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Monday, March 02, 2009

Ind. Law - "Minitruck" bill passes first house, while golf cart bills remain in committee

A discussion in the middle of LCJ Reporter Lesley Stedman Weidenbener's lengthy interview today on Sen. Richard Young, D-Milltown caught my attention:

Q: You authored a bill that would legalize the use of minitrucks, which are tiny versions of pickup trucks. What happened with that bill?

A: It didn't get a hearing in the Senate, but it has been heard and passed out of the House and that bill is coming to me (to sponsor in the Senate).

It's important to me because I have dealers in my Senate district that are selling these vehicles and they feel like that by allowing these to be used on state roads, other than interstates, as they are in many other states, they will have a broader market for their products.

It could bring some economic improvement to my district and to the state.

Q: What are minitrucks?

A: They run about 60 mph. That's about the top speed. They have enclosed cabs, unlike ATVs. They have to have all the safety devices, turn signals that any other vehicles used on the highway would have. But their gas mileage is infinitely better than traditional vehicles.

Like the reporter, the ILB has never before heard of "mini-trucks." But it has posted many entries on golf carts and on the sustained interest of citizens all around the state in being able able to legally use the economical golf cart as transport on city streets. Five bills to accomplish this goal were introduced this year, all remain in first house committee.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 2, 2009 12:52 PM
Posted to Indiana Law