Personal transportation vehicle or PTV means any motor vehicle having no fewer than three wheels, an unladen weight of 1,300 pounds or less with a maximum level ground speed of less than 20 miles per hour or any motor vehicle with a minimum of four wheels, an unladen weight of 1,375 pounds or less, capable of transporting not more than eight persons with a maximum level ground speed of less than 20 miles per hour. The term does not include mobility aids, including electric personal assistive mobility devices, power wheelchairs, and scooters, that can be used indoors and outdoors for the express purpose of enabling mobility for a person with a disability. The term also does not include any all-terrain vehicle or multi-purposed off-highway vehicle.
How Do I Register a PTV to Operate on City Streets?
Call the Sky Valley Police Department at 706-782-7777 and request a PTV inspection.
A Police Officer will perform the initial inspection at your residence (so as not to require the illegal operation of the PTV on City streets). The Police Officer will complete the PTV Inspection and provide you a copy of the Inspection form.
You must then bring a completed (1) Registration form, (2) Inspection form, (3) Proof of Liability Insurance, and (4) a copy of a valid Driver’s License for each authorized driver to City Hall during normal business hours, (5) pay the appropriate fee ($25), and be issued the registration decal and receipt for the payment of the fee.
The registration decal must be affixed in a conspicuous place on the lower left windshield on the PTV.
Each registration is valid for a period of one (1) year.
The Safety Inspection will entail the following:
- A braking system sufficient for the weight and passenger capacity of the vehicle including a parking brake;
- A reverse warning device functional at all times when the directional control is in the reverse position;
- A main power switch. When the switch is in the “off” position, or the key or other device that activates the switch is removed, the motive power circuit shall be inoperative. If the switch uses a key, it shall be removable only in the “off” position.
- Head lamps;
- Reflex reflectors;
- Tail lamps;
- A horn;
- A rearview mirror;
- Safety warning labels;
- Hip restraints and hand holds or a combination thereof;
- Amber strobe light so as to warn approaching travelers to decrease their speed because of the danger of colliding with such vehicle. Such amber strobe light shall be mounted in a manner so as to be visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet from the front and rear of such vehicle; and
- A rear mounted orange warning triangle center mounted no less than 3 feet and no more than 5 feet above the ground.
Where Can I Drive?
Public streets where the posted speed limit is 25 mph or less and other designated street crossings.
Use of PTVs is prohibited on the following unauthorized streets:
- Any street or highway with a posted speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour.
- Any street or highway that has more than one lane of vehicular traffic per direction.
- Any street or highway designated as part of either the state or federal highway system.
- GA Highway 246
- Bald Mountain Road
- NC Highway 106
- Old Mud Creek Road