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Committee debates new classification for electric vehicles, considers 'out‑of‑class' category for fast personal mobility devices
Summary
Lawmakers and stakeholders began work on HB 1410 and HB 1533 to classify electric vehicles and micromobility devices. Discussion centered on whether to define devices by propulsion (electric) or capability (speed/weight), and on creating an 'out‑of‑class vehicle' to enable DUI and other motor‑vehicle enforcement.
The subcommittee reconvened to consider two bills aimed at defining electric vehicles and micromobility devices and to give law enforcement clear enforcement tools.
Chair introduced House Bill 1410 (new classification for electric vehicles) and House Bill 1533 (electric bicycles and micro‑mobility devices). DMV staff and safety officials urged the committee to create definitions that will remain flexible as technology evolves.
Jennifer Olri, Registration Bureau administrator, recommended beginning with a determination of what constitutes a "vehicle" and where to draw the lines for future devices. "We need to set the parameters of what we're going to consider in this class," she said, citing speed, wheels, and propulsion as key variables.
Members debated whether the law should focus on power source (electric vs. combustion) or on capability (top speed, weight/carrying capacity). Several legislators and the Department of Safety urged a capability‑based approach — for example, treating any device capable of exceeding a set speed under its own power as subject to motor‑vehicle offenses. That idea surfaced repeatedly as a route to give police the authority to apply DUI and related statutes when appropriate.
Advocates for pedestrians, trails and bicycle safety urged clearer consumer education and dealer disclosure of device capabilities. Dave Topham of BikeWalk Alliance New Hampshire told the panel that many proposals are motivated by safety concerns: "I honestly feel that a lot of what we're talking about, we're talking about safety," he said, and recommended education, dealer disclosure, and enforcement clarity.
No final statutory language was adopted. The committee asked stakeholders to produce a simplified outline and draft statutory language that: (a) defines categories of devices not otherwise captured by existing motor‑vehicle or bicycle statutes; (b) ties enforcement (including DUI and speed enforcement) to observed and definable risk thresholds; and (c) preserves legitimate uses (commute, trail access) while giving police enforceable standards. Members noted the early‑bill deadline and planned an additional work session to consider drafted definitions.
