Farm Machinery on the Highway

1
Farm Machinery on the Highway

• Farm equipment can travel on every Missouri road
  except for interstate highways.
• Farm equipment has to follow the same traffic
  laws that cars and trucks...except they have to
  have that slow moving vehicle sign on the back
• Which doesn't do a lot of good when the tractor
  or harvester is just below the crest of a hill.

2
Farm Machinery Traffic Accidents

• The Patrol investigates hundreds of traffic
  crashes each year involving farm tractors and
  similar machinery.
• In 2005 two people were killed and 82 injured in
  crashes with farm machinery on Missouri highways.

3

• A slow moving vehicle sign is shaped like a
  triangle.
• The center is bright orange. This color shines
  the brightest in the day.
• The edges of the triangle are red. This color
  reflects light so you can see it at night.
• Required by Missouri statute Chapter 307.127

4
SMV Emblem

• The emblem is intended as a unique identification
  for, and it shall be used only on, vehicles which
  by design move slowly (25 m.p.h. or less) on the
  public roads.
• The emblem is not a clearance marker for wide
  machinery nor is it intended to replace required
  lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles.

5
Missouri Statute, Chapter 307.127

• No person shall operate on any public highway of
  this state any slow-moving vehicle or equipment
  after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, any
  animal-drawn vehicle, or any other machinery,
  designed for use or normally operated at speeds
  less than twenty-five miles per hour, , which
  normally travels or is normally used at a speed
  of less than twenty-five miles per hour unless
  there is displayed on the rear thereof an emblem
  (SMV)

6
What is a Vehicle?

• City of Columbia Ordinance Section 14-1
• Vehicle. Every device in, upon, or by which any
  person or property is or may be transported or
  drawn upon a highway, except devices moved by
  human power or used exclusively upon stationary
  rails or tracks.

7

• No emblem shall be required on machinery or
  equipment pulled or attached to a farm tractor
  providing the machinery or equipment does not
  extend more than twelve feet to the rear of the
  tractor and permits a clear view of the emblem on
  the tractor by vehicles approaching from the rear

8
SMV Emblem

• The provisions of this section (Chapter
  307.127(2)) shall not apply to any vehicle or
  equipment being operated on a gravel or
  dirt-surfaced public highway.
• Any person who shall violate the provisions of
  this section shall be guilty of an infraction.

9
Animal-Drawn Vehicles

• Any person operating an animal-drawn vehicle on
  any public highway of this state may, in lieu of
  displaying the emblem required by subsections 1
  and 2 of this section, equip the animal-drawn
  vehicle with reflective material complying with
  rules and regulations promulgated by the director
  of the Missouri department of public safety.
• The reflective material shall be visible from a
  distance of not less than five hundred feet to
  the rear when illuminated by the lower beams of
  vehicle headlights

10
White Lamp Red Lamp

• The requirement of the emblem (SMV) is in
  addition to any lighting devices required by
  Missouri Chapter 307.115.

307.115. 1. All vehicles, including agricultural
machinery or implements, road machinery, road
rollers, traction engines and farm tractors not
in this chapter specifically required to be
equipped with lamps, shall be equipped during the
times when lighted lamps are required with at
least one lighted lamp or lantern exhibiting a
white light visible from a distance of five
hundred feet to the front of such vehicle and
with a lamp or lantern exhibiting a red light
visible from a distance of five hundred feet to
the rear, and such lamps and lanterns shall
exhibit lights to the sides of such vehicle.
Violation of this section shall be deemed an
infraction.
11
Chapter 307.020

• (9) "When lighted lamps are required" means at
  any time from a half-hour after sunset to a
  half-hour before sunrise and at any other time
  when there is not sufficient light to render
  clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the
  highway at a distance of five hundred feet ahead.
  
• The provisions of this section shall be
  interpreted to require lighted lamps during
  periods of fog even if usage of the windshield
  wipers is not necessary to operate the vehicle in
  a careful and prudent manner.

