HB 1205 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to vehicles, further providing for definitions; in financial responsibility, providing for mini trucks; providing for additional special vehicles; and, in inspection of vehicles, further providing for operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection and providing for vehicles exempt from emission inspections.

PRINTER'S NO.    1353

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1205
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY ZIMMERMAN, SMITH, ROWE AND HOGAN, APRIL 15, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 15, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in general provisions relating to vehicles, further
 3      providing for definitions; in financial responsibility,
 4      providing for mini trucks; providing for additional special
 5      vehicles; and, in inspection of vehicles, further providing
 6      for operation of vehicle without official certificate of
 7      inspection and providing for vehicles exempt from emission
 8      inspections.
 9      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10   hereby enacts as follows:
11      Section 1.    Section 102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
12   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
13   § 102.   Definitions.
14      Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
15   provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
16   provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
17   used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
18   indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
19      * * *
20      "Mini truck."    A motor vehicle of the keijidōsha class of
21   Japanese imported vehicles commonly referred to as a mini truck
 1   or kei truck that is imported under 49 U.S.C. § 30112(b)(9)
 2   (relating to prohibitions on manufacturing, selling, and
 3   importing noncomplying motor vehicles and equipment) and has:
 4             (1)   Four wheels.
 5             (2)   A truck bed.
 6             (3)   An engine displacement of 660 cubic centimeters or
 7      less.
 8             (4)   An overall length of 130 inches or less.
 9             (5)   An overall height of 78 inches or less.
10             (6)   An overall width of 60 inches or less.
11      * * *
12      Section 2.     Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
13   § 1789.    Mini trucks.
14      (a)    Minimum coverage requirements.--A mini truck that is
15   registered or operated on a highway shall be covered by
16   financial responsibility in the amount of $15,000 for injury to
17   one person in any one accident, in the amount of $30,000 for
18   injury to two or more persons in any one accident and in the
19   amount of $5,000 for damage of property of others in any one
20   accident. The financial responsibility shall be in a form
21   acceptable to the department.
22      (b)    Exemption from other coverages.--For a mini truck, no
23   person shall be required to purchase and no insurer shall be
24   required to offer or make available any other coverage contained
25   in this chapter.
26      Section 3.     Title 75 is amended by adding a chapter to read:
27                                  CHAPTER 36
28                          ADDITIONAL SPECIAL VEHICLES
29   Subchapter
30      A.     (Reserved)

20250HB1205PN1353                     - 2 -
 1      B.     Operation of Mini Trucks
 2                                    SUBCHAPTER A
 3                                     (Reserved)
 4                                    SUBCHAPTER B
 5                             OPERATION OF MINI TRUCKS
 6   Sec.
 7   3610.    Scope of subchapter.
 8   3611.    Required equipment.
 9   3612.    Operation.
10   3613.    Same treatment as passenger cars.
11   3614.    Seating limitation.
12   § 3610.    Scope of subchapter.
13      This subchapter applies to the operation of mini trucks on
14   certain highways or roadways in this Commonwealth.
15   § 3611.    Required equipment.
16      (a)    General rule.--A mini truck operated upon a highway or
17   roadway in this Commonwealth shall be equipped with the
18   following equipment:
19             (1)   Brakes adequate to control the movement of and to
20      stop the vehicle.
21             (2)   An odometer.
22             (3)   A speedometer.
23             (4)   The original manufacturer's vehicle identification
24      number die stamped upon the body or frame, or both, of the
25      vehicle or the original manufacturer's vehicle identification
26      number die stamped upon the engine or motor of the vehicle.
27             (5)   A windshield and windshield wipers.
28             (6)   A horn.
29             (7)   Head lamps.
30             (8)   Tail lamps.

