House Bill 25-1281 Rerevised

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning kei vehicles.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)

A kei vehicle is the smallest road-legal, 4-wheeled vehicle in Japan and is imported into the United States as a used vehicle. The bill defines a kei vehicle as a motor vehicle for the purposes of the "Uniform Motor Vehicle Law" and the "Certificate of Title Act". These acts govern issuing a certificate of title, registering a motor vehicle, and the rules of the road for motor vehicles. The bill authorizes a kei vehicle to operate on the roads and requires a kei vehicle to be issued a certificate of title, be registered, and obey motor vehicle traffic laws.

Driving a kei vehicle on a roadway that has a speed limit greater than 55 miles per hour or on a limited-access highway is prohibited.

For emissions testing, a kei vehicle is tested not using a dynamometer but using a 2-speed idle test. The vehicle must pass the emissions standards for the year it was manufactured.

The department of revenue, the Colorado state patrol, and the agents or contractors of these agencies may not require a vehicle to have an inspection because it is a kei vehicle or has the design or manufacturing parameters of a kei vehicle. And a kei vehicle may not be declared not roadworthy because of its design or manufacturing parameters.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 10-4-601, amend (6) as follows:

• Page 2, Line 310-4-601.  Definitions. As used in this part 6, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 2, Line 4(6)  "Motor vehicle" means a "motor vehicle", a "kei vehicle",

• Page 2, Line 5and a "low-power scooter", as both each of these terms are is defined

• Page 2, Line 6in section 42-1-102; C.R.S.; except that "motor vehicle" does not include

• Page 2, Line 7a toy vehicle, snowmobile, off-highway vehicle, or vehicle designed primarily for use on rails.

• Page 2, Line 8SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-1-102, amend (58)(a); and add (45.3) as follows:

• Page 2, Line 942-1-102.  Definitions. As used in articles 1 to 4 of this title 42, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 2, Line 10(45.3)  "Kei vehicle" means a vehicle that:

• Page 2, Line 11(a)  Is powered by an internal combustion engine with a

• Page 2, Line 12displacement of one thousand cubic centimeters or less or an electrical motor of fifty-six thousand watts or less;

• Page 2, Line 13(b)  Is sixty-seven inches or less in width;

• (c)  Is one hundred forty inches or less in length;

• Page 3, Line 1(d)  Travels on four or more tires in contact with the ground;

• Page 3, Line 2(e)  Has a top speed of at least fifty miles per hour;

• (f)  Has an enclosed passenger cab;

• Page 3, Line 3(g)  Was imported into the United States; and

• Page 3, Line 4(h) (I)  Was twenty-five years old or older when imported into the United States; or

• Page 3, Line 5(II)  Is twenty-five years old or older and was previously issued a title in the United States.

• Page 3, Line 6(58)  "Motor vehicle":

• Page 3, Line 7(a)  Means any a self-propelled vehicle that is designed primarily

• Page 3, Line 8for travel on the public highways and that is generally and commonly

• Page 3, Line 9used to transport persons and property over the public highways, a

• Page 3, Line 10low-speed electric vehicle, a kei vehicle, or an autocycle; except that the

• Page 3, Line 11term does not include electrical assisted bicycles, electric scooters,

• Page 3, Line 12low-power scooters except as provided in subsection (58)(b) of this section, wheelchairs, or vehicles moved solely by human power;

• Page 3, Line 13SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 42-4-109.7 as follows:

• Page 3, Line 1442-4-109.7.  Kei vehicles. (1) (a)  A person shall not drive a

• Page 3, Line 15kei vehicle on a roadway that has a speed limit greater than

• Page 3, Line 16fifty-five miles per hour; except that a person may drive across

• Page 3, Line 17a roadway with a speed limit greater than fifty-five miles per hour at an at-grade intersection.

• Page 3, Line 18(b)  A person shall not drive a kei vehicle on a

• Page 3, Line 19limited-access highway.

• Page 4, Line 1(2)  A violation of this section is a class B traffic infraction.

• Page 4, Line 2SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-304, amend (19)(b)(II) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 342-4-304.  Definitions relating to motor vehicle inspection and

• Page 4, Line 4readjustment program. As used in sections 42-4-301 to 42-4-316, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 4, Line 5(19) (b) (II)  Except as provided in section 42-4-310 (2)(a)(II),

• Page 4, Line 6inspection procedures used by a motor vehicle dealer test facility pursuant

• Page 4, Line 7to this paragraph (b) shall subsection (19)(b) must include a loaded

• Page 4, Line 8mode transient dynamometer test cycle in combination with appropriate idle short tests pursuant to rules and regulations of the commission.

