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Farm Traffic Laws?

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H

hayray

Well-known Member
Anyone know of websites were the laws for various states are pertaining to driving and towing farm equipment on the roads, particuarly in Michigan. Got pulled over yesterday by some stupid cop while pulling a EZ-Trail Bale Basket. He said I was over width, no SMV, no lights, no plates, and that my truck did not have log farm plates. I asked him if he was just hired out of the city. Never heard of so much BS. After initially telling me that there was no way I was legal to be on the road and doing his Jackie Gleason imitation I guess he could not find anything to write me up for and he let me go.
 
The only farm traffic law that I know of is to have the orange triangle on the back of what ever your are driving or towing. And of course be polite and stay on the shoulder when you can.
I have never seen a cop pull over a farmer with a bale of hay, or a horse trailer.
 
hayray,

I don't know anything about special farm traffic laws in any state and I sure don't know of a website that explains them.

But, just a point of interest - in Tennessee it is illegal to have a slow moving vehicle sign on a vehicle that is going more than 35 miles per hour. I doubt that any reasonable policeman would enforce that, but we recently had an incident near where I live where a guy got a ticket for having one on the back of his pick-up. Now, there may be much more to how the guy responded to the policeman, etc., etc. But he got the ticket nonetheless.

Tom in TN
 
A few years ago in Ontario County NY the State Troopers were ticketing farmers towing wagons etc. with pickup trucks. They claimed they had to have brakes, lights, breakaway chains like a trailer. Towing the same with a tractor was allowed with an SMV sign. There was a lot of hollering I guess and I haven't heard anymore in years. They never enforced that around here. I'll bet the cop in your case was correct though he was being a Richard about it.
 
thanks for the response but of course this is the problem I am running into, everybody has some hear say knowledge but no one actually has been able to tell me the actual law. In your case having a SMV sign on a implement towing behind a pick up is illegal if you are going over 25 mph and it is also illegal to drive on the shoulder, the shoulder is for emergency stopping. Two dealerships I deal with take off all SMV signs when delivering implements.
 
ALOT of people were ticketed in central MN this year for them new wider forage boxes. We stayed on the back roads this past friday and saturday and seen no officers, met a few people, most moved over, a local feed truck from foley farm service we met barreled by doing about fifty and a litle gravel road, what an idiot, not make that dumber than an idiot!
 
Last, Section 257.688(g) requires all implements of husbandry to display a Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign. The specifications for the SMV sign for implements manufactured priorto January 1, 2007, did not change. The SMV sign must still be displayed not less than 3 feet or more than 5 feet abovethe ground. In addition to the SMV sign, red reflectors orreflectorized material must be placed a the rear on each side.In determining whether a SMV sign is required, the language in Section 257.688(g) can be confusing. The commas in the sentence separate each vehicle as being required to displaya SMV sign.
Another way to read the sentence is:
• Every vehicle which has a maximum potential speed of 25 OR
• An implement of husbandry, OR
• A farm tractor, OR
• Special mobile equipment

My source http://www.michigan.gov/documents/April_2006_157227_7.pdf
So looks like you are required to at least have a SMV
 
Your county Farm Bureau or Extention service will have that information. In Illinois you can go to 13 feet without signs or an escort. You are allowed the same access to the road as any other motor vehicle but you must also yield half of the pavement to other traffic.
 
Your best bet would be to contact your local State Police or DMV or Farm Bureau branch and find out exactly what you can and can't do. Get it in writing. After 20 years as a "stupid cop" I've found that sometimes the laws change and we aren't informed. Usually though it's the citizen pushing the limits with or without knowing the laws.

FWIW- In NYS the NYS Farm Bureau publishes a nice booklet on farm vehicle laws. Last I knew they were free. That won't help you in Michigan where you are apparently "da man", but maybe you can go in and intimidate some 63 year old DMV clerk into giving you the information you want.
 
From personal experience in Ohio----"All farm and construction machinery operated on or near a highway shall display a Slow Moving Vehicle sign and shall not be operated in excess of twenty five miles per hour."

There are a few exceptions and they are spelled out in the code.

If you are pulling a wagon or hay rake or trailer, without an SMV and use the excuse that you are traveling in excess of twenty five MPH, you then have a trailer (NOT FARM EQUIPMENT) and are now covered by Motor Vehicle laws. I. E. Brakes, lights, safety equipment, speed rated tires, ball or fifth wheel type hitch, etc.

Quit trying to beat the system, use an SMV and keep your speed below 25 MPH and you'll have no problems!
 
Just a thought, but did you ever think of researching the laws of the activity BEFORE you take off down the road and engage in it? Then if you get involved with one of our "stupid cops" who, quite frankly Ray, is working in a mostly suburban area now and can't really be expected to know every nuance of agricultural implement transport, you could have a conversation with him and explain why and how you are in compliance. Just another guy trying to make a living in a bad economy. Lousy weather here yesterday! I doubt he climbed out of that heated cruiser just to ruin your day. Likely that there was an honest concern for safety. Give the guy a break, he could have given you a ticket and let the judge decide the outcome but he did not, right?
 
