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Panel approves bill to add 'mini truck' to state statute for limited road use
Summary
The committee approved HB 957 to add the term "mini truck" to Georgia vehicle statute, allowing four-wheeled mini trucks on county and city roads unless jurisdictions prohibit them; sponsor said the governor's office supports the bill.
The House Motor Vehicles Committee approved House Bill 957 after the sponsor described it as a narrow change to add the term "mini truck" to statute and permit those vehicles on local roads unless counties or cities opt out.
Sponsor Clifton said the bill mirrors prior changes for side-by-side vehicles and adds "mini truck" next to that language, allowing four-wheeled mini trucks on county and city roads unless local authorities have marked roads to prohibit them. Clifton told the committee the governor's office supports the measure and characterized the vehicles as standard road-oriented small trucks with turn signals, mirrors and seatbelts; he said the vehicles would not be motorcycles or require a straddle seat and that three-wheeled vehicles are excluded.
Members questioned safety equipment requirements such as headlights, taillights, and airbags and whether the bill is limited to older vehicles or has other age- or weight-based limits. The sponsor said the bill focuses on four-wheeled mini trucks with standard vehicle features and noted earlier senate changes had led to a veto in a prior session.
The committee approved HB 957 by voice vote. The transcript records the approval by voice but does not include a roll-call tally.