12
Speed Regulations Limits Minimums

• Cities, towns and villages may regulate the speed
  of vehicles on state roads and highways within
  such cities', towns' or villages' corporate
  limits by ordinance with the approval of the
  state highways and transportation commission.

13
Speed Regulations Limits Minimums

• The county commission of any county may set the
  speed limit or the weight limit or both the speed
  limit and the weight limit on roads or bridges on
  any county, township or road district road in the
  county and, with the approval of the state
  highways and transportation commission, on any
  state road or highway not within the limits of
  any incorporated city, town or village, lower
  than the uniform maximum speed limit where the
  condition of the road or the nature of the area
  requires a lower speed.

14
Interstates Slow Speed Regulation

• No vehicle shall be operated at a speed of less
  than forty miles per hour on any highway which is
  part of the interstate system of highways,
  unless
• (1) A slower speed is required for the safe
  operation of the vehicle because of weather or
  other special conditions or
• (2) Agricultural implements, self-propelled
  hay-hauling equipment, implements of husbandry
  and vehicles transporting such vehicles or
  equipment may be operated occasionally on
  interstate highways for short distances at a
  speed of less than forty miles per hour if such
  vehicle or equipment is operated pursuant to a
  special permit issued by the chief engineer of
  the state department of transportation pursuant
  to section 304.200 and the regulations
  established pursuant to such section.

15

• No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a
  slow speed as to impede or block the normal and
  reasonable movement of traffic, except when
  reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or
  in compliance with law.

16
Farm Equipment Motor Vehicle

• Every person operating a motor vehicle on the
  roads and highways of this state shall drive the
  vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a
  rate of speed so as not to endanger the property
  of another or the life or limb of any person and
  shall exercise the highest degree of care.
• Any person who violates the provisions of this
  section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor,
  unless an accident is involved then it shall be a
  class A misdemeanor.

17
Hand and Mechanical Signals

• No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the
  speed of or turn a vehicle from a direct course
  or move right or left upon a roadway unless and
  until such movement can be made with reasonable
  safety and then only after the giving of an
  appropriate signal in the manner provided herein.
• Violation of this section shall be deemed a class
  C misdemeanor

18
Drivers License Required

• Each person operating a low-speed vehicle on a
  highway in this state shall possess a valid
  driver's license issued pursuant to chapter 302,
  RSMo.
• The operator of a low-speed vehicle shall observe
  all traffic laws and local ordinances regarding
  the rules of the road.
• A low-speed vehicle shall not be operated on a
  street or a highway with a posted speed limit
  greater than thirty-five miles per hour.
• The provisions of this subsection shall not
  prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a
  street or highway with a posted speed limit
  greater than thirty-five miles per hour

19
Riding in open bed of truck prohibited

• No person shall operate any truck on any highway
  which is part of the state or federal highway
  system or when such truck is operated within the
  corporate limits of any city when any person
  under eighteen years of age is riding in the
  unenclosed bed of such truck.
• Violation is guilty of a class C misdemeanor

20
Regulations as to width, height and length of
vehicles

• No vehicle operated upon the highways of this
  state shall have a width, including load, in
  excess of one hundred two inches (8½ feet),
  except clearance lights, rearview mirrors or
  other accessories required by federal, state or
  city law or regulation
• No vehicle shall have a height, including load,
  in excess of thirteen and one-half feet (13½)
• No single motor vehicle operated upon the
  highways of this state shall have a length,
  including load, in excess of forty-five feet (45)

21
Exceptions for Farm Equipment

• These restrictions as to width, height, length
  shall not apply to agricultural implements
  operating occasionally on the highways for short
  distances, or to self-propelled hay-hauling
  equipment or to implements of husbandry, or to
  the movement of farm products as defined in
  section 400.9-109, RSMo, or to vehicles
  temporarily transporting agricultural implements
  or implements of husbandry or to implement
  dealers delivering or moving farm machinery for
  repairs on any state highway other than the
  interstate system.

