2012 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 75 - VEHICLES
Chapter 49 - Size, Weight and Load
Section 4921 - Width of vehicles

WIDTH, HEIGHT AND LENGTH

Sec.

4921.  Width of vehicles.

4922.  Height of vehicles.

4923.  Length of vehicles.

4924.  Limitations on length of projecting loads.

4925.  Width of projecting loads on passenger vehicles.

Cross References.  Subchapter B is referred to in sections 4961, 4962, 4968, 4970, 4977, 4978, 4979.4 of this title.

§ 4921.  Width of vehicles.

(a)  General rule.--The total outside width of a vehicle, including any load, shall not exceed eight feet except as otherwise provided in this section. With regard to stinger-steered automobile or boat transporters or vehicles operating as provided in section 4908 (relating to operation of certain combinations on interstate and certain other highways), the total width of a vehicle, including any load, shall not exceed eight and one-half feet, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(b)  Special vehicles.--The following paragraphs determine widths for special vehicles, with each paragraph specifically controlling its own subject matter in the event of a conflict with another paragraph:

(1)  Any implement of husbandry or vehicle loaded with crops or nutrients and not exceeding 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 without any restriction as to time on highways other than freeways in accordance with the following:

(i)  (Reserved).

(ii)  The implement may be driven, hauled or towed within 50 miles of any farm owned or operated by the owner of the implement of husbandry.

(iii)  The implement may be driven, hauled or towed 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.

(iv)  When driven, hauled or towed between sunset and sunrise, the implement of husbandry shall have and operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360° visibility, regardless of the method of mounting and hazard signal lamps.

(2.1)  Any implement of husbandry exceeding 14 feet 6 inches and not exceeding 16 feet in width may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways if the implement of husbandry is covered by financial responsibility under paragraph (2.2)(vi) and is preceded by a pilot vehicle that displays an "oversize load" sign on the front of the vehicle and has continuously activated hazard signal lamps. The implement of husbandry shall have and operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360° visibility, regardless of the method of mounting and hazard signal lamps. Implements subject to this paragraph may be driven, hauled or towed:

(i)  Within 50 miles of any farm owned or operated by the owner of the implement of husbandry.

(ii)  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.

(2.2)  An implement of husbandry exceeding 14 feet 6 inches and not exceeding 16 feet in width may be driven, hauled or towed on highways other than freeways between sunset and sunrise within 25 miles of any farm owned or operated by the owner of the implement of husbandry if all of the following are met:

(i)  the implement of husbandry is equipped with reflective edgemarks or lights to identify the outermost edges of the rear and front of the implement that are visible from the front, the rear and, as is practicable, from each side;

(ii)  the implement of husbandry shall have and operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360° visibility, regardless of the method of mounting, and hazard signal lamps;

(iii)  the implement of husbandry is not driven, hauled or towed at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour;

(iv)  the implement of husbandry is driven, hauled or towed by a person who is at least 18 years of age;

(v)  the implement of husbandry is followed by a vehicle that is displaying an "oversize load" sign on the rear of the vehicle and is operating continuously activated hazard signal lamps; and

(vi)  the implement of husbandry is covered by the 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 requirement of this subparagraph shall be met if the minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage for the implement of husbandry have been provided under farm liability insurance coverage maintained generally by the owner. Coverage prescribed under Subchapter B of Chapter 17 (relating to motor vehicle liability insurance first party benefits) shall not be required to be maintained or provided for 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 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.

(4.1)  A vehicle not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width may be towed by an implement of husbandry exempt from registration under section 1302(2.1) and (2.2) (relating to vehicles exempt from registration) without any restriction as to time on highways other than freeways, if all of the following apply:

(i)  The implement towing the vehicle is being operated in accordance with subsection (a) or this subsection.

(ii)  The towed vehicle, when towed between sunset and sunrise, has and operates at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360 degree visibility, regardless of the method of mounting and hazard signal lamps.

(5)  An implement of husbandry or vehicle used for crops or nutrients and not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width may be operated on highways other than freeways between sunset and sunrise. The implement or vehicle, when used at this time, shall have and operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360-degree visibility, regardless of the method of mounting, and hazard signals.

(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.

(7)  As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

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

(i)  Field crops, including corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, hay, potatoes and dry beans.