• Page 4, Line 9SECTION 5.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-309, amend (3)(b) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 1042-4-309.  Vehicle fleet owners - motor vehicle dealers -

• Page 4, Line 11authority to conduct inspections - fleet inspection stations - motor

• Page 4, Line 12vehicle dealer test facilities - contracts with licensed inspection-only

• Page 4, Line 13entities. (3) (b)  Within the enhanced emissions program, motor vehicle

• Page 4, Line 14dealers licensed pursuant to part 1 of article 20 of title 44 may contract for

• Page 4, Line 15used motor vehicle inspection services by a licensed motor vehicle dealer

• Page 4, Line 16test facility. Except as provided in section 42-4-310 (2)(a)(II) and

• Page 4, Line 17pursuant to rules of the commission, inspection procedures shall must

• Page 4, Line 18include a loaded mode transient dynamometer test cycle in combination with appropriate idle short tests.

• Page 4, Line 19SECTION 6.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-310, amend (2)(a) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 2042-4-310.  Periodic emissions control inspection required.

• Page 5, Line 1(2) (a) (I)  To determine whether a motor vehicle qualifies for

• Page 5, Line 2issuance of a certification of emissions compliance, the emissions inspection required under this section shall must include:

• Page 5, Line 3(A)  An analysis of tail pipe tailpipe and evaporative emissions;

• Page 5, Line 4(B)  After January 1, 1994, such inspection shall include An

• Page 5, Line 5analysis of emissions control equipment, including on-board diagnostic

• Page 5, Line 6systems, chlorofluorocarbons, and visible smoke emissions for the basic emissions program area and the enhanced emissions program area; and

• Page 5, Line 7(C)  Emissions testing that meets the performance standards set by

• Page 5, Line 8federal requirements for the enhanced emissions program area by means

• Page 5, Line 9of procedures specified by regulation rule of the commission; to

• Page 5, Line 10determine whether the motor vehicle qualifies for issuance of a certification of emissions compliance. and

• Page 5, Line 11(D)  For motor vehicles of the model year 1975 or later, not tested

• Page 5, Line 12under a transient load on a dynamometer, said inspection shall also

• Page 5, Line 13include a visual inspection of emissions control equipment pursuant to rules of the commission.

• Page 5, Line 14(II)  Notwithstanding subsection (2)(a)(I) of this section, a

• Page 5, Line 15kei vehicle is not tested using a dynamometer. A kei vehicle must

• Page 5, Line 16be tested using a two-speed idle test. To be issued a certificate

• Page 5, Line 17of emissions compliance, a kei vehicle must pass the emissions standards for the model year it was manufactured.

• Page 5, Line 18SECTION 7.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-5-202, add (5) as follows:

• Page 5, Line 1942-5-202.  Vehicle identification number inspection. (5)  The

• Page 5, Line 20department of revenue, the agents of the department of

• Page 5, Line 21revenue, the Colorado state patrol, the agents of the Colorado

• Page 6, Line 1state patrol, or a person that has contracted with the

• Page 6, Line 2department of revenue or the Colorado state patrol shall not

• Page 6, Line 3require a vehicle to have an inspection because it is a kei vehicle,

• Page 6, Line 4as defined in section 42-1-102 (45.3), or has the design or

• Page 6, Line 5manufacturing parameters of a kei vehicle, as defined in section

• Page 6, Line 642-1-102 (45.3). This subsection (5) applies for the purposes of both article 6 of this title 42 and part 3 of article 4 of this title 42.

• Page 6, Line 7SECTION 8.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-6-102, amend

• Page 6, Line 8(6.5), (10) introductory portion, (11.5)(b)(I) introductory portion, and (15); and add (6.6) and (6.7) as follows:

• Page 6, Line 942-6-102.  Definitions. As used in this part 1, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 6, Line 10(6.5)  "Kit vehicle" means a passenger-type motor vehicle

• Page 6, Line 11assembled, by other than a licensed manufacturer, from a manufactured

• Page 6, Line 12kit that includes a prefabricated body and chassis and is accompanied by

• Page 6, Line 13a manufacturer's statement of origin "Kei vehicle" has the meaning set forth in section 42-1-102.

• Page 6, Line 14(6.6)  "Kei off-road vehicle" means a vehicle that:

• Page 6, Line 15(a)  Is powered by an internal combustion engine with a

• Page 6, Line 16displacement of one thousand cubic centimeters or less or an electrical motor of fifty-six thousand watts or less;

• Page 6, Line 17(b)  Is sixty-seven inches or less in width;

• (c)  Is one hundred forty inches or less in length;

• Page 6, Line 18(d)  Travels on four or more tires in contact with the ground;

• Page 6, Line 19(e)  Has an enclosed passenger cab;

• Page 6, Line 20(f)  Was imported into the United States; and

• Page 7, Line 1(g)  Does not meet the requirements of section 42-1-102 (45.3)(h).

• Page 7, Line 2(6.7)  "Kit vehicle" means a passenger-type motor vehicle

• Page 7, Line 3assembled, by other than a licensed manufacturer, from a

• Page 7, Line 4manufactured kit that includes a prefabricated body and

• Page 7, Line 5chassis and is accompanied by a manufacturer's statement of origin.

