# 9486 - MICHIGAN: TODAY'S FARM EQUIPMENT ON PUBLIC ROADSState Laws That Apply to Farm Machinery on the Public Roadway A Few Definitions "Vehicle - every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway,..." [MCL 257.79] "Farm Tractor - is every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry". [MCL257.16] "Implement of Husbandry- means a vehicle which is either a farm tractor, a vehicle designed to be drawn by a farm tractor or an animal, a vehicle which directly harvests farm products, or a vehicle which directly applies fertilizer, spray or seeds to a farm field". [MCL 257.21] General A Driver's license - not required for operating an implement of husbandry.[MCL 257.302. [211]] A License Plate - not required on any implement of husbandry (refer to definition). [MCL 257.216c] Self-propelled farm implements - must not be operated on freeways or limited access highways. [MCL 257.679a] Crawler or track- type tractors - must not be operated on roads unless owner has a special permit from State Highway Commissioner, county road commission or other authority having jurisdiction. [MCL 257.725 [3]] Impeding Traffic - A person, without authority, shall not block, obstruct, or otherwise impede the normal flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic by means of a barricade, object, or device or with his or her person. [MCL 257.676b] Comment: Vehicles including implements husbandry, are not allowed to be parked on the main traveled portion of the highway. Highway includes a paved or unpaved roadway. Lighting And Warning Equipment Lights must be used from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, or when visibility is reduced to less than 500 ft. [MCL 257.684] Minimum lighting is at least one white light visible for a distance of 500 ft. in front and at least one red light visible for a distance of 300 ft. to the rear. [MCL 257.695] However, traveling less than 20 mph, your vehicle may use reduced lighting requirements. [MCL 257.703] When lights are required, implements of husbandry shall have a rear red light or be accompanied by an escort vehicle which follows behind at a distance of not more than 50 ft. and illuminates the implement of husbandry with the escort vehicle's headlights and displays on the rear of the escort vehicle lighted rear lamps as required by law. [MCL 257.686 [411]] A farm tractor maybe equipped with flashing amber light in addition to the 4-way flashers which may be used after dark and when visibility is poor. [MCL 257.698 [5][e]] When operated on the highway, a Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem is required for; * every vehicle which has a maximum potential speed of 25 miles an hour, * an implement of husbandry, * farm tractor, or * special mobile equipment. [MCL 257.688g] An equilateral triangle must be mounted on the rear of the vehicle, broad base down, not less than 3 ft. nor more than 5 ft.above the ground and as near the center of the vehicle as possible. In addition, red reflectors or reflectorized tape is required on rear at each side of equipment. [MCL 257.688g] Size, Weight and Loads Comment. Traveling "left of center" after dark or during poor visibility is never permitted. Impeding the flow of traffic, at any time, is a violation. The provisions governing size, weight, and load shall not apply to implements of husbandry incidentally moved upon a highway. [MCL 257.716 [2]] A person may operate or move an implement of husbandry of any width on a highway as required for normal farming operations, so as to minimize the interruption of traffic flow. However, a person must not operate or move an implement of husbandry to the left of the center of the roadway:- from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise; when approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve when the driver's view is obstructed within a distance as to create a hazard in the event a vehicle might approach from the opposite direction; when the view is obstructed upon approaching within 100 ft. of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel; or at any time visibility is substantially diminished due to weather conditions. [MCL 257.717 [2] & 257.639 [1]] A truck-tractor (semi) shall not haul more than one trailer and one semitrailer or more than two semitrailers in combination at any one time, except that a farm tractor may haul two wagons or trailers. The total combination of farm tractor and two wagons cannot exceed 55 ft. in length, and m ust not travel at a speed in excess of 15 miles per hour. [MCL 257.719 [3]] However, a vehicle (car, truck, or pickup truck) shall not haul more than one farm wagon or trailer. [MCL 257.721 [1]] A person operating a vehicle to transport agricultural commodities in the normal operation of a farm is not required to cover the load. [MCL 257.720] A person operating a vehicle to transport agricultural commodities in the normal operation of the farm shall not spill. [MCL 257,720] However, it is not considered spilling when a vehicle transporting agricultural or horticultural products including hay, straw, silage, or residue from the product, escapes from the vehicle in an amount that does not interfere with other traffic on the highway.[ MCL 257.720[l]] Did You Know ??? * That "driving and drinking" laws apply to implements of husbandry. [MCL 257.625] * That anhydrous ammonia tanks or other vehicles carrying hazardous materials on which a placard is required shall stop at all railroad crossings. [MCL 257.669] * That when pulling a farm wagon or trailer with a vehicle (such as a truck or farm tractor) safety chains are required. [MCL 257.721] * That a person riding an animal on the roadway shall have all of the rights and responsibilities as the operator of other vehicles. [MCL 257.604] * That SMV emblems cannot be used to mark driveways, mailbox or any other stationary object within the highway right-of-way. [MCL 257.688] * That no white light may be displayed to the rear of an implement of husbandry, [MCL 257.689] nor white lights to the front that blind on-coming traffic. [MCL 257.700 and 257.696] * That any time an implement of husbandry or farm tractor is operated on the roadway, a SMV emblem must be displayed and clearly visible on the rear of the implement. [MCL 257.688 [g]] * That your SMV emblem must be clean and highly reflective. [MCL 257.691 [g]]. Most experts agree that SMV's become faded within 2-5 years and should be replaced. This information has been prepared in cooperation with: THUMB AREA TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MICHIGAN RURAL SAFETY COUNCIL MICHIGAN STATE POLICE Motor Carrier Division Traffic Services Unit MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Agricultural Engineering Department MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU Public Affairs Division HURON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Farming Safely in the Thumb Program OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY PLANNING For more information contact any of the above.
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