PRINTER'S NO. 8
No. 14 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY HOLL, JANUARY 15, 1997
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 15, 1997
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 cars and light
19 trucks shall not exceed the limits specified below:
20 Vehicle type Front bumper Rear bumper
21 or frame or frame
22 Passenger cars 22 inches 22 inches
23 Trucks and other vehicles,
24 exclusive of passenger cars
25 5,000 pounds or less
26 gross vehicle weight rating 24 inches 26 inches
27 5,001 - 7,000 pounds
28 gross vehicle weight rating 27 inches 29 inches
29 7,001 - 11,000 pounds
30 gross vehicle weight rating 28 inches 30 inches
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1 (2) The height measurement shall be made to the bottom
2 of the foremost portion of the frame rail or to the original
3 mounting brackets, whichever is lower, in each of the
4 following circumstances:
5 (i) if the bumper height relative to the frame rail
6 has been altered;
7 (ii) if the vehicle was not originally equipped with
8 a front or rear bumper;
9 (iii) if a supplemental bumper has been added; or
10 (iv) if the manufacturer's specified bumper has been
11 replaced with a bumper not identical to the
12 manufacturer's specified bumper.
13 (c) Rear end protection.--Rear end protection shall be
14 afforded as required in 49 CFR 393.86 (relating to rear end
15 protection).
16 Section 3. Title 75 is amended by adding sections to read:
17 § 4537. Chassis.
18 (a) General rule.--No motor vehicle may be operated on a
19 highway unless the requirements under subsections (b), (c), (d)
20 and (e) are met.
21 (b) Motor mounts.--A motor mount may not be cracked or
22 broken.
23 (c) Body mounts.--A body mount may not be missing, broken or
24 in a deteriorated condition.
25 (d) Spacers.--Spacers may not be used to increase wheel
26 track.
27 (e) Suspension system.--Shackle lift kits or blocks may not
28 be used to raise or lower the suspension.
29 § 4538. Batteries.
30 No person shall drive any motor vehicle unless the vehicle's
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1 battery is securely fastened with a device similar to that used
2 as original equipment.
3 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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