• Page 7, Line 6(10)  "Motor vehicle" means any a self-propelled vehicle that is

• Page 7, Line 7designed primarily for travel on the public highways and is generally and

• Page 7, Line 8commonly used to transport persons and property over the public

• Page 7, Line 9highways, including autocycles, kei vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and

• Page 7, Line 10trailer coaches, without motive power. "Motor vehicle" does not include the following:

• Page 7, Line 11(11.5) (b) (I)  Except as described in subsection (11.5)(b)(II) of

• Page 7, Line 12this section, "off-highway vehicle" includes vehicles commonly known

• Page 7, Line 13as all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, kei off-road vehicles, and surplus military vehicles but does not include:

• Page 7, Line 14(15) (a)  "Roadworthy" means a condition in which a motor

• Page 7, Line 15vehicle has sufficient power and is fit to operate on the roads and

• Page 7, Line 16highways of this state after visual inspection by appropriate law enforcement authorities.

• Page 7, Line 17(b)  In order to be roadworthy, such a vehicle, in accord with its

• Page 7, Line 18design and use, shall must have all major parts and systems permanently

• Page 7, Line 19attached and functioning and shall must not be repaired in such a manner as to make the vehicle unsafe.

• Page 7, Line 20(c)  For purposes of this subsection (15), As used in this

• Page 7, Line 21subsection (15):

• Page 8, Line 1(I)  "In accord with its design and use" precludes a kei

• Page 8, Line 2vehicle from being declared to be not roadworthy based on its design or manufacturing parameters.

• Page 8, Line 3(II)  "Major parts and systems" shall include, but not be limited to,

• Page 8, Line 4includes the body of a motor vehicle with related component parts,

• Page 8, Line 5engine, transmission, tires, wheels, seats, exhaust, and brakes and all other equipment required by Colorado law for the particular vehicle.

• Page 8, Line 6SECTION 9.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-20-102, amend (16); and add (12.5) as follows:

• Page 8, Line 744-20-102.  Definitions. As used in this part 1, and in part 4 of this article 20, unless the context or section 44-20-402 otherwise requires:

• Page 8, Line 8(12.5)  "Kei road vehicle" means a "kei vehicle" as defined in section 42-1-102 (45.3).

• Page 8, Line 9(16)  "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle intended primarily for

• Page 8, Line 10use on the public highways that is self-propelled and every vehicle

• Page 8, Line 11intended primarily for operation on the public highways that is not

• Page 8, Line 12self-propelled but is designed to be attached to, become a part of, or be

• Page 8, Line 13drawn by a self-propelled vehicle, not including farm tractors and other

• Page 8, Line 14machines and tools used in the production, harvesting, and care of farm

• Page 8, Line 15products. "Motor vehicle" includes a kei road vehicle or a low-power scooter or autocycle as either is defined in section 42-1-102.

• Page 8, Line 16SECTION 10.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 44-20-131.5 as follows:

• Page 8, Line 1744-20-313.5.  Kei road vehicles - no liability for manufacturing

• Page 8, Line 18standards.A person licensed under this part 1 is not liable for

• Page 8, Line 19any damages that are directly or indirectly attributable to

• Page 8, Line 20selling a kei road vehicle that is not manufactured in accordance with United States federal safety standards.

• Page 9, Line 1SECTION 11.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-20-402, amend (11)(b) and (11)(c); and add (6.5) and (11)(d) as follows:

• Page 9, Line 244-20-402.  Definitions. As used in this part 4, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 9, Line 3(6.5)  "Kei off-road vehicle" means a vehicle that:

• Page 9, Line 4(a)  Is powered by an internal combustion engine with a

• Page 9, Line 5displacement of one thousand cubic centimeters or less or an electrical motor of fifty-six thousand watts or less;

• Page 9, Line 6(b)  Is sixty-seven inches or less in width;

• (c)  Is one hundred forty inches or less in length;

• Page 9, Line 7(d)  Travels on four or more tires in contact with the ground;

• Page 9, Line 8(e)  Has an enclosed passenger cab;

• (f)  Was imported into the United States; and

• Page 9, Line 9(g)  Does not meet the requirements of section 42-1-102 (45.3)(h).

• Page 9, Line 10(11)  "Powersports vehicle" means any of the following:

• (b)  A personal watercraft; or

• Page 9, Line 11(c)  A snowmobile; or

• (d)  A kei off-road vehicle.

• Page 9, Line 12SECTION 12.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 44-20-432.5 as follows:

• Page 9, Line 1344-20-432.5.  Kei off-road vehicles - no liability for

• Page 9, Line 14manufacturing standards.A person licensed under this part 4 is

• Page 9, Line 15not liable for any damages that are directly or indirectly

• Page 9, Line 16attributable to selling a kei off-road vehicle that is not

• Page 10, Line 1manufactured in accordance with United States federal safety standards.

• Page 10, Line 2SECTION 13.  Act subject to petition - effective date -

• Page 10, Line 3applicability. (1)  This act takes effect July 1, 2027; except that, if a

• Page 10, Line 4referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the

• Page 10, Line 5state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act

• Page 10, Line 6within the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general

• Page 10, Line 7assembly, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless

• Page 10, Line 8approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect July 1, 2027.

• Page 10, Line 9(2)  This act applies to applications submitted or offenses committed on or after January 1, 2028.