22
Exemptions from Size Limits

• Farm machinery driven occasionally for short
  distances
• Vehicles temporarily transporting farm machinery
• Implement dealers delivering or moving farm
  machinery for repair
• Vehicles temporarily transporting road-making
  machines or road materials
• Vehicles towing disabled vehicles for repair on
  highways
• These exemptions do not include interstate
  highways.

23
????

• Implements of husbandry and vehicles transporting
  such machinery or equipment and the movement of
  farm products as defined in section 400.9.109,
  RSMo, may be operated occasionally for short
  distances on state highways when operated between
  the hours of sunrise and sunset by a driver
  licensed as an operator or chauffeur.

24
Manure Tanks?

• Sludge disposal units may be operated on all
  state highways other than the interstate system.
• Such units shall not exceed one hundred
  thirty-eight inches in width and may be equipped
  with over-width tires.
• Such units shall observe all axle weight limits.
• The chief engineer of the state transportation
  department shall issue special permits for the
  movement of such disposal units and may by such
  permits restrict the movements to specified
  routes, days and hours.

25
You are driving a rented truck and hauling
furniture to a new apartment.  The truck bed is
unenclosed.  In the back steadying the furniture
is your 12-year-old son and your spouse.  Under
Missouri law, what is the maximum penalty, if
any? 1.  Fine up to 500 and jail up to six
months 2.  Fine up to 1,000 and jail up to one
year 3.  Fine up to 300 and jail up to fifteen
days 4.  Fine up to 300 5.  Fine up to 200
26
Riding in open bed of truck prohibited

• No person shall operate any truck on any highway
  which is part of the state or federal highway
  system or when such truck is operated within the
  corporate limits of any city when any person
  under eighteen years of age is riding in the
  unenclosed bed of such truck.
• Violation is guilty of a class C misdemeanor

27
If a Missouri farm truck has a slow-moving-vehicle
emblem on its tailgate and is travelling 50 mph
on a public road (within the speed limit), how
much if any can its driver be fined for violating
Missouris SMV statute? 1.   Nothing 2.   25
3.   100 4.   200 5.   300 6.   500
7.   1,000
28
SMV Emblem

• The emblem is intended as a unique identification
  for, and it shall be used only on, vehicles which
  by design move slowly (25 m.p.h. or less) on the
  public roads.
• The emblem is not a clearance marker for wide
  machinery nor is it intended to replace required
  lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles.

29

• The provisions of this section (Chapter
  307.127(2)) shall not apply to any vehicle or
  equipment being operated on a gravel or
  dirt-surfaced public highway.
• Any person who shall violate the provisions of
  this section shall be guilty of an infraction.

30
Under Missouri statutes, farm tractors 1. Can
travel on Missouri roads at any time of the day
or night 2. Cannot travel on Missouri roads
during nighttime hours (after sunset until
one-half hour before dawn) 3. Driven on Missouri
roads must have a licensed driver 4. Require a
license plate if driven more than ten miles from
the owners residence 5. Both (1) and (4)
6. Both (2) and (3) 7. Both (1) and (3)
8. Both (2) and (4)
31
Missouri Statute, Chapter 307.127

• No person shall operate on any public highway of
  this state any slow-moving vehicle or equipment
  after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, any
  animal-drawn vehicle, or any other machinery,
  designed for use or normally operated at speeds
  less than twenty-five miles per hour, , which
  normally travels or is normally used at a speed
  of less than twenty-five miles per hour unless
  there is displayed on the rear thereof an emblem
  (SMV)

32
Drivers License Required

• Each person operating a low-speed vehicle on a
  highway in this state shall possess a valid
  driver's license issued pursuant to chapter 302,
  RSMo.
• The operator of a low-speed vehicle shall observe
  all traffic laws and local ordinances regarding
  the rules of the road.
• A low-speed vehicle shall not be operated on a
  street or a highway with a posted speed limit
  greater than thirty-five miles per hour.
• The provisions of this subsection shall not
  prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a
  street or highway with a posted speed limit
  greater than thirty-five miles per hour