PRINTER'S NO. 3812
No. 2772 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY CARONE, MILLER, RUBLEY, SHANER, HENNESSEY, RAMOS,
SAYLOR, YOUNGBLOOD AND TRUE, JUNE 21, 1996
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 21, 1996
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for vehicle lighting
3 requirements, for tire equipment and traction surfaces, for
4 rearview mirrors and for bumpers; and providing for vehicle
5 chassis and battery requirements.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 4303 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
9 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
10 § 4303. General lighting requirements.
11 * * *
12 (g) Aim of head lamps.--
13 (1) Upper beam:
14 (i) The horizontal aim of the upper beam shall be no
15 more than four inches to the left nor four inches to the
16 right.
17 (ii) The vertical aim of the upper beam shall be no
18 higher than zero inches up nor lower than four inches
19 down.
1 (2) Low beam:
2 (i) The horizontal aim of the low beam shall be no
3 more than four inches to the left nor four inches to the
4 right.
5 (ii) The vertical aim of the low beam shall be no
6 higher than two inches up nor lower than four inches
7 down.
8 Section 2. Sections 4525(a), 4534 and 4536 of Title 75 are
9 amended to read:
10 § 4525. Tire equipment and traction surfaces.
11 (a) General rule.--No vehicle shall be operated on the
12 highway unless the vehicle is equipped with tires of a type,
13 size and construction approved by the department for the vehicle
14 and unless the tires are in a safe operating condition as
15 determined in accordance with regulations of the department,
16 except that commercial implements of husbandry may be equipped
17 with tires marked for nonhighway use. Tire treads may not extend
18 beyond the outer edge of the wheel housing or make contact with
19 the body or chassis of the vehicle.
20 * * *
21 § 4534. Rearview mirrors.
22 No person shall operate a motor vehicle or combination on a
23 highway unless the vehicle or combination is equipped with at
24 least one mirror, or similar device, which provides the driver
25 an unobstructed view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle
26 or combination. This section shall not apply to any special
27 mobile equipment, commercial implement of husbandry or implement
28 of husbandry that is not so equipped by the original
29 manufacturer. In all cases, any outside mirror, if equipped on
30 the motor vehicle or combination by the original manufacturer,
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1 must be attached.
2 § 4536. Bumpers.
3 (a) General rule.--No person shall operate any vehicle upon
4 a highway without bumpers of a type specified by regulations of
5 the department in both the front and rear unless the vehicle was
6 originally designed and manufactured to be used without bumpers.
7 This section shall not apply to any special mobile equipment,
8 commercial implement of husbandry or implement of husbandry that
9 is not so equipped by the original manufacturer. The driver of a
10 commercial implement of husbandry equipped with vehicular hazard
11 signal lamps shall use the signals when the vehicle is traveling
12 below the speed limit on any highway if the vehicle is not
13 equipped with a rear bumper.
14 (b) Bumper requirements.--
15 (1) A vehicle shall be equipped with bumpers of a type
16 used as original equipment, securely attached to the chassis
17 or frame. Some part of the main horizontal bumper bar,
18 exclusive of any bumper guards, on passenger vehicles and
19 light trucks shall fall within the limits specified under
20 paragraph (2). If the bumper height, relative to the frame
21 rail, has been altered, or if a vehicle was not originally
22 equipped with a front or rear bumper or a supplemental bumper
23 has been added, or if the manufacturer's specified bumper has
24 been replaced with a bumper not identical to the
25 manufacturer's specified bumper, the height measurement shall
26 be made to the bottom of the foremost portion of the frame
27 rail, or to the original mounting brackets, whichever is
28 lower.
29 (2) The limits as specified under paragraph (1) are as
30 follows:
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1 Vehicle type Front bumper Rear bumper
2 or frame or frame
3 Passenger cars 22 inches 22 inches
4 Trucks and other vehicles,
5 exclusive of passenger cars
6 5,000 pounds or less
7 gross vehicle weight rating 24 inches 26 inches
8 5,001 - 7,000 pounds
9 gross vehicle weight rating 27 inches 29 inches
10 7,001 - 9,000 pounds
11 gross vehicle weight rating 28 inches 30 inches
12 Trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating over 9,000 pounds
13 shall meet the same requirements for front bumper height as
14 that listed for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating
15 of 7,001 pounds - 9,000 pounds.
16 (c) Rear end protection.--Rear end protection shall be
17 afforded as required in 49 CFR 393.86 (relating to rear end
18 protection).
19 Section 3. Title 75 is amended by adding sections to read:
20 § 4537. Chassis.
21 (a) General rule.--No motor vehicle may be operated on a
22 highway unless the requirements under subsections (b), (c), (d)
23 and (e) are met.
24 (b) Motor mounts.--A motor mount may not be cracked or
25 broken.
26 (c) Body mounts.--A body mount may not be missing, broken or
27 in a deteriorated condition.
28 (d) Spacers.--Spacers may not be used to increase wheel
29 track.
30 (e) Suspension system.--Shackle lift kits or blocks may not
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1 be used to raise or lower the suspension.
2 § 4538. Batteries.
3 No person shall drive any motor vehicle unless the vehicle's
4 battery is securely fastened with a device similar to that used
5 as original equipment.
6 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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