Operating a tractor on Missouri roads

[JimNDayton]

The following is provided as information regarding operating
farm equipment on Missouri public roadways.
Recently a person traveled several hundred miles to transport
two tractors across several states along public roads and posted
here.
He towed a truck with a tow bar behind one tractor and a
camper behind another tractor.
My point was that his actions were illegal and dangerous in
transporting two tractors in this manner.
There have been several postings regarding the LEGAL and SAFE
operation of a tractor on public roadways in general.
They have been made out of ignorance of the motor vehicle law
in general.
If anyone believes that they can operate a 1952 tractor on a
public roadway in Missouri to transport it several hundred miles
in addition to towing a truck, they should take the time to read
the Missouri Motor Vehicle statutes.
I would challenge ANYONE to apply for the 'special permit' that
the law requires in order to do this.

If you have an ISSUE with the following Missouri law, be SPECIFIC
if you choose to reply here in this post.

This Posting addresses SPECIFICALLY the operation of farm
equipment on Missouri public roadways by referencing Missouri
State Statute which can be found at:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-
399/3040000011.HTM

Missouri Revised Statutes

Chapter 304
Traffic Regulations
Section 304.011

August 28, 2008



Slow speed, regulation of--agricultural implements, slower
speeds, when, special permits required--penalties.
304.011. 1. 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. Peace officers may
enforce the provisions of this section by directions to drivers,
and in the event of apparent willful disobedience to this
provision and refusal to comply with direction of an officer in
accordance herewith, the continued slow operation by a driver is
a misdemeanor.

2. 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.

3. Any person who violates subsection 2 of this section is guilty
of a class C misdemeanor.

(L. 1957 p. 631, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1047)
Effective 3-13-96



© Copyright
Missouri General Assembly

 

[JimEvans]

You have to read and understand all the laws to know what is legal and what is not. Most of the time it is not legal to drive tractors on the federal interstate system. It is legal to have slow vehicles on any of the state highways, US highways, county highways, or gravel roads: And that includes horsedrawn vehicles. I have been behind many Amish buggys going around 7 mph on US highway 65 in both Iowa and Missouri.

Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 307
Vehicle Equipment Regulations
Section 307.127

Slow-moving equipment, emblem required on, when--emblem described--violation, penalty--alternative display, reflective material.
307.127. 1. 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, including all road construction or maintenance machinery except when engaged in actual construction or maintenance work either guarded by a flagman or clearly visible warning signs, 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 as described in, and displayed as provided in subsection 2 in this section. The requirement of such emblem shall be in addition to any lighting devices required by section 307.115.

2. The emblem required by subsection 1 of this section shall be of substantial construction, and shall be a basedown equilateral triangle of fluorescent yellow-orange film or equivalent quality paint with a base of not less than fourteen inches and an altitude of not less than twelve inches. Such triangle shall be bordered with reflective red strips having a minimum width of one and three-fourths inches, with the vertices of the overall triangle truncated such that the remaining altitude shall be a minimum of fourteen inches. Such emblem shall be mounted on the rear of such vehicle near the horizontal geometric center of the rearmost vehicle at a height of not less than four feet above the roadway, and shall be maintained in a clean, reflective condition. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any vehicle or equipment being operated on a gravel or dirt-surfaced public highway.

3. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction.

4. 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.

5. 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 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. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void.

 

[JimEvans]

Not sure where you are from, but here is what Missourians do for fun. Make sure you look closely at that picture on the page.
http://www.showmetractorcruise.com/index.html

 

[JimNDayton]

In reply to your comment(s):

"You have to read and understand all the laws to know what is
legal and what is not."

and

"It is legal to have slow vehicles on any of the state highways, US
highways, county highways, or gravel roads: And that includes
horsedrawn vehicles. I have been behind many Amish buggys
going around 7 mph on US highway 65 in both Iowa and
Missouri."

To quote a section regarding the display of a placard is not
applicable.

A tractor is not an Amish buggy.

A truck with a tow bar attached and a camper are not:

"Agricultural implements, self-propelled hay-hauling
equipment, implements of husbandry" as defined by Missouri
Motor Vehicle Law.

A truck with a tow bar attached and a camper are both covered
under other separate sections of the Missouri Motor Vehicle Law.

Neither one can be pulled LEGALLY on a public roadway in
Missouri by a TRACTOR except POSSIBLY by a special permit
if EITHER one is determined to be a agricultural implement by
exception as stated here:

"(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."