Well Dave, I did do some research on the laws and asked him what the law was as well and he did not know. He was wrong on many accounts as to what he thought the law was. Second, it does not matter what kind of an area I am in, that does not change the law, and it was not raining when this happened and I did ask him several times what the law is. The guy had a real bad attitude and was derogitory to me. I haul my wagons the same way every farmer in this county does. So don't add into the question things that never happend, I think I have a legimate question that deserves some better responses then yours.
 
Thanks guys for the info. that some of you found on the internet, that is exactly was I have been trying to find. One thing for sure, most of us don't know the law for sure and are not completely in compliance with it. Some of the regulations are going to be hard to stay in compliance with and almost everyone I know is way out of compliance after reading some of this stuff. One thing I found out is that in Michigan we need the SMV no matter what on any implement of husbandry.
 
Here in KY any farm implement/tractor/team of work horses or whatever can go anywhere at anytime as long as you have that SMV sign. I have never seen any farmers pulled over for pulling any equipment down the road. I don't even have the SMV sign on most of mine , and have never been pulled over. Did get pulled over by DOT while hauling a dozer on a low boy and Ford L9000 road tractor. It has farm tags and a 38,000 lb limit. I went past with a 33,000 lb dozer, and he just let me go. I went to the farm we were working on, unloaded it, and loaded the D3 Cat. On my way back past the DOT cop, he decides to stop me. Says, your a little over weight ain't you. I told him I didn't see how I could be. He weighed me and I had room to spare. All the way home, I wondered why he didn't stop when I went past hime the first time. If he had the state could have collected from me. I have a buddy haul the 1450 now. He has the right tag.
 
Well, If he let you go what is the big deal? Sounds like youre pride was hurt more than anything. Swallow it and move on.
 
"Got pulled over yesterday by some [b:654c4848f0]stupid cop[/b:654c4848f0] while pulling a EZ-Trail Bale Basket. He said I was over width, no SMV, no lights, no plates, and that my truck did not have log farm plates. [b:654c4848f0]I asked him if he was just hired out of the city. Never heard of so much BS.[/b:654c4848f0]"

Don't want to start a fight or get in the middle of one, BUT, your original post makes it sound like you are the smart one and the cop is just hasseling you for no reason.

He could have cited you for everything he said was wrong, plus some others. Good thing he was just a [b:654c4848f0]stupid cop[/b:654c4848f0] or you could have been out several thousands of dollars. Read my post below, I paid for the learning experience and remember it well!!
 
I really don't see where width has anything to do with anything. If law said have to stay in your lane or something then we couldn't move a combine, baler, planter, drill.... without a permit. As I understand it, lights are required simular to when cars need their lights on, or be followed by a car with their lights on. And how many farmers have farm plates on their pickup? Just need that SMV sign.
 

I am a retired officer and I can tell you that God does not sort Adam Henry's, they are everywhere. Go talk to his supervisor about what the farm laws are and if the officer was in his right. If not then maybe the department will do some training in this area. If he had an attitude tell the supervisor, maybe he will get some training there to.
 
Here in Wisconsin, the only thing they really coulda nailed a guy for is no SMV. IF it wasn't equipped from the factory w/ lights, then you don't need them although they're still a good idea. As far as the width and plates, that's pure BS. If farm equipment had to stay within a certain width, our 14' hydro-swing haybine would swing a full 90 degrees for transport. Wisconsin doesn't make farm plates anymore so you can only have farm plates if you had them before they quit making them. NO farm implement has to have trialer plates either, that's just rediculous. A farmer would have to have upwards of 20-30+ plates just to run his farm!

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
If you are going to live there better know the law he was just trying to help you be aware that you were operating unsafe not only to protect you but other people using a public hiway. I drive tractor with 50,00 wagon loaded with corn thru stop signs stop lites and so forth better be safe than sorry and not knowing the law doesent get you off from some potential fines that can be pricey. Here in IOWA with what you werepoerating would have cost much big bills.
 
A neighbor of mine was given a ticket for being
overwidth on his IHC 1456 with duals.He was told farm equipment is not exempt from width laws.
 
Every state is different. Here in Minnesota, if you are pulling with a truck then you might be going over 30mph, in which case you will get a ticket for _having_ a smv sign. That's a tricky one, pulling a wgon loaded & not, with a truck & a tractor. Sometimes over, sometimes under....

If you get an attitude with the cop, then if you are going over 30mph your tires are likely rated for 30 max; brakes are needed, and so on - slippery slope. If you are under 30mph then you can be up to 20 feet wide, etc. etc. not much problem.

Again, this is in Minnesota.

