Bill Text: PA HB1674 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for vehicles exempt from registration, for use of farm vehicle plates, for general lighting requirements, for requirement for periodic inspection of vehicles, for operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection, for securing loads in vehicles, for safety requirements for towed vehicles, for width of vehicles and for registered gross weight.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-06-12 - Referred to TRANSPORTATION [HB1674 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1674-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2115
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1674 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY SEIP, HICKERNELL, BRENNAN, CUTLER, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, HARHAI, JOHNSON, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, REICHLEY, ROAE, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, KESSLER, CLYMER, MOUL, SWANGER, GIBBONS, EVERETT, BOYD, FLECK, M. KELLER, CONKLIN, CARROLL, TRUE, HALUSKA, HANNA, MIRABITO, MAHONEY, PEIFER, BROOKS, YOUNGBLOOD, HUTCHINSON, ROCK, DENLINGER, KULA, BAKER AND PICKETT, JUNE 12, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 12, 2009
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, further providing for vehicles exempt from
registration, for use of farm vehicle plates, for general
lighting requirements, for requirement for periodic
inspection of vehicles, for operation of vehicle without
official certificate of inspection, for securing loads in
vehicles, for safety requirements for towed vehicles, for
width of vehicles and for registered gross weight.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1302(2), (10) and (17) of Title 75 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 1302. Vehicles exempt from registration.
The following types of vehicles are exempt from registration:
* * *
(2) [Any implement of husbandry, trailer or semitrailer
determined by the department to be used exclusively for
agricultural operations and only infrequently operated upon
highways] Any implement of husbandry and any trailer or
semitrailer towed or hauled by an implement of husbandry
exempt from registration or by a farm vehicle. Vehicles
exempt from registration under this paragraph shall be used
exclusively upon a farm or farms owned or operated by the
owner of the vehicle or upon highways [between] as subject to
the following limitations:
[(i) Parts of one such farm.
(ii) Such farms located not more than 25 miles
apart.
(iii) Such farm or farms and a place of business
located within a radius of 25 miles from such farm or
farms for the purpose of buying or selling agricultural
commodities or supplies or for delivery, repair or
servicing of the vehicle.]
(i) For an implement of husbandry or for a trailer
or semitrailer being towed or hauled by an implement of
husbandry between:
(A) Parts of one such farm.
(B) Such farms located not more than 25 miles
apart.
(C) Such farm or farms and a place of business
located within a radius of 25 miles from such farm or
farms for the purpose of buying or selling
agricultural commodities or supplies or for delivery,
repair or servicing of the vehicle.
(ii) For a trailer or semitrailer being towed or
hauled by a farm vehicle exempt from registration under
paragraph (10), the areas that the towing or hauling
vehicle is authorized to be driven.
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(iii) For a trailer or semitrailer being towed or
hauled by a farm vehicle bearing farm vehicle
registration plates under section 1344 (relating to use
of farm vehicle plates) between:
(A) Parts of one such farm.
(B) Such farms located not more than 50 miles
apart.
(C) Such farm or farms and a place of business
located within a radius of 50 miles from such farm or
farms for the purpose of buying or selling
agricultural commodities or supplies or for repairing
or servicing the vehicle.
* * *
(10) Any farm vehicle used exclusively upon a farm or
farms owned or operated by the owner of the vehicle.
[(i) Type I--Such a farm vehicle which does not
qualify as a motor carrier vehicle may be driven upon
highways only from sunrise to sunset. However, a farm
vehicle which qualifies as a motor carrier vehicle and
displays a currently valid certificate of inspection may
be driven upon highways without any restriction as to
time. Such a farm vehicle may only be driven on highways
between:]
(i) Type A--Such a farm vehicle which does not
qualify as a motor carrier vehicle may be driven on
highways only from sunrise to sunset and between:
(A) Parts of one such farm.
(B) Such farms located not more than 25 miles
apart.
(C) Such farm or farms and a place of business
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located within a radius of 25 miles from such farm or
farms for the purpose of buying or selling
agricultural commodities or supplies.
(D) Such farm or farms and a place of business
located within a radius of 50 miles from such farm or
farms for the purpose of repair or servicing of the
farm vehicle or the trailer or semitrailer being
towed or hauled by the farm vehicle.
[(ii) Type II--] (ii) Type B--Such a farm vehicle
which does qualify as a motor carrier vehicle and
displays a currently valid certificate of inspection may
be driven without any restriction as to time but may only
be driven on highways between:
(A) Parts of one such farm.
