In doing so, state law would ensure the equipment; operation and safety of autocycles are to the highest standards and are in accordance with the regulatory authori- ty vested in the Commissioner.
Legislative history
Passed Senate in 2018
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The act shall take effect 180 days after having become a law and be deemed released five years after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.