(ii)  Fruits, including apples, peaches, grapes, cherries and berries.

(iii)  Vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans, cabbage, carrots, beets, onions and mushrooms.

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

(i)  A substance or recognized plant nutrient, element or compound that is used or sold for its plant nutritive content or its claimed nutritive value.

(ii)  Livestock and poultry manures and their byproducts, compost used as fertilizer, commercially manufactured chemical fertilizers, biosolids or combinations of commercially manufactured chemical biosolids.

(c)  Buses.--Any bus operated wholly within a municipality, where permitted by the municipality, or in more than one municipality, where approved by the Public Utility Commission, may have a total outside width not to exceed eight feet six inches when operated upon a highway having traffic-lane widths of not less than ten feet.

(c.1)  Motor homes or recreational trailers.--Any motor home or recreational trailer may have a total outside width not to exceed eight feet six inches.

(c.2)  Utility trailers.--A utility trailer with a registered gross weight not to exceed 10,000 pounds may have a total outside width not to exceed eight feet six inches.

(c.3)  Trucks other than combinations.--The total outside width, including any load, of a truck other than a combination shall not exceed eight and one-half feet except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(d)  Nondivisible loads.--Vehicles carrying nondivisible loads not exceeding eight feet six inches in width may operate on any highway having a roadway width of 20 feet or more.

(e)  Mirrors, sunshades and tarpaulins.--Mirrors, sunshades and tarpaulins may extend beyond the maximum width of a vehicle as follows:

(1)  Mirrors may extend on each side a maximum of six inches beyond the width of the vehicle, trailer or load, whichever is greater.

(2)  Sunshades may extend a maximum of six inches on each side of the vehicle.

(3)  Tarpaulins and the mechanical components of the devices used to secure tarpaulins may extend no more than six inches on each side of a vehicle or trailer.

(e.1)  School buses.--School bus side stop signal arms, as provided for in section 4552 (relating to general requirements for school buses), may, when in an extended position displaying red visual signals while the vehicle is stopped and loading or discharging students, extend beyond the width limitation otherwise provided in this section.

(f)  Exceptions.--The provisions of this subchapter governing the width of vehicles do not apply to street sweepers, snow removal equipment, truck-mounted line-painting equipment and recycling equipment used under the act of July 28, 1988 (P.L.556, No.101), known as the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act.

(July 20, 1979, P.L.168, No.55, eff. imd.; Mar. 7, 1982, P.L.152, No.49, eff. imd.; July 7, 1983, P.L.32, No.19, eff. imd.; Dec. 19, 1988, P.L.1290, No.163, eff. imd.; June 30, 1990, P.L.266, No.63, eff. imd.; Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1411, No.174, eff. 60 days; May 20, 1993, P.L.30, No.10, eff. 60 days; July 2, 1993, P.L.408, No.58, eff. 60 days; Feb. 10, 1994, P.L.10, No.2, eff. imd.; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.820, No.115, eff. imd.; July 11, 1996, P.L.660, No.115, eff. 60 days; Apr. 17, 1997, P.L.6, No.3, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2001, P.L.411, No.33, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1667, No.211, eff. 60 days; Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1405, No.173, eff. 60 days; Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1407, No.174, eff. 60 days; Nov. 1, 2012, P.L.1680, No.209, eff. 60 days)

2012 Amendments.  Act 173 amended subsec. (b) intro. par., (1) and (5) and added (7), Act 174 added subsec. (b)(4.1) and Act 209 amended subsec. (b)(2) and added subsecs. (b)(2.1) and (2.2).

2004 Amendment.  Act 211 amended subsec. (b)(1).

2001 Amendment.  Act 33 amended subsec. (b).

1997 Amendment.  Act 3 amended subsec. (a) and added subsec. (c.3)

1996 Amendment.  Act 115 added subsec. (c.2).

1994 Amendments.  Act 2 amended subsec. (a) and Act 115 added subsec. (c.1).

1993 Amendments.  Act 10 amended subsecs. (b)(5) and (6) and (d) and Act 58 amended subsecs. (e) and (f).

1988 Amendment.  Act 163 added subsec. (e.1).

Cross References.  Section 4921 is referred to in sections 4908, 4961 of this title.