HB308: HB308 Motor vehicles; operation of miniature on-road vehicles on certain highways; provide

Georgia law did not clearly spell out how imported "miniature on-road vehicles," small vehicles built for roads in other countries and later brought into the United States, could be registered and driven. This bill defines these vehicles by size, speed range, and design, and sets rules for registering them, issuing special license plates, charging a $20 annual fee, and taxing them like antique cars at a flat $100 valuation. The bill also says these vehicles can only drive on municipal or county roads (crossing state highways is allowed), but local governments can ban them if they post notice on the road. Separately, the bill lets judges order a speed-limiting "intelligent speed assistance device" installed on a car after a reckless stunt driving conviction, ends fingerprinting for window tinting violations, and lets drivers choose whether to sign a traffic citation. Most of the bill would have taken effect October 1, 2025, with one license plate provision delayed until 2032. The Governor vetoed the bill.

• Creates a legal definition for "miniature on-road vehicle," covering small imported vehicles that go 25 to 65 mph, are under 80 inches wide, and weigh less than 4,000 pounds.
• Sets up registration, a $20 annual fee, and a special license plate design for these vehicles, similar to rules for low-speed and multipurpose off-highway vehicles.
• Exempts older or federally certified miniature on-road vehicles from Georgia's certificate of title requirements, based on their age or safety modifications.
• Restricts where these vehicles can be driven to municipal and county roads (with permission to cross state highways) and allows local governments to ban them if they post warning signs.
• Lets a court order a driver convicted of reckless stunt driving (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-390.1) to install a speed-limiting device on their vehicle for at least six months, with violations punished as a misdemeanor.
• Ends the requirement to take fingerprints for window tinting violations and lets drivers decide whether to sign a traffic citation instead of automatically posting bond.

People who import and drive small foreign-market vehicles like kei trucks, the Georgia Department of Revenue and county tag offices that handle vehicle registration and taxes, local governments deciding whether to allow these vehicles on their roads, and drivers convicted of reckless stunt driving or window tinting violations.

If enacted, owners of imported mini-trucks and similar vehicles would gain a clear path to register, plate, and legally drive them on local roads, while cities and counties could still block them with posted signs. Reckless stunt drivers could also be ordered to install speed-limiting devices, and fewer people would be fingerprinted for tinting violations.

• Section 1 defines "miniature on-road vehicle" in O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1 by size, speed, weight, and design features, excluding golf carts and off-road vehicles.
• Section 2 exempts older miniature on-road vehicles, or newer ones certified as meeting federal safety standards, from certain title requirements.
• Sections 3 through 6 set license plate size and design rules and establish a $20 annual registration fee for these vehicles.
• Section 8 restricts miniature on-road vehicles to municipal and county roads, allows crossing state highways, and lets local ordinances ban their use.
• Section 9 gives local governments explicit power to prohibit these vehicles and requires posted notice before any such local ban takes effect.
• Section 10 lets courts order convicted reckless stunt drivers to install a speed-limiting "intelligent speed assistance device" for at least six months, at the offender's expense.
• Section 13 taxes miniature on-road vehicles like antique cars, based on a flat $100 valuation, under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-473.
• Section 14 sets most provisions effective October 1, 2025, but delays the license plate design change in Section 4 until January 1, 2032.

1. 2025-05-14Veto V1
2. 2025-05-14House Date Vetoed by Governor (House)
3. 2025-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-04-02Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31Senate Tabled (Senate)

• Rob Clifton (R, HD-131)Primary sponsor
• Marcus Wiedower (R, HD-121)
• Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)
• Shaw Blackmon (R, HD-146)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2025

   170 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #84

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   50 yea, 5 nay (0 not voting, 1 absent)

   Adoption Of The Amendment By The Sen From The 32nd As Amended: Senate Vote #419

3. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   47 yea, 6 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage As Amended: Senate Vote #420

4. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   104 yea, 60 nay (3 not voting, 13 absent)

   Agree To Senate Amendment: House Vote #415

• vehicle registration
• imported mini-trucks
• traffic laws
• reckless driving penalties
• license plates