Bill > HB1172

This bill updates Pennsylvania's laws regarding snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and a new category called utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) by modifying definitions, road usage, and safety regulations. The bill first defines UTVs as motorized off-highway vehicles with four or more tires, bucket or bench seats, and specific width and weight parameters, distinguishing them from other types of vehicles. It then expands the authority of local transportation departments and counties to designate state highways and local roads for snowmobile, UTV, and ATV use, allowing these vehicles to share roads with regular vehicular traffic. The bill also revises helmet safety requirements, mandating helmet use for snowmobile and ATV operators and passengers under 18, while creating an exception for UTV drivers and passengers over 18 who are in vehicles with specific safety features like bucket seats, seat belts, and roll cages. These changes aim to provide more flexibility for off-road vehicle usage while maintaining safety standards, and the legislation will take effect 60 days after passage.

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https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1172