Posted: | March 17, 2014 09:59 AM |
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From: | Representative Bryan Cutler and Rep. Mike Carroll |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Securing Loads |
In the near future we will be introducing legislation to amend 75 a. C.S. Section 4903(e)( Securing loads in vehicles) to create an additional exception for the unintentional dropping of loose chopped plant material from vehicles hauling harvested forage crops. This legislation provides less stringent requirements for securing loads transporting crops from field to storage when the vehicle is traveling 45 mph and under. Loads will still need to be secured with four sides of the type and strength to safely contain the load but would not be required to be covered when the vehicle is traveling 45 mph and under between farms that a farmer owns or operates. During harvest season, many farmers transport harvested forage crops from the field to storage facilities. Although farmers do their best to secure the load, due to the nature of the material some loose plant fragments spill onto the roadway during transportation. Some law enforcement personnel have been overly rigorous in applying the provisions of Section 4903 in these situations. This bill will clarify that small pieces of forge unintentionally dropped during transportation will not subject farmers to the penalties established in Section 4903. We believe this legislation is a common sense solution to an issue that has had a real impact on Pennsylvania farmers. |
Introduced as HB2101