How can I get going on amending the law which waffles on whether or not NEVs (neighborhood electric vehicles) are street legal or not? No one that I’ve been able to contact at DMV even knows what I’m talking about.

The ZENN car (Zero Emissions, No Noise) can go up to 40 mph. I could use it to get almost everywhere (except Matunuck and other “south of the border” villages) from Narragansett. And it has enough storage capacity on board to make a round trip to Providence (via back roads, of course). Where do I start?

Nina Pratt
Narragansett

Nina, D.J. Johnson has tried out several alternative vehicles, including an electric scooter, and here’s his advice. (Click on "More.")

Never say NEV!

Motor Vehicles are covered in Chapter 31 of R.I. State Law. The laws have allowances for motorized bicycles and tricycles, but since the NEV has four wheels, it might be best described as a “low-speed vehicle.”

Such vehicles are allowed on the roads, in Chapter 31, 19.4, but only on Prudence Island.

Take heart, though. Contact your local Assembly representatives and ask if they will help you to draft a bill that would expand the current rules to allow the NEV on local roads. The manufacturer also can help you write the legislation. As you can see from the current rules in Chapter 31, this would only need to involve a few sentences — not a huge undertaking for someone who is ready to drive from Narragansett to Prov via the back roads!