Title 31
Motor and Other Vehicles

Chapter 19.6
Low-Speed Vehicles [Effective July 1, 2024.]

§ 31-19.6-1. Low-speed vehicles. [Effective July 1, 2024.]

(a) Except as otherwise provided in chapters 19.4 and 19.5 of this title, a low-speed motor vehicle or low-speed vehicle shall not be operated upon any public way unless such vehicle is registered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, displays the registration number as provided in § 31-3-10, and displays a slow-moving vehicle emblem on the rear of the vehicle as required by § 31-10.1-7. Low-speed vehicles shall be subject to inspection as required by chapter 38 of this title. The registrar may issue registration plates displaying the “Slow Moving Vehicle” emblem for a low-speed vehicle upon the same terms and conditions applicable to registrants of other motor vehicles and may issue a special parking identification placard bearing the same designation upon the same terms and conditions applicable to persons seeking a placard for a motor vehicle. Every person lawfully operating a low-speed motor vehicle shall have the right to use the public highways in the state, except low-speed vehicles shall be prohibited from operation on limited access highways, as defined in § 31-1-23, state highways, as defined in § 31-1-23, or through highways as defined in § 31-1-23 or on any public highway or roadway with a speed limit of more than thirty-five miles per hour (35 m.p.h.).

(b) Low-speed vehicles shall be subject to the traffic laws and regulations of the state and the provisions of this section.

(c) Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be construed to prohibit a low-speed motor vehicle from crossing a public highway at an intersection where the public highway to be crossed has a posted speed limit between thirty-five miles per hour (35 m.p.h.) and forty-five miles per hour (45 m.p.h.), provided the public highway the low-speed vehicle is traveling on and the public highway the low-speed vehicle is crossing the intersection toward both have a speed limit no higher than thirty-five miles per hour (35 m.p.h.) and the intersection is controlled by traffic signals or stop signs.

(d) A municipality may, by ordinance, prohibit the operation of low-speed vehicles on a laned roadway or local highway or a portion of a highway within its jurisdiction and under its control, regardless of posted speeds, where it finds that use of the highway or a particular portion of the highway by low-speed motor vehicles would represent an unreasonable risk of death or serious injury to occupants of low-speed vehicles as a result of general traffic conditions which shall include, but not be limited to, excessive speeds of other vehicles, traffic volumes, use of the highway by heavy trucks or other large vehicles or if the established speed limit on the highway increases above thirty-five miles per hour (35 m.p.h.) beyond the point where a low-speed vehicle could safely exit the highway. The municipality shall post signs where necessary to provide notice to the public of such prohibited access.

(e) Low-speed vehicles operated on Prudence Island, in the town of Portsmouth, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 19.4 of this title, are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.