PRINTER'S NO. 20
No. 20 Session of 1979
INTRODUCED BY PETRARCA, SIRIANNI, KOLTER, POLITE, C. GEORGE,
A. K. HUTCHINSON, YAHNER, DOMBROWSKI, GREENFIELD, TADDONIO,
LIVENGOOD, STEWART, LEVI, VROON, GRIECO, KLINGAMAN,
E. H. SMITH, MRKONIC, McINTYRE, ZORD, F. TAYLOR, MULLEN,
W. D. HUTCHINSON, POTT, SCHMITT, WEIDNER, DiCARLO, WAGNER,
RIEGER, CIMINI, PRATT, WILT, MILANOVICH, D. R. WRIGHT,
CESSAR, NOYE, BELARDI, COSLETT, DIETZ, W. W. FOSTER,
CAPPABIANCA, SERAFINI, WACHOB AND COCHRAN, JANUARY 23, 1979
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 23, 1979
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, removing prohibitions on the use of studded tires
3 during certain periods and prescribing penalties.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 4525 of Title 75, act of November 25,
7 1970 (P.L.707, No.230), known as the Pennsylvania Consolidated
8 Statutes, is amended to read:
9 § 4525. Tire equipment and traction surfaces.
10 (a) General rule.--No vehicle shall be operated on the
11 highway unless the vehicle is equipped with tires of a type,
12 size and construction approved by the department for the vehicle
13 and unless the tires are in a safe operating condition as
14 determined in accordance with regulations of the department.
15 (b) Vehicles not equipped with pneumatic tires.--It is
1 unlawful for any person to operate or move, or cause or permit
2 to be moved, in contact with any highway any vehicle equipped
3 with traction or road contact surfaces other than pneumatic
4 tires unless of a type, size and construction permitted by
5 regulations of the department and unless the movement is made
6 under specific conditions allowed by regulations of the
7 department.
8 (c) Tire studs.--[No vehicle having tires containing studs
9 shall be driven on any highway.] Tires in which ice grips or
10 tire studs of wear resisting material have been installed which
11 provide resiliency upon contact with the road and which have
12 projections not exceeding two thirty-seconds of an inch beyond
13 the tread of the traction surface of the tire shall be permitted
14 between November 1 of each year and April 30 of the following
15 year. The Governor may by executive order extend the time tires
16 with ice grips or tire studs may be used when highway conditions
17 are such that such tires would be a safety factor in traveling
18 Commonwealth highways. Firefighting, fire emergency and police
19 vehicles may use tires with ice grips or tire studs during any
20 time of the year. The use of tires with ice grips or tire studs
21 contrary to the provisions of this subsection shall be unlawful.
22 (d) Tire chains.--Tire chains may be temporarily used on
23 vehicles during periods of snow and ice emergency if they are in
24 conformance with regulations promulgated by the department.
25 (e) Penalty.--
26 (1) Any person violating the provisions of subsection
27 (c) shall be guilty of a summary offense and upon conviction
28 thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine as indicated in
29 paragraph (2) and in default of payment thereof, shall
30 undergo imprisonment for not more than 30 days.
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1 (2) Fines for violation of subsection (c) shall be
2 determined from the following chart based on the period of
3 unauthorized use:
4 May 1 to May 31 $35
5 June 1 to June 30 45
6 July 1 to October 31 55
7 November 1 to April 30 10
8 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1979.
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