New Jersey ( USA ) pending legislation

aroundqube

10 kW
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Mar 12, 2012
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I am not a lawyer. I am sharing what I read , without advice , for whom it may concern. There have been 2 bills - Senate Bill S3510 Final Passage 7-1-2018 Yes-35 , No-2 . No Vote -3 , And Assembly Bill A1810 Roll Call- 6/14/2018 Yes-12 , No-0 , Not voting -1 , Abstain-0 . The wording of the two bills was the same. On 12-17-2018 , the last day of 2018 legislation voting , Assembly floor amendment passed ( Johnson ) . References ; https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/A1810/id/1831623/New_Jersey-2018-A1810-Amended.html and https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A2000/1810_S2.PDF
 
NJ Senate Bill 731 , 2019- 02- 25 passed by the assembly ( 76-0-0 ) https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S731/2018 and NJ Assembly Bill 1810 introduced 2019-02-25 , substituted by Senate Bill S731 https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/A1810/2018
 
New Jersey Senate Bill 731 , 2019-03-04 , 2nd reading in the Senate to concur with the Assembly Amendments https://legiscan.com/NJ/bill/S731/2018
 
Hooray for NJ not adopting the Class standards as being pushed by the BPSA via their lobbying arm PFB. Here are the relevant clauses:

"Low-speed electric bicycle" means a two or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by a motor while operated by a person weighing 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour.

"Motorized bicycle" means a pedal bicycle having a helper motor characterized in that either the maximum piston displacement is less than 50 cc. or said motor is rated at no more than 1.5 brake horsepower or is powered by an electric drive motor and said bicycle is capable of a maximum speed of no more than 25 miles per hour on a flat surface. This term shall not include a low-speed electric bicycle as defined in this section.
"Motorcycle" includes motorcycles, autocycles, motor bikes, bicycles with motor attached and all motor-operated vehicles of the bicycle or tricycle type, except motorized bicycles and low-speed electric bicycles as defined in this section, whether the motive power be a part thereof or attached thereto and having a saddle or seat with driver sitting astride or upon it or a platform on which the driver stands.

"Motorized scooter" means a miniature motor vehicle and includes, but is not limited to, pocket bikes, super pocket bikes, scooters, mini-scooters, sport scooters, mini choppers, mini motorcycles, motorized skateboards and other vehicles with motors not manufactured in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and which have no permanent Federal Safety Certification stickers affixed to the vehicle by the original manufacturer. This term shall not include: electric personal assistive mobility devices, motorized bicycles [or] , low-speed vehicles, or low-speed electric bicycles; or motorized wheelchairs, mobility scooters or similar mobility assisting devices used by persons with physical disabilities, or persons whose ambulatory mobility has been impaired by age or illness.

2. (New section) a. A low-speed electric bicycle, as defined in R.S.39:1-1, may be operated on the streets, highways, sidewalks, and bicycle paths of this State.
b. The operator of a low-speed electric bicycle shall not be required to register the low-speed electric bicycle, furnish proof of insurance, or have a driver's license.
c. All statutes, including the provisions of chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, rules, and regulations applicable to bicycles, as defined in section 1 of P.L.1991, c.465 (C.39:4-10.1), shall apply to low-speed electric bicycles.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.


STATEMENT

This bill expressly permits the operation of low-speed electric bicycles in this State. Under the bill, low-speed electric bicycles may be operated on streets, highways, sidewalks, and bicycle paths. An operator of a low-speed electric bicycle is not required to register the low-speed electric bicycle, furnish proof of insurance, or have a driver's license.
The bill further provides that all statutes, including the provisions of chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, rules, and regulations that are applicable to bicycles are to apply to low-speed electric bicycles.
The bill defines a low-speed electric bicycle as a two or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by a motor while operated by a person weighing 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour.
The bill also clarifies that the definitions of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, and motorized scooter do not include a low-speed electric bicycle.
 
Not sure what the previous law was there, but the new one seems pretty standard.

It also states:
A person shall not tamper with or modify a low-speed electric bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed capability or engagement of a low-speed electric bicycle, unless that person appropriately replaces the label indicating the classification required in subsection b. of this section.

Dang! who would ever modify a low speed electric bicycle to make it go faster? :twisted:
 
fechter said:
Not sure what the previous law was there, but the new one seems pretty standard.

It also states:
A person shall not tamper with or modify a low-speed electric bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed capability or engagement of a low-speed electric bicycle, unless that person appropriately replaces the label indicating the classification required in subsection b. of this section.

