3:42 PM DMV Director Joesph Owsiak’s Response to Jake’s Email shown below
Your proposal must be submitted as a part of the legislative process. In addition, unless your are licensed as a manufacturer, you cannot legally convert more than one “dune buggy” for road use, and you cannot sell that one retail without a hearing to allow you to do so as a manufacturer, or appointing an existing licensed dealer as your franchised dealer (manufacturers are not permitted to sell retail in Virginia). joe
2:57 PM Jake Email to DMV Director Joesph Owsiak
Dear Mr. Owsiak,
It is my intention to introduce new wording for the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia state police inspection process to clarify a class of vehicle commonly referred to as “Go-Cart”, “Go-Kart”, and “Dune-Buggy.”Many of these dune buggies get extremely high fuel economy, cost significantly less that a car, and are safer for highway use than a two or three wheeled motorcycle due to the increased stability afforded by the four wheel platform. Currently, a number of states allow the registration of these vehicles for street use. For example; Arizona registers them for street use as a “4-wheeled Motorcycle.” Virginia’s definition of “Motorcycle” includes a limitation of “three or less tires” which immediately places a Dune Buggy into the classification for a car. Classification as a car requires each buggy to be fitted with a large number of expensive and unnecessary components that are not required by motorcycles such as DOT glass windshield, windshield wiper and windshield defroster. It also requires the removal of four point and five point safety harnesses which often far exceed a standard DOT lap and shoulder restraint belt.Limiting the movement by use of a greater large surface area webbing afforded by racing harnesses will decrease the number of secondary injuries caused by the restraint system itself.
Dune Buggy – Street titled, simple vehicle with four wheels and a roll cage where the operator steers via a steering wheel, and uses control petals similar to a passenger vehicle. These shall be registered a “four-wheeled” motorcycle for administrative purposes such as titling, license plate, and inspection. A helmet is not required if the vehicle is equipped with a roll cage and safety harness. If no windshield is installed, the driver must wear adequate eye protection. A class “M” Motorcycle endorsement is not required.
Reasons to use this definition: Allows for a class of simple and economical four wheeled 1. vehicles for commuting. 2.Light weight and lower wind resistance will increase fuel mileage. Eliminating the requirement of a windshield will increase vehicle efficiency by reducing drag.3.The low center of gravity and four wheels provide for increased stability over motorcycles with two wheels and three wheels. 4.Requiring DOT safety belts would reduce the safety of these vehicles as they often come equipped with 4 and 5 point harnesses that far exceed DOT specifications. 5. Some dune buggies have impact resistant plastic windshields that are similar to those used on race cars. A “DOT glass” windshield is less impact resistant and thus a downgrade. Plastic windshields will scratch more easily than glass but that is covered in the state inspection process using the same criteria as glass. During an auto accident, a plastic windshield is less likely to cause injury to the vehicle occupants as well as affording similar protection used by race cars. 6.People with physical disabilities will be able to enjoy the motorcycle sensation in a stable seated position whereas riding on the back of a motorcycle may never be an option. 7.Due to the open nature of the vehicle, Law enforcement can observe more of the occupant’s actions than a standard vehicle. 8. Carrying groceries on a motorcycle isn’t really an option but can be easily done with a dune buggy. Overall top speed is generally far lower than larger production cars and thus speed infraction ratio, per vehicle class, should be lower. For example, a Joyner 650cc Dune Buggy has a maximum speed of around 60mph and an average fuel economy of 52 miles per gallon and costs approximately $7000 new. Thank you, Jake Davis 434-964-8001