(B) Such farms located not more than 50 miles
apart.
(C) Such farm or farms and a place of business
located within a radius of 50 miles from such farm or
farms for the purpose of buying or selling
agricultural commodities or supplies or for repair or
servicing of the farm vehicle or the trailer or
semitrailer being towed or hauled by the farm
vehicle.
(iii) Type C--Such a farm vehicle which does qualify
as a motor carrier vehicle and which does not display a
currently valid certificate of inspection may be driven
upon highways only from sunrise to sunset and between:
(A) Parts of one such farm.
(B) Such farms located not more than ten miles
apart.
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(C) Such farm or farms and a place of business
located within a radius of ten miles from such farm
or farms for the purpose of buying or selling
agricultural commodities or supplies.
(D) Such farm or farms and a place of business
located within a radius of 25 miles from such farm or
farms for the purpose of repair or servicing of the
farm vehicle or the trailer or semitrailer being
towed or hauled by the farm vehicle.
[(iii)] (iv) A biennial certificate of exemption
shall be required for such a farm vehicle.
[(iv)] (v) The owner of the farm vehicle shall
maintain such minimum levels of liability insurance
coverage on the vehicle as are required to be maintained
under Chapter 17 (relating to financial responsibility)
by owners of registered motor vehicles. The owner shall
satisfy the requirements of this subparagraph if the
minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage for the
farm vehicle have been provided under farm liability
insurance coverage maintained generally by the owner.
Coverage prescribed in Subchapter B of Chapter 17 shall
not be required to be maintained or provided for the farm
vehicle.
* * *
(17) Any multipurpose agricultural vehicle. Vehicles
exempt from registration under this paragraph shall be used
exclusively upon a farm or farms owned or operated by the
owner of the vehicles or upon highways between:
(i) Parts of one such farm.
(ii) Such farms located not more than [two] five
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miles apart.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1344 of Title 75 is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
§ 1344. Use of farm vehicle plates.
* * *
(c) Applicability of section 1301.--A truck or truck tractor
bearing current farm vehicle registration plates shall be deemed
to be duly registered for purposes of section 1301 (relating to
registration and certificate of title required), notwithstanding
the commission of any violation of this section.
Section 3. Section 4303(e) of Title 75 is amended and the
section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 4303. General lighting requirements.
* * *
(e) Equipment exempted [by regulation].--Antique motor
vehicles, animal-drawn vehicles, implements of husbandry,
commercial implements of husbandry and special mobile equipment,
if operated exclusively between the hours of sunrise and sunset
and not during periods of reduced visibility or insufficient
illumination, [may be exempted from certain lighting equipment
requirements of this part by regulations of the department] are
exempted from the lighting equipment requirements of this part.
(e.1) Certain trailers exempt.--Trailers and semitrailers
exempt from registration under section 1302(2) (relating to
vehicles exempt from registration), when operated between the
hours of sunrise and sunset and not during periods of reduced
visibility or insufficient illumination, are exempted from the
lighting equipment requirements of this part.
* * *
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Section 4. Sections 4702(a), 4703(a), 4903(e), 4905(e),
4921(b) and 4942(c) of Title 75 are amended to read:
§ 4702. Requirement for periodic inspection of vehicles.
(a) Annual safety inspection.--Except as provided in
subsection (b), the department shall establish a system of
annual safety inspection of vehicles, including emergency
vehicles, farm vehicles with a gross weight or gross vehicle
weight rating of greater than 17,000 pounds for which a [Type I]
Type B biennial certificate of exemption has been issued and
private noncommercial vehicles used to transport students.
* * *
§ 4703. Operation of vehicle without official certificate of
inspection.
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
section, no motor vehicle required to bear current registration
plates issued by this Commonwealth and no farm vehicle with a
gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating of greater than
17,000 pounds for which a [Type I] Type B biennial certificate
of exemption has been issued shall be driven and no trailer
required to bear current registration plates issued by this
Commonwealth shall be moved on a highway and no mass transit
vehicle shall be operated unless the vehicle displays a
currently valid certificate of inspection issued under this
chapter.
* * *
§ 4903. Securing loads in vehicles.
* * *
(e) Exceptions.--This section does not prohibit:
(1) the necessary spreading of any substance in highway
maintenance or construction operations; [or]
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(2) the shedding or dropping of feathers or other matter
from vehicles hauling live or slaughtered birds or
animals[.]; or
(3) the transportation of agricultural products produced
by a farmer on highways other than freeways between farms
that the farmer owns or operates in the course of harvesting
or on-farm storage of the agricultural products, provided
that the vehicle is not operated or moved at a speed greater
than 45 miles per hour. For purposes of this paragraph, the
exception is applicable regardless of whether the
transportation of agricultural products is performed by the
farmer or by another person who is performing custom
harvesting services for the farmer.
