Revision: Jan. 4, 2021, 1:40 p.m.
HB 116 - AS INTRODUCED
2021 SESSION
21-0104
11/06
HOUSE BILL 116
AN ACT relative to personal delivery devices and mobile carriers.
SPONSORS: Rep. Steven Smith, Sull. 11; Rep. Packard, Rock. 5; Rep. Walsh, Merr. 24
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill defines and regulates personal delivery devices and mobile carriers.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
21-0104
11/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT relative to personal delivery devices and mobile carriers.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Motor Vehicles; Definitions; Mobile Carrier. Amend RSA 259 by inserting after section 56 the following new section:
259:56-a Mobile Carrier. "Mobile carrier" means an electrically powered device that:
I. Is operated on sidewalks and crosswalks and is intended primarily for transporting property.
II. Weighs less than 80 pounds, excluding cargo.
III. Has a maximum speed of 12.5 miles per hour.
IV. Is equipped with a technology to transport personal property with the active monitoring of a property owner and primarily designed to remain within 25 feet of the property owner.
2 New Section; Motor Vehicles; Definitions; Personal Delivery Device. Amend RSA 259 by inserting after section 75 the following new section:
259:75-a Personal Delivery Device. "Personal delivery device" means an electrically powered device that:
I. Is operated on sidewalks and crosswalks and intended primarily for transporting property.
II. Weighs less than 80 pounds, excluding cargo.
III. Has a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour.
IV. Is equipped with technology to allow for operation of the device with or without the active control or monitoring of a natural person.
3 New Subdivision; Special Rules for Personal Delivery Devices and Mobile Carriers. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 161 the following new subdivision:
Special Rules for Personal Delivery Devices and Mobile Carriers
265:162 Personal Delivery Devices and Mobile Carriers.
I. A personal delivery device or mobile carrier may operate on sidewalks and crosswalks. A personal delivery device or mobile carrier operating on a sidewalk or crosswalk has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances, except that the personal delivery device or mobile carrier shall not unreasonably interfere with pedestrians or traffic and shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on the sidewalk or crosswalk.
II. Personal delivery devices and a mobile carriers shall:
(a) Obey all official traffic and pedestrian control signals and devices.
(b) For personal delivery devices, include a plate or marker that has a unique identifying device number and identifies the name and contact information of the personal delivery device operator.
(c) Be equipped with a braking system that, when active or engaged, enables the personal delivery device or mobile carrier to come to a controlled stop.
III. Personal delivery devices and a mobile carriers shall not:
(a) Operate on a public highway except to the extent necessary to cross a crosswalk.
(b) Operate on a sidewalk or crosswalk unless the personal delivery device operator is actively controlling or monitoring the navigation and operation of the personal delivery device or a mobile carrier owner remains within 25 feet of the mobile carrier.
(c) Transport hazardous materials as defined in RSA 259:40.
(d) For mobile carriers, transport persons or animals.
IV. A person who owns and operates a personal delivery device in this state shall maintain an insurance policy, on behalf of himself or herself and his or her agents, which provides general liability coverage of at least $100,000 for damages arising from the combined operations of personal delivery devices under the entity’s or agent’s control.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.