HB 1172 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, further providing for definitions, for designation of snowmobile and ATV roads and for operation in safe manner.

PRINTER'S NO.   1309

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1172
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY SMITH, BANTA, JAMES, MOUL, BARGER, COOK, BARTON,
        STRUZZI, ARMANINI, OWLETT, BASHLINE, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND
        KERWIN, APRIL 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
        DEVELOPMENT, APRIL 9, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, further
 3      providing for definitions, for designation of snowmobile and
 4      ATV roads and for operation in safe manner.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.     Section 7702 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
 9   § 7702.    Definitions.
10      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
11   shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
12   meanings given to them in this section:
13      * * *
14      "Utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV."     A motorized off-highway
15   vehicle equipped with four or more tires, bucket or bench seats,
16   not including a saddle, that has:
17             (1)   a maximum width of 64 inches and a maximum dry
18      weight of 1,700 pounds; or
 1             (2)   a width which exceeds 64 inches or a dry weight
 2      which exceeds 1,700 pounds.
 3   The term does not include an ATV, snowmobile, trail bike,
 4   motorboat, golf cart, aircraft, dune buggy, automobile,
 5   construction machine, truck or home utility machine; military,
 6   fire, emergency and law enforcement vehicle; implement of
 7   husbandry; multipurpose agricultural vehicle; vehicle used by
 8   the department; any vehicle that is or is required to be
 9   registered under Chapter 13; or an off-road motor vehicle used
10   exclusively as a utility vehicle for an agricultural or business
11   operation and incidentally operated or moved upon the highway.
12      * * *
13      Section 2.     Section 7722 heading and (a) of Title 75 are
14   amended to read:
15   § 7722.    Designation of snowmobile, UTV and ATV roads.
16      (a)    [General rule.--The] Authority to designate.--
17             (1)   Except as provided under paragraph (2), the
18      Department of Transportation on State-designated highways and
19      local authorities on any highway, road or street within its
20      jurisdiction may designate any highway, road or street within
21      its jurisdiction as a snowmobile road, a UTV road, an ATV
22      road, or [both] combination, and may, in its discretion,
23      determine whether such road shall be closed to vehicular
24      traffic or whether snowmobiles, UTV's and ATV's may share
25      this designated road with vehicular traffic.
26             (2)   A county may, through the adoption of a resolution,
27      designate a State-designated highway located within the
28      boundaries of the county as a snowmobile road, a UTV road, an
29      ATV road, or combination, on which snowmobiles, UTV's, ATV's
30      or a combination may share the State-designated highway with

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 1      vehicular traffic within the boundaries of the county.
 2      * * *
 3      Section 3.          Section 7726(c) introductory paragraph and (5) of
 4   Title 75 are amended and the section is amended by adding a
 5   subsection to read:
 6   § 7726.    Operation in safe manner.
 7      * * *
 8      (c)    Operation on highways and streets open to snowmobiles
 9   [or], UTV's, ATV's and vehicular traffic.--No person shall
10   operate a snowmobile, UTV or ATV in any of the following ways on
11   highways and streets open to snowmobiles, UTV's or ATV's and
12   vehicular traffic:
13             * * *
14             [(5)    Without a securely fastened helmet on the head of
15      an individual who operates or is a passenger on a snowmobile
16      or ATV or who is being towed or otherwise propelled by a
17      snowmobile. The department shall specify the types of helmets
18      allowed through rules and regulations.]
19      (d)    Helmets.--
20             (1)    Except as provided under paragraph (2), an
21      individual may not operate a snowmobile or ATV on highways
22      and streets open to snowmobiles or ATV's and vehicular
23      traffic without a securely fastened helmet on the head of the
24      individual and any passenger on the snowmobile or ATV or
25      being towed or otherwise propelled by the snowmobile or ATV.
26             (2)    A helmet is not required for an individual who is at
27      least 18 years of age and operates or is a passenger on a UTV
28      that is equipped with all of the following:
29                    (i)    A bucket or bench seat in lieu of a saddle seat.
30                    (ii)    A seat belt for the operator and each

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1         passenger.
2               (iii)   A roll cage.
3         (3)   The department shall specify the types of helmets
4     allowed under this subsection through rules and regulations.
5     Section 4.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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