Dang! who would ever modify a low speed electric bicycle to make it go faster? :twisted:


LOL and label making is so hard.

...and here is a holographic 250W sticker, for your MXUS 45-40F ;)
 
fechter said:
Not sure what the previous law was there, but the new one seems pretty standard.

It also states:
A person shall not tamper with or modify a low-speed electric bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed capability or engagement of a low-speed electric bicycle, unless that person appropriately replaces the label indicating the classification required in subsection b. of this section.

Dang! who would ever modify a low speed electric bicycle to make it go faster? :twisted:

I agree that it is pretty standard follow the current Federal regs legislation, which is a good thing. The Class 1,2,3 laws are just too biased towards the EU regs for my liking. Plus they also include verbiage that doesn't allow for motor assist bikes to be used on natural terrain as a bone to the whiny mtb'ers and IMBA. Plus the whole idea of making bikes with throttles Class 2 but not making their access any different than Class 1 is dumb and just more bias towards the EU regs that don't allow throttles at all. They act like having a throttle on board makes a bike into a fire breathing dragon.

Also it is odd that they allow 49cc ICE bikes, which include China Girls, to go 25mph but eBikes only 20mph. Here in Oregon our law for years has read that motorized scooters can go 24mph but eBikes only 20 but the way the law reads an eBike and a motorized scooter could be construed to be the same thing.....
 
New Jersey Senate Bill 731 , 2019 -3- 14 passed by Senate, vote 30 - 1 . Assembly substituted this bill for A1810, and passed it on 2019 - 2 - 25 , vote 76-0-0 . https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S731/2018
 
As I write this, it looks like the final step is Governor Murphy "s signature. I found the following blog , which is a bit dated and insightful https://jamesallyngilson.com/author/jamesallyngilson/
 
News reports are that Governor Murphy signed the new legislation. https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/governor-murphy-signs-legislation-permitting-operation-low-speed-e-bikes-motorized-scooters/
 
Press release -- https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/new-jersey-paves-way-dockless-e-scooters-e-bikes/
 
Pretty hard to filter out the signal from the noise. Who writes these things?

But at least they have a definition for a horse. What about horsepower?
"Horse" includes mules and all other domestic animals used as draught animals or beasts of burden.
 
fechter said:
Pretty hard to filter out the signal from the noise. Who writes these things?

Lawyers usually.
 
The law also states that automobiles must:
Come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights
Must wait for pedestrians to cross the street
Stop when a school bus has its lights flashing
Not go above the posted speed limit for a clear day, and must drive in a safe manner when visibility is reduced

Whether its enforced or not, depends on if its donut eating time or not. Once they pass and get on then it dont matter how heavy they get.
 
aroundqube said:
News reports are that Governor Murphy signed the new legislation. https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/governor-murphy-signs-legislation-permitting-operation-low-speed-e-bikes-motorized-scooters/

Yay! Time to break the 2007 eZee Forza out of mothballs. I've been waiting for about 7 years for this!

Sadly, the original battery has had it. I'll have to rebuild it somehow. <drifting off topic...>
 
Bigwheel said:
Also it is odd that they allow 49cc ICE bikes, which include China Girls, to go 25mph but eBikes only 20mph.

As I understand it, 49cc ICE bikes (and 1.5 HP eBikes) with pedals and:

  • A white front headlamp and red rear taillight capable of being seen under normal conditions from at least 500 feet. These lights must be used between sunset and sunrise, or anytime bad weather makes it hard to see up to 500 feet. (However, it is recommended that you drive with your lights on at all times. You may think you're visible, but it is best to give motorists every chance to see you. Turn on your lights - day and night.)
  • A bell or horn (but not a siren or whistle) that can be heard 100 feet away.
  • Enough braking power to make the wheels skid on dry, clean, level pavement.

(see https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/license/mopedman.pdf) are allowed as "motorized bicycles" = Mopeds, which require registration and a license to use.

Further, moped registration requires an MCO or a notorized document from the previous owner. They don't explicitly say whether mopeds (like motorcycles) need to be made by a manufacturer on the approved manufacturer list (here:https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/vehicles/mc_manufacturers.pdf) but the text of that document strongly imply it (one manufacturer is listed as approved for "mopeds only"). There was a discussion somewhere about what to do to register a custom bike with an added ICE 49cc motor without a VIN, but the question was left unanswered.

Not sure if all of that is worth it for another 5 MPH now...

See: https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/vehicletopics/mopedatv.htm
 
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