(1) (a) A low-speed electric vehicle may be operated only on a roadway that has a speed limit equal to or less than thirty-five miles per hour; except that it may be operated to directly cross a roadway that has a speed limit greater than thirty-five miles per hour at an at-grade crossing to continue traveling along a roadway with a speed limit equal to or less than thirty-five miles per hour.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), a low-speed electric vehicle may be operated on a state highway that has a speed limit equal to forty miles per hour or cross a roadway with a speed limit equal to forty miles per hour to cross at-grade, if:
Such roadway's lane width is eleven feet or greater;
Such roadway provides two or more lanes in either direction; and
The department determines, in consultation with local government and law enforcement, upon the basis of a traffic investigation, survey, appropriate design standards, or projected volumes, that the operation of a low-speed electric vehicle on the roadway poses no substantial safety risk or hazard to motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, or other persons.
(c) The department may waive the necessity of a traffic investigation or survey pursuant to section 42-4-1102 or may conduct a traffic investigation or survey to determine where lowspeed electric vehicles can be driven safely on state highways or portions thereof. The department shall conduct this traffic investigation or survey using existing appropriations.
No person shall operate a low-speed electric vehicle on a limited-access highway.
Any person who violates subsection (1) or (2) of this section commits a class Btraffic infraction.
(Deleted by amendment, L. 2009, (SB 09-075), ch. 418, p. 2321, § 5, effective August 5, 2009.)
The Colorado department of transportation may regulate the operation of a low-speedelectric vehicle on a state highway located outside of a municipality. The regulation shall take effect when the Colorado department of transportation places an appropriate sign that provides adequate notice of the regulation.
Source: L. 97: Entire section added, p. 394, § 7, effective August 6. L. 2009: Entire section amended, (SB 09-075), ch. 418, p. 2321, § 5, effective August 5. L. 2012: (1) amended, (SB 12-013), ch. 148, p. 532, § 1, effective May 3.