Common sense is often based upon law.

It is ILLEGAL - UNSAFE - IGNORANT to transport a tractor over
several hundred miles on public roadways by driving it on the
road - PERIOD.

To TOW a truck with a tow bar attached to one tractor and to
TOW a camper behind another tractor to help facilitate
TRANSPORT is a violation of Missouri Motor Vehicle law.

If you wish to debate the point further - please do not reference
anecdotal pictures, stories or Missouri Motor Vehicle Statutes
that do not apply.

 

[Dick L]

Any person that comes to a tractor site with anti tractor movement statements using unrelated laws and by calling others names will indite themselves with the same name they are calling others even though the name calling is not returned in print.
Name calling is always unwise and better left to opinion in thought to ones self.

 

[JimEvans]

So you quoting laws about the interstate system are relevent to the topic and no one else can quote laws that actually apply to slow moving vehicles?

Bottom line is it is not illegal. The only ignorance is people spouting off about laws that have nothing to do with the situation.

Quote me the law that says he can't pull another vehicle on a state or county highway.

 

[JimNDayton]

Jim,
Regarding your comment;
"Quote me the law that says he can't pull another vehicle on a
state or county highway."

Specifically regarding operation of a tractor on Missouri public
roadways - it is ILLEGAL to operate a tractor on a public
roadways for other than short distances.
That has been QUOTED from Missouri Motor Vehicle Statutes
ABOVE in my original posting.

Try reading it again .....

Then look HERE for Definitions under Missouri Law:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-
399/3010000010.HTM

A motor vehicle is defined as:

(34) "Motor vehicle", any self-propelled vehicle not operated
exclusively upon tracks, except farm tractors;

A tractor is defined as:

(13) "Farm tractor", a tractor used exclusively for agricultural
purposes;

A recreational vehicle is defined as:

(47) "Recreational motor vehicle", any motor vehicle designed,
constructed or substantially modified so that it may be used and
is used for the purposes of temporary housing quarters,
including therein sleeping and eating facilities which are either
permanently attached to the motor vehicle or attached to a unit
which is securely attached to the motor vehicle. Nothing herein
shall prevent any motor vehicle from being registered as a
commercial motor vehicle if the motor vehicle could otherwise
be so registered;

Highways are defined as:


(19) "Highway", any public thoroughfare for vehicles, including
state roads, county roads and public streets, avenues,
boulevards, parkways or alleys in any municipality;

(20) "Improved highway", a highway which has been paved with
gravel, macadam, concrete, brick or asphalt, or surfaced in such
a manner that it shall have a hard, smooth surface;

(21) "Intersecting highway", any highway which joins another,
whether or not it crosses the same;

So, a farm tractor is NOT a motor vehicle under Missouri law.
Therefore it cannot operate on the public roadways period.

The EXCEPTION is for short distances as set forth in the law to
permit operation from field to field and field to home.

It follows that since a farm tractor is NOT a motor vehicle it
CANNOT legally TOW a recreational vehicle or a motor vehicle on
a public roadway.

Anyone who is stupid enough to use a tractor as a motor vehicle
to transport a recreational vehicle or a motor vehicle hundreds
of miles is in violation of Missouri Motor Vehicle Law and is an
IDIOT.

But WHAT ELSE would a person expect from someone who tried
to transport a tractor by placing it on a 'dolly'.

There are no shortcuts when it comes to transporting a tractor
or other farm equipment.

If the equipment cannot be tranported safely for a transport of
several hundred miles by trailer - do not buy it.

End of discussion.....

 

[Anonymous-0]

You and your name calling isnt welcome on this site!!!! Us people that live in Missouri will drive our tractors and combines on non interstate hiways any time we want to.We have flashers and SMV signs and if we dont,we run an escort to the rear with flashing lights and a strobe light.

 

[JimNDayton]

So:

"Us people that live in Missouri will drive our tractors and combines on non interstate hiways any time we want to."

Tell that to a state trooper - sheriff deputy - police officer when you get pulled over.

Spend some time learning how to compose a sentence in the English language while you are at it ......

 

[KLS]

Jim,
You are correct, it is illegal to operate a tractor on an interstate highway without a special permit, the problem with your argument is that in this case the tractors were not operated on an interstate. This means that the law you keep quoting does not apply. If you read what you keep posting you would see that it specifically states "interstate". As for the argument that towing a camper/truck is dangerous, how would these items be any more dangerous than any piece of modern farm equipment? The last time that I checked the 5600 gallon manure tanker that I have to haul down the side of a US (federal) highway is a lot wider and more impeding than a Ranger or a camper. If everything is properly equiped with an SMV sign and lights there should be no legal issues. Please get off of your high horse.

