THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MAHER, GEIST, BAKER, BEAR, BOBACK, BROOKS, COX, CUTLER, EVANKOVICH, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRELL, HARRIS, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, F. KELLER, LAWRENCE, LONGIETTI, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, OBERLANDER, PYLE, QUINN, REED, SAYLOR, SIMMONS, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TOOHIL, VULAKOVICH AND WATSON, MAY 16, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, MAY 16, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes, further providing for definitions and for width of

vehicles.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The definition of "implement of husbandry" in

section 102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended and the section is amended by adding

definitions to read:

§ 102.  Definitions.

Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent

provisions of this title which are applicable to specific

provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when

used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly

indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

* * *

"Agricultural commodity."  Any of the following:

(1)  Agricultural, apicultural, aquacultural,

horticultural, floricultural, viticultural and dairy

products.

(2)  Livestock, poultry and the products of livestock and

poultry.

(3)  Crops and crop by products.

(4)  Nutrients.

* * *

"Crop."  The term includes, but is not limited to:

(1)  Field crops, including corn, wheat, oats, rye,

barley, hay, potatoes and dry beans.

(2)  Fruits, including apples, peaches, grapes, cherries

and berries.

(3)  Vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans, cabbage,

carrots, beets, onions and mushrooms.

(4)  Horticultural specialties, including nursery stock,

ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees and flowers.

* * *

"Implement of husbandry."  Farm equipment that meets all of

the following criteria:

(1)  Is equipped with pneumatic tires except if

prohibited by religious beliefs.

(2)  Is infrequently operated or moved upon highways.

(3)  Is used in agriculture for any of the following

purposes:

(i)  performance of agriculture production or

harvesting activities for the farmer's agricultural

operations; or

(ii)  transportation of an agricultural [products]

commodity or agricultural supplies for the benefit of the

farmer's agricultural operations.

The term also includes earthmoving equipment and any other

vehicle determined by the department to be an implement of

husbandry.

* * *

"Livestock."  Cattle, horses, sheep, goats and swine of every

age and sex.

* * *

"Nutrient."  The term includes, but is not limited to:

(1)  A substance or recognized plant nutrient, element or

compound that is used or sold for its plant nutritive content

or its claimed nutritive value.

(2)  Livestock and poultry manures and their byproducts,

compost used as fertilizer, commercially manufactured

chemical fertilizers, biosolids or combinations of

commercially manufactured chemical biosolids.

* * *

Section 2.  Section 4921(b) of Title 75 is amended to read:

§ 4921.  Width of vehicles.

* * *

(b)  Special vehicles.--

(1)  Any implement of husbandry or vehicle loaded with

[vegetable produce or forage crops] an agricultural commodity

and not exceeding [11] 12 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 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.

(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] Except for an implement of husbandry, 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] to

transport or harvest an agricultural commodity and not

exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width may be operated at any

time 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] between sunset

and sunrise, shall have two rotating yellow beacons and

vehicular hazard signal lamps operating.

(6)  Commercial implements of husbandry not exceeding 12

feet in width, including wheels and tires, may be driven,

hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on highways other

than freeways.

* * *

Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.