LIGHTS & EMBLEMS FOR FARM EQUIPMENT

Senate Bill 788

Sponsor:  Sen. Ron Jelinek

House Committee:  Agriculture

Senate Committee:  Agriculture, Forestry, and Tourism

Complete to 1-13-06

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 788 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 11-3-05

Senate Bill 788 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require an "implement of husbandry" manufactured on or after January 1, 2007 to comply with the following standards approved by the American Standards Institute and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers[1]:

·                    ANSI/ASAE S276.6 Jan2005: Slow-Moving Vehicle Identification Emblem

·                    ANSI/ASAE S279.12 Dec02: Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment on Highways. 

Under the Vehicle Code, an "implement of husbandry" is a vehicle which is any of the following: (1) a farm tractor, (2) a vehicle designed to be drawn by a farm tractor or an animal, (3) a vehicle that directly harvests farm products, or (4) a vehicle that directly applies fertilizer, spray, or seeds to a farm field.

A person would be prohibited from selling an implement of husbandry manufactured on or after January 1, 2007 that did not comply with the above standards.  Also, the Secretary of State would be required to post the standards on its website (www.michigan.gov/sos) within 30 days after the bill is enacted. 

Currently, under the Vehicle Code, when an implement of husbandry is operated or moved on a highway when lights are required, it must display lighted rear lamps plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet or be accompanied by a vehicle that illuminates the implement of husbandry with its headlights and displays lighted rear lamps visible from 500 feet.  Under the bill, this would only apply to implements of husbandry manufactured before January 1, 2007. 

The code also provides that all vehicles, including implements of husbandry, not otherwise required to be equipped with head or rear lamps, shall be equipped with at least one white front light and a red rear light visible from a distance of 500 feet during the period between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise and at other times of insufficient light.  This provision would only apply to implements of husbandry manufactured before January 1, 2007. 

MCL 257.685 et al.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no direct fiscal impact on the state or local governmental units. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

            ANSI/ASAE S276.6 Jan2005: Slow-Moving Vehicle Identification Emblem

The standard establishes specifications for a unique Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) Emblem to be used only for slow moving vehicles when operated or traveling on public roads.  The standard has the stated purpose seeking to notify other vehicles of the slower speed capabilities of the slow moving vehicle.  The standard notes, "the primary application of this SMV emblem will be implements of husbandry but may be used with other machines or vehicles that travel at speeds less than 40 km/h (25 mile/h)…"  The emblem is intended to complement, but not replace, warning devices such as tail lamps, reflectors, or flashing lights.  The SMV emblem consists of a fluorescent orange equilateral triangle with a red reflective border that is generally visible from a distance between 100 feet and 1000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.

ANSI/ASAE S279.12 Dec02: Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment on Highways. 

The standard establishes specifications for lighting and marking of agricultural equipment whenever such equipment is operating or traveling on a road.  The standard provides that tractors and self-propelled vehicles should include the following:

·                    At least two head lamps mounted at the same height and spaced laterally as widely as practicable.

·                    Two red tail lamps symmetrically mounted to the rear of the machine and widely spaced laterally as practicable.

·                    At least two amber flashing warning lamps as symmetrically and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

·                    Turn indicators

·                    At least two red reflective devices visible from a distance between 100 feet and 1000 feet from the rear of the machine.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:  Mark Wolf

                                                                                               Fiscal Analyst:  William E. Hamilton

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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