A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, and municipal and county employees to operate utility vehicles on some public highways.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑171.23 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑171.23.  Motorized all terrain vehicles of law enforcement officers and fire, rescue, and emergency medical services permitted on certain highways.
(a)	Law enforcement officers acting in the course and scope of their duties may operate motorized all terrain vehicles and owned or leased by the agency, or under the direct control of the incident commander, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
(b)	Fire, rescue, and emergency medical services personnel acting in the course and scope of their duties may operate motorized all terrain vehicles and owned or leased by fire, rescue, or emergency medical services departments, or under the direct control of the incident commander, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
(c)	This Part and all other State laws governing the operation of all terrain vehicles apply to the operation of all‑terrain vehicles authorized by this section.
(d)	An all terrain vehicle operated pursuant to this section shall be equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn.
(e)	A person operating an all terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall observe posted speed limits and shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommended speed for the vehicle.
(f)	A person operating an all terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall carry an official identification card or badge.
(g)	For purposes of this section, the term "motorized all terrain vehicle" has the same meaning as in G.S. 14‑159.3, except that the term also includes utility vehicles, as defined in this Chapter."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑171.24 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑171.24.  Motorized all terrain vehicle use by employees of listed municipalities and counties permitted on certain highways.
(a)	Municipal and county employees may operate motorized all terrain vehicles and owned or leased by the agency, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
(b)	This Part and all other State laws governing the operation of all terrain vehicles apply to the operation of all terrain vehicles authorized by this section.
(c)	An all terrain vehicle operated pursuant to this section shall be equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn.
(d)	A person operating an all terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall observe posted speed limits and shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommended speed for the vehicle.
(e)	A person operating an all terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall carry an official identification card or badge.
(e1)	For purposes of this section, the term "motorized all terrain vehicle" has the same meaning as in G.S. 14‑159.3, except that the term also includes utility vehicles, as defined in this Chapter.
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SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.