* * *
§ 4905. Safety requirements for towed vehicles.
* * *
(e) Obstructed lighting equipment.--Whenever the rear
running lights, stop lights, turn signals or hazard warning
lights required by the provisions of Chapter 43 (relating to
lighting equipment) are obstructed by the load on a vehicle or
by a towed vehicle or its load, lighting equipment shall be
displayed on the rear of the towed vehicle or load equivalent to
the obstructed lights or signals, except in the case of
implements of husbandry or commercial implements of husbandry
displaying the slow-moving vehicle emblem [and] or, in the case
of a farm vehicle hauling or towing a trailer or semitrailer
exempt from registration under section 1302(2) (relating to
vehicles exempt from registration), if the hauling or towing
vehicle is operating between sunrise and sunset.
* * *
20090HB1674PN2115 - 8 -
§ 4921. Width of vehicles.
* * *
(b) Special vehicles.--
(1) Any implement of husbandry or vehicle loaded with
vegetable produce or forage crops and not exceeding 11 feet
in width may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and
sunset on highways other than freeways.
(2) Any implement of husbandry not exceeding [14 feet 6
inches] 16 feet in width may be driven, hauled or towed
between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways:
(i) Between parts of one farm owned or operated by
the owner of the implement of husbandry.
(ii) Between farms owned or operated by the owner of
the implement of husbandry located not more than 50 miles
apart.
(iii) Between:
(A) farms; or
(B) a farm owned or operated by a farmer and a
place of business of a mechanic or dealer in
implements of husbandry;
located not more than 150 miles away for the purpose of
buying, selling, trading, loaning and leasing,
demonstrating, repairing or servicing the implement of
husbandry.
The width allowance under this paragraph shall not apply to
an implement of husbandry exceeding 14 feet 6 inches unless
the implement is equipped with reflective edgemarks on the
front and rear and is operating vehicular hazard lamps that
are equipped in accordance with the regulations of the
department and is preceded by a pilot vehicle that is
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operating vehicular hazard lamps and is displaying a "wide
vehicle" sign on the front of the vehicle.
(3) Any implement of husbandry not exceeding 14 feet 6
inches in width may be driven, hauled or towed between sunset
and sunrise on highways other than freeways:
(i) Between parts of one farm owned or operated by
the owner of the implement of husbandry.
(ii) Between farms owned or operated by the owner of
the implement of husbandry located not more than 50 miles
apart.
(iii) Between:
(A) farms; or
(B) a farm owned or operated by a farmer and a
place of business of a mechanic or dealer in
implements of husbandry;
located not more than 150 miles away for the purpose of
buying, selling, trading, loaning and leasing,
demonstrating, repairing or servicing the implement of
husbandry.
The width allowance provided under this paragraph shall not
apply to an implement of husbandry exceeding 11 feet unless
the implement is equipped with reflective edgemarks on the
front and rear and is operating vehicular hazard lamps that
are equipped in accordance with the regulations of the
department and is followed by a pilot vehicle that is
operating vehicular hazard lamps and is displaying a "wide
vehicle" sign on the rear of the vehicle.
[(3)] (4) Special mobile equipment not exceeding nine
feet two inches in width may be driven, hauled or towed
between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways.
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[(4)] (5) The department may regulate the operation of
special vehicles subject to this subsection which regulations
may prohibit the operation of special vehicles on certain
days or during certain hours.
[(5) An implement of husbandry or vehicle used
exclusively for highly perishable crops for processing and
not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width may be operated on
highways other than freeways between sunset and sunrise only
during the period of May 20 to October 15. The implement or
vehicle, when used at this time, shall have two rotating
yellow beacons and vehicular hazard signal lamps operating.]
(6) Commercial implements of husbandry not exceeding [12
feet] 14 feet 6 inches in width, including wheels and tires,
may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on
highways other than freeways.
* * *
§ 4942. Registered gross weight.
* * *
(c) Combination.--No combination containing a trailer having
a [gross weight or] registered gross weight in excess of 10,000
pounds or gross weight in excess of 12,000 pounds shall be
operated with a gross weight in excess of the registered gross
weight of the truck or truck tractor for a combination.
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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