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SALT LAKE CITY — A state lawmaker is proposing to create a designation for a new category of unconventional vehicles.
Rep. Stewart Barlow, R-Fruit Heights, presented HB38 to the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday.
An autocycle is a three-wheeled vehicle with the efficiency of a motorcycle but resembling a small car.
Barlow said the vehicles are being designated by manufacturers as a type of motorcycle, but they have seats, seat belts and often enclosures.
The biggest problem, he said, is where to test drive the vehicles.
"We're just not able to test them on a motorcycle testing track," Barlow said.
His bill would create a category for such vehicles.
The bill also would require seat belts to be worn at all times, minors to wear helmets when the vehicle doesn't include roll bars, and that hardware such as blinkers and rearview mirrors to be attached to the vehicle.
Barlow said there are 65 autocycles currently registered in Utah, and more are expected.
American autocycle company Elio is scheduled to begin marketing soon, Barlow said. According to the Elio website, there are already 50,000 reservations for the autocycles.
Barlow said a Utah-based company is hoping to have some autocycles in production in the near future.
The new vehicles are expected to cost between $6,000 and $8,000 and average 50-80 miles per gallon, Barlow said.
The committee voted unanimously to send HB38 to the full Senate. It previously passed the House.
— Emily Larson
