THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY HICKERNELL, CUTLER, DENLINGER, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HARRIS, HESS, M. KELLER, MILLARD, PICKETT, ROAE, SIPTROTH, STERN, TRUE AND VULAKOVICH, MARCH 5, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 5, 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 safety requirements

for towed vehicles and for width of vehicles.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1302(2) and (10) 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] and any trailer or

semitrailer towed or hauled by a farm vehicle or implement of

husbandry, provided that the implement of husbandry, trailer

or semitrailer is used exclusively for agricultural

operations and only infrequently operated upon highways.

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.

(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)  Such farms located not more than 50 miles

apart.

(B)  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

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.

(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.

* * *

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), if operated exclusively

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, with the

exception of the requirements under subsection (b).

* * *

Section 4.  Sections 4702(a), 4703(a), 4905(e) and 4921(b) 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.

* * *

§ 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.

* * *

§ 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

operating vehicular hazard lamps and is displaying a "wide

vehicle" sign on the front of the vehicle.

(2.1)  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)  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.

(4)  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.

* * *

Section 5.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.