--->Paul
 
IMHO you were in violation as officer stated.Maybe he did have an attitude,but basically an either/or situation.You are EITHER a "farmer" engaged in transport of an "implement of husbandry",requiring SMV sign and speed below 25mph,OR you are a motorist towing a "trailer",requiring all necessary equipment(coupler,lights,safety chains,brakes etc),and requiring a trip permit if Oversize.
Farm plate on tow vehicle,though optional would indicate you are,indeed engaged in farming(and putting you into special Ag transport status),rather than trying to skirt the law.
The special transport regulations for true farmers/Ag vendors were carefully integrated into the general traffic laws to allow everyone safe and sane usage of the roadway.Chances are that if you had been in compliance with the laws,you would never have been stopped.
Finally,a retired officers thoughts:Most folks personal"contacts"with police are the result of those folks"Attracting Attention To Themselves".
 
we had people move to country decide smv would make a good marker for thier driveway. then they got all peed off when they were told smv are to be used on back of slow moving vehicles.
cop told them you live on counrty road wagons tractors etc use this road. what will poeple think when they see the smv at end of your drive?
maybe they aren't in right place? you do have a steep road bank. bozo said yae i know that's why i put sign there. cop said did you every think maybe on dark night someone might try to follow your sign?
 
WHAT??!!!! If I had a dime for every time I was disobeying "width laws" in farm equipment, I'd be sittin' pretty. That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in some time.
 
Gosh Ray, I was just pointing out that maybe you had a bad attitude from the get go. Not the first time either. Probably what the officer was reacting to. You just went a long way to prove the point.
 
Your local dept of motor veichles will have the info you need.

Many States ore now adopting a new set of SMV signs that will allow speeds huigher than the old 25 mph.
 
I personally have not been pulled over yet but I know of some people who have for things that I think are ridiculous. Here in PA a neighbor of ours was recently pulled over pulling a forage wagon behind his pickup. The cop was just giong to give him a warning about his hitch setup until he recognized the driver from a recent class that a local farmer held with a D.O.T. cop on the law and what is required on the road. Instead he got a hundred and some dollar ticket. The law supposedly reads that any piece of equipment behind a "vehicle" such as a pickup or farm truck must have a solid hitch such as a ball or pintle hitch and cannot be pulled by a hitch pin only. If it is behind a tractor a pin is fine but not behind a truck.

In my personal opinion I think this is one stupid law. What are you supposed to do if say you had just bought the implement at an auction and were towing it home? Take a welder with you and adapt a hitch onto the implement before towing maybe? I agree some laws are good but then some such as this example are out in left field to me. Just my .02 cents.
 
This could get interesting for me. I just bought a JD 1380 pivot tongue mower conditioner in Missouri, about 250 miles from home. Had them pack the wheel bearings, will go down and get it the first Saturday I have off and weather is good. Will be pulling down 2 lane state highways, will have put DOT reflective tape on all corners before I pull. I USED to work for a farm equipment dealer years ago and have pulled similar loads much further at around 40 MPH no problem. I will also have magnetic taillights on it. Since I will be running about 30 to 35 MPH, do I need to remove the SMV before I start down the highway? I would think NOT, as will spend more time at under 30 than over. Figure on leaving the dealership by a little after 8 AM, will be there when they open, hope to get within about 70 miles of home before dark, where I will dolly it down and come back down Sunday to finish the last few miles. OLD, I think you are in MO if my memory is right, any opinions from in state? DOUG
 
i wouldn't worry about it too much. one time i was pullin' a chopper and a chopperbox and was over in the other lane. i met a cop/sherrif and he just waved and kept on going. i moved over of course and slowed down. i have never had problems with cops and agricultural road travling before. maybe that particular cop was having a bad day or something.
DF in WI
 
My point being---If it has an SMV and is farm equipment or road construction machinery, the over width, overweight, license requirements, hitch requirements, etc. do NOT apply.

As soon as the officer sees the implement or whatever on the highway WITHOUT an SMV and being operated or towed in excess of 25 MPH, he has a valid reason to classify it as a motor vehicle and all motor vehicle rules (lights, hitches, tires, brakes, etc.) become applicable. He can and most likely will write a ticket, especially if treated with dis-respect by the offender.

BTW, in Ohio farm and road construction machinery must display flashing amber lights from one hour before sundown to one hour after sunrise. Age of the equipment does not matter.

Personally, I think it is a well written law.
 
You don't say if you were pulling it with farm tractor or pickup. If you were pulling it with tractor then of course you need smv. I don't care what state your in. AND it would be in your best interest to do anything else you can think of for safety because if you get hit and tractor goes in ditch and rolls, you lose. I don't care what law says.
 
You know, us farmers(ex) could be paying out lot of money if we had to go by the highway rules that commercial people have. In this state anything overwidth has to have a permit($$$) except farmers and farm products. I once worked for a road construction company and they got their permits a book at a time, all bought and paid for and just mailed one in when they needed one.
 
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