PRINTER'S NO. 1356
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
968
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, McILHINNEY, RAFFERTY, McGARRIGLE AND
MARTIN, DECEMBER 1, 2017
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, DECEMBER 1, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in size, weight and load, further providing for
limits on number of towed vehicles, for length of vehicles
and for application to tow trucks.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4904(c)(2) of Title 75 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 4904. Limits on number of towed vehicles.
* * *
(c) Towing vehicles requiring service.--
* * *
(2) A combination [requiring emergency service may be
towed to a nearby garage or other place of safety.]
consisting of any tow truck towing a disabled motor vehicle
or a combination of a truck, a truck tractor or not more than
two trailers may be towed as provided in section 4949
(relating to application to tow trucks).
* * *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Section 2. Section 4923(b.1)(7) of Title 75, amended July
20, 2017 (P.L.342, No.31), is amended to read:
§ 4923. Length of vehicles.
* * *
(b.1) Combinations.--
* * *
(7) A combination consisting of any tow truck towing a
disabled motor vehicle [to a place of repairs or other place
of safety.] or a combination of a truck, a truck tractor or
not more than two trailers may be towed as provided in
section 4949 (relating to application to tow trucks).
* * *
Section 3. Section 4949 of Title 75 is amended to read:
§ 4949. Application to tow trucks.
[The weight restrictions set forth in this subchapter do not
apply to a combination consisting of any tow truck towing a
disabled motor vehicle to a place of repairs or other place of
safety as long as the overweight combination travels directly to
the first available such location and the movement is performed
at the direction of authorized emergency personnel or a
qualified Commonwealth employee.]
(a) Towing length restrictions.--A combination consisting of
any tow truck towing a combination of a truck, a truck tractor
or not more than two trailers shall not exceed 150 feet when
traveling in combination.
(b) Towing weight restrictions.--The weight restrictions
provided in this subchapter do not apply to a combination
consisting of any tow truck towing a disabled motor vehicle or a
combination consisting of any tow truck towing a combination of
a truck, a truck tractor or not more than two trailers to a
20170SB0968PN1356 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
place of repairs as long as:
(1) The oversized combination travels on the same route
as prescribed by the permit.
(2) The tow truck operator obeys all applicable road and
bridge weight restrictions.
(c) Towing distance restrictions.--A combination consisting
of any tow truck towing a combination of a truck, a truck
tractor or not more than two trailers shall only tow a disabled
motor vehicle to an appropriate place of repairs that is within
75 miles of the point of disability.
(d) Failure to meet restrictions.--At any time, if a tow
truck operator cannot meet all the requirements of this section,
the tow truck operator shall report the incident to authorized
emergency personnel or a qualified employee of the Commonwealth.
An emergency plan to remove the disabled motor vehicle shall be
developed and approved by the department within 24 hours of the
initial report.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20170SB0968PN1356 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18