 

[[email protected]]

The ONLY reason that operating a farm tractor on something other than an interstate highway is IF there was a state or local minimum speed law for that particular portion of road. IF you are required to maintain a minimum speed, THEN the tractor would be required to operate at that speed or greater. This is very rare to find this scenerio, but there are a few counties that restrict a few roads in the country. Most are in larger cities such as Chicago on Lakeshore Drive is one that comes to mind. I believe this is a local city ordinance.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If it makes you feel good.then go ahead and call people names and belittle them.

You dont have a clue what you are talking about.It is only illegal to drive farm machinery down interstate hiways.Theres a 40 mph minimum speed limit there.

I and friends that farm have driven tractors and combines down non interstate hiways for years.Sometimes its been for distances of over 100 miles.I have been passed by numerous law enforcement officers and I'm still waiting for the first one to pull me over.They pay no attention to farm machinery that has flashing lights and a SMV sign.Lots of us use an escort vehicle too if the road is curvy and hilly.

Lots of Amish in my area go down the hiways at 5 mph.There are signs warning people that they will be on the hiway.It says to share the road with them.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Guess I'll through in my two bits here too.

Dont know about Missouri, but in New York state if you hitch a farm implement behind a pickup, it becomes a trailer and is supposed to be licensed and have lights, brakes, etc.

I suppose you could argue a trailer becomes a farm implement if you hitch it behind a tractor, law enforcement types may see it differently.

20 years ago when I bought my farm here in central NY and moved from downstate (approx. 125 miles) we moved a forage harvester, 2 silage wagons and 2 hay wagons towing them behind pickups. The hay wagons had smaller implements loaded into them, such as a silo blower and a haybine. A good share of the trip was 4 lane highway, but it was not an interstate highway. We had good tires and safety chains on everything. We had no mishaps and were never stopped by the police.

Would I try it today? Probably not.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I will not join in the name calling but; Plese tell me what is the main purpose of roads. In Il they are for movment of Ag products. Look it up.

 

[61-4010]

Dude...you should try decaf next time

 

[Anonymous-0]

any one that would waste there time trying to discurage any time of ag. vehichiles on hyways must eat buzzard s--t breakfast lunch and supper

 

[Brian Jasper co. Ia]

Some time back there was a tractor caravan from Cameron to Booneville. There was a video made of it thats been on RFDTV. In the beginning there were several tractors towing pickups and campers.
I guess I'm one of the law breakers too. I've been on the show me tractor cruise several times.

 

[GeneMO]

Guys, to get your nnalert all in a knot over state laws and other gobletygoop is kinda dumb. First off, you can get arrested for anything. You can get sued for anything. A jury can rule against you for the dumbest reasons. Not much of it makes anys sense.

Try to obey the laws to the best of your ability. Do things as a normal responsible, prudent person would do. And hope for the best. Nothing to get all balled up about.

And as I mentioned in a later post, most property deeds go to the section line, center of the highway, so on the gravel roads, yes I do in fact own the road.


Gene

 

[leeb]

Self-righteous azzhole.

 

[MaddMatt]

Did your mother not nnalert feed you? looks like you have way too much time on your hands maybe you should get a job to occupy your days better

 

[CcK]

I want to clarify something first.

Is a tractor considered a "motor vehicle"?

 

[Anonymous-0]

jim in dalton needs to sit and spin on his nightstick, of maybe his other fellow officers hold the stick for him. hope you go pull alot of farm tractors over for trying to drive more then a short distance on the roads.....g/l in court on that one....idiot

 

[Anonymous-0]

I like your logic - but try this. In NYS a Farm Tractor is specifically defined as not a motor vehicle it's a farm type tractor and falls under the same exemption as the motorized hot dog carts in NYC. When I asked a NY Dept of Motor vehicles person what is the definition of a Farm Type Tractor they said it had to be engaged in farming.

So by hooking up a Farm Implement (hay trailer) and engaging in farm activities is your pickup now considered a farm type tractor? And you no longer need a license, registration inspection or insurance to drive it on a road?

I wouldn't try this as I don't think the local police would buy it and most likely toss you in jail but something interesting to think about.

It would be interesting to see if anyone used this as a defense against an expired inspection sticker or the like.