20250HB1205PN1353                        - 3 -
 1             (9)    Turn signals.
 2             (10)    Side mirrors.
 3             (11)    Seat belts.
 4             (12)    Tires that conform with the requirements under
 5      section 4525 (relating to tire equipment and traction
 6      surfaces).
 7      (b)    Exemption.--A mini truck is exempt from equipment
 8   requirements not enumerated in this subchapter.
 9      (c)    Penalties.--An individual who operates a mini truck
10   without the equipment prescribed in this section shall be
11   subject to the penalties under section 6502 (relating to summary
12   offenses).
13   § 3612.    Operation.
14      (a)    State highways.--
15             (1)    Except as otherwise provided under paragraphs (2)
16      and (3), a mini truck may not be operated upon a highway or
17      roadway under the jurisdiction of the department with a
18      posted speed limit in excess of 55 miles per hour.
19             (2)    The secretary may, by order, permit the use of a
20      mini truck upon a highway or roadway under the jurisdiction
21      of the department where the posted speed limit is greater
22      than 55 miles per hour but not greater than 70 miles per
23      hour.
24             (3)    The secretary may, by order, prohibit the use of a
25      mini truck upon any street under the jurisdiction of the
26      department where the secretary determines that the operation
27      of a mini truck would constitute a hazard.
28             (4)    The secretary shall transmit an order issued under
29      paragraph (2) or (3) to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
30      publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania

20250HB1205PN1353                      - 4 -
 1    Bulletin.
 2    (b)   Local roadways.--
 3          (1)   Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2) or
 4    (3), a mini truck may not be operated upon a highway or
 5    roadway under the jurisdiction of a local authority with a
 6    posted speed limit in excess of 55 miles per hour.
 7          (2)   A local authority may, by ordinance or resolution,
 8    as appropriate, in the case of a roadway under its
 9    jurisdiction, permit the use of a mini truck where the posted
10    speed limit is greater than 55 miles per hour but not greater
11    than 70 miles per hour.
12          (3)   A local authority may, by ordinance or resolution,
13    as appropriate, prohibit the use of a mini truck upon a
14    roadway where the local authority determines that the
15    operation of a mini truck would constitute a hazard.
16    (c)   Intersection with State highways.--
17          (1)   A mini truck may enter an intersection and cross a
18    highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of the department
19    where the posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour or less,
20    provided that if the highway or roadway is more than two
21    lanes or is divided, the crossing may only occur at a
22    signalized intersection.
23          (2)   A mini truck may enter an intersection and cross a
24    highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of the department
25    where the posted speed limit is in excess of 55 miles per
26    hour only at a signalized intersection.
27    (d)   Intersection with local roadways.--
28          (1)   A mini truck may enter an intersection and cross a
29    highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of a local
30    authority where the posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour

20250HB1205PN1353                  - 5 -
 1      or less, provided that if the highway or roadway is more than
 2      two lanes or is divided, the crossing may only occur at
 3      signalized intersections.
 4             (2)     A mini truck may enter an intersection and cross a
 5      highway or roadway under the jurisdiction of a local
 6      authority where the posted speed limit is in excess of 55
 7      miles per hour only at a signalized intersection.
 8      (e)    Violation.--An individual operating a mini truck upon a
 9   highway or roadway or crossing a highway or roadway in violation
10   of this section shall be subject to the penalties under section
11   6502 (relating to summary offenses).
12   § 3613.    Same treatment as passenger cars.
13      A mini truck shall be considered a passenger car for the
14   purposes of Part II (relating to title, registration and
15   licensing) and section 4581 (relating to restraint systems).
16   § 3614.    Seating limitation.
17      A mini truck may not be operated at a time in which the
18   number of passengers exceeds the number of available safety
19   belts in the vehicle.
20      Section 4.       Section 4703(b) of Title 75 is amended by adding
21   a paragraph to read:
22   § 4703.    Operation of vehicle without official certificate of
23                    inspection.
24      * * *
25      (b)    Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to:
26             * * *
27             (15)    Mini trucks.
28      * * *
29      Section 5.       Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
30   § 4711.    Vehicles exempt from emission inspections.

20250HB1205PN1353                       - 6 -
1      A mini truck shall not be required to obtain an emissions
2   inspection under this chapter.
3      Section 6.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB1205PN1353                 - 7 -