Comments Document

This is my input for consideration for Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker's efforts on Veterans.

I am writing in support of 219, these vehicles would be great for urban use due to their small stature, small engines, and low fuel consumption. Some Kei vehicles can get upwards of 40MPG, combined with their low cost to acquire and maintain, would lead to a pretty attractive daily use vehicle inside most metropolitan and urban environments. Their small size in use for localized deliveries would further reduce road obstructions common due to large box truck deliveries. This would reduce congestion in narrow roadways, as well as their light weight and small bodies would reduce road wear over the years of lifespan. While not popular enough yet to dramatically change road use, these vehicles are popular enough that gas consumption in the state of Virginia may see a small reduction, and a lowering of air pollution in and around cities. I see no issues with the limits on restricting use to roads under 55MPH as the commonly used 660cc engines are not realistically powerful enough to maintain proper highway speeds. Thank you for your time.

Oppose only having one license plate. We need to have visual proof to show front and back of vehicles. It is logical to have two plates!

The city opposes this bill, as it will hamstring investigations of hit and run incidents. Drivers' license plates being visible on both the front and rear of all vehicles registered by the Department assists law enforcement and the public in these tragic instances.

I recommend advancing the bill out of committee and to the floor. Many states are eliminating the need for a front plate and car manufacturers are typically not providing the mounting hardware for a front plate. I know the last two vehicles our family purchased (2014 Honda Odyssey & 2008 Dodge Caliber) we had to purchase hardware to display a front plate. The only reservation would be the cost for the state if it had to retool its production hardware at the prison and what to do with the surplus of front/back plates currently at DMVs across the Commonwealth. Thank you for your time and efforts on this bill.

Most vehicles on the road were not designed with a spot for a front license plate. The addition of a front license plate prevents the bumpers from functioning as designed in low speed collisions. The only damage that occurs in many minor “fender benders” is an imprint from the license plate, plate bolts, and/or plate bracket of the colliding vehicle.

I do not agree with this. Licenses plates should be visible from both the front and the rear in an effort to more easily identify a vehicle in the event of emergency or law enforcement.

Please amend this bill to have a DMV led work group study this issue and bring recommendations back to the General Assembly. Furthermore, please do not change the definition or treatment of bicycle and electric power-assisted bicycle in the code. Those definitions have been carefully crafted by subject matter experts and the bicycle industry. Any new two wheel device should be able to fit into the bicycle, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, motorcycle continuum but will need carefully reviewed by a DMV workgroup.

Delegate Reid & Subcommittee members, Please consider amending Del. Reid’s HB269 to direct DMV to convene a stakeholder workgroup to address the targeted safety issues, rather than potentially penalizing people who ride legal e-bikes responsibly. - I agree that there are important and serious safety issues that HB269 is intended to address, primarily high-powered electric motorcycles, scooters and unicycles ridden irresponsibly, mostly by youth.. - I recommend that HB269 be amended as follows: (1) Direct that DMV convene a workgroup, like that proposed in Delegate JJ Singh’s HB1120 to better define the primary problems and then recommend options to address them. (2) Insert a statement to clarify that throttle-only e-bikes that are modified to use their motor to exceed 20 mph are illegal. Here is an example adapted from proposed legislation in Washington State, " “Electric power assisted bicycle" does not include: any vehicle capable of exceeding 20 mph on soley its electric motor; or any vehicle that is designed, manufactured, or intended by the manufacturer or seller to be easily configured to not meet the requirements of an Electric power assisted bicycle.” (3) Insert a statement to eliminate overlap of proposed new regulations with e-bikes as defined and regulated in Code of Virginia, “Motorized mobility vehicle" does not include any "electric power-assisted bicycle” as defined in this section. " Full disclosure: I own and ride an e-bike as do many of my septuagenarian peers. People who ride responsibly should not be included in this well-intended, generally well-crafted, but overly broad safety initiative. Thanks so much, Jim Durham

As a law abiding cyclist I too am concerned with the dangerous behavior I see from people riding electrified bicycles and moped like vehicles that are clearly not powered by pedals and can far exceed speeds of 30mph. However I do not believe this bill will address the issues that these new vehicles present for two reasons. First there is already wording in the Virginia code that defines electric bicycles as Class 1, 2 or 3. None of these classes can exceed 28 miles per hour without pedaling and the maximum speed of a Class 2 bicycle that can be powered by a throttle is 20mph. This bill would cause confusion and penalize law abiding people because it overlaps with the current legal definition of an electric bicycle. Secondly the bill doesn't really do anything about the sale and operation of these powerful e-moto/moped type devices by youth other than education. If you do want to pass this bill I suggest removing all existing classes of e-bikes (cannot exceed 20mp without pedaling) and create a DMV led study group as called for in HB 1120. Thank you for your consideration Steve Policastro

Please do not advance HB269. There are still so many things that need to be done to define an electric powered vehicle before trying to regulate them. The bill also has the potential to penalize people riding ebikes responsibly since some of the definition proposed overlaps into ebike defintions. I suggest a working group to hammer out definitions first before discussing how each (electic powered vehicle and ebike) will be regulated.

Honored Delegates, I wish to write in support of HB545 concerning motorcycle rider improvement clinics. As Driver's Ed in high school teaches basic skills and safety for automobiles, the 33 rider education sights in Virginia teach those skills to motorcyclists. However, auto drivers convicted of certain offenses can be sentenced to attend one of hundreds of defensive driving courses to learn to adjust the behaviors that led to conviction. No such opportunities are available to Virginia's 500,000+ registered motorcyclists. HB545 will remedy this situation, making Virginia's roads and highways safer for all. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Public Safety Enhancement: The implementation of the Driver Privilege Card (DPC) makes Virginia roads safer by ensuring more drivers are tested, licensed, and insured, reducing the number of unlicensed drivers. Economic Benefits: Allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver privilege cards is projected to benefit the state's economy and potentially boost revenue through new title fees, sales tax receipts, license plate fees, and new car registrations. Increased Security and Reduced Fear: The DPC offers immigrant communities, including undocumented individuals, a sense of security and reduces fear of being stopped by law enforcement, while helping them commute to work and school.

I am writing in support of the extension of drivers privilege cards for immigrants. Continuing this privilege ensures increased safety on Virginia roads, as individuals will be required to be familiar with the driving laws of Virginia. In addition, a secondary benefit is increased revenue for Virginia from those migrant residents of VA applying for the license in VA rather than going without or seeking a license in another state.