8-1717. Lights, lamps and reflectors on farm tractors; slow-moving vehicle and slow-moving vehicle emblem defined; requirements for slow-moving vehicles; unlawful acts; exception. - Kansas Statutes

8-1717

Chapter 8.--AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER VEHICLES Article 17.--UNIFORM ACT REGULATING TRAFFIC; EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLES

      8-1717.   Lights, lamps and reflectors on farm tractors; slow-moving vehicle and slow-moving vehicle emblem defined; requirements for slow-moving vehicles; unlawful acts; exception. (a) Every farm tractor manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1975, shall be equipped with vehicular hazard warning lights of a type described in K.S.A. 8-1722, and amendments thereto, visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight, which shall be displayed whenever any such vehicle is operated upon a highway.

      (b)   Every farm tractor manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1975, shall at all times, and every other such motor vehicle shall at all times mentioned in K.S.A. 8-1703, and amendments thereto, be equipped with lamps and reflectors as follows:

      (1)   At least two head lamps meeting the requirements of K.S.A. 8-1724, 8-1726 or 8-1727, and amendments thereto.

      (2)   At least one red lamp visible when lighted from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear mounted as far to the left of the center of the vehicle as practicable.

      (3)   At least two red reflectors visible from all distances within 600 feet to 100 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps.

      (c)   On every combination of farm tractor and towed farm equipment or towed implement of husbandry, the farm tractor shall be equipped as required in subsections (a) and (b), and the towed unit shall be equipped at all times mentioned in K.S.A. 8-1703, and amendments thereto, with lamps and reflectors as follows:

      (1)   If the towed unit or its load extends more than four feet to the rear of the tractor or obscures any light thereon, the unit shall be equipped on the rear with at least one red lamp visible when lighted from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear, mounted as far to the left of the center of the towed unit as practicable, and at least two red reflectors visible from all distances within 600 feet to 100 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps.

      (2)   If the towed unit of such combination extends more than four feet to the left of the center line of the tractor, the unit shall be equipped on the front with an amber reflector visible from all distances within 600 feet to 100 feet to the front when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps. This reflector shall be so positioned to indicate, as nearly as practicable, the extreme left projection of the towed unit.

      (3)   If the towed unit or its load obscures either of the vehicle hazard warning lights on the tractor, the towed unit shall be equipped with vehicle hazard warning lights described in subsection (a).

      (d)   The two red reflectors required in the preceding subsections shall be so positioned as to show from the rear, as nearly as practicable, the extreme width of the vehicle or combination carrying them. If all other requirements are met, reflective tape or paint may be used in lieu of the reflectors required by subsection (c).

      (e)   As used in this section:

      (1)   "Slow-moving vehicle" means any vehicle, farm tractor, implement of husbandry, equipment or piece of machinery designed for use at speeds of less than 25 miles per hour, or which is normally moved at speeds of less than 25 miles per hour, and includes all road construction or maintenance machinery, except when such machinery is engaged in actual construction or maintenance work and there is either a flagman or clearly visible warning signs to warn of such machinery's presence on the roadway.

      (2)   "Slow-moving vehicle emblem" means a triangular-shaped emblem of substantial construction having equal sides of 14 inches and an altitude of 12 inches, and such emblem shall be painted a fluorescent yellow-orange color and bordered with reflective red-colored strips having a minimum width of 1 3/4 inches, with the vertices of the overall triangle truncated in such a manner that the remaining altitude shall be at least 14 inches.

      (f)   The secretary of transportation shall approve slow-moving vehicle emblems which meet the requirements of this act, and shall compile and publish a list of approved emblems and the manufacturers thereof.

      (g)   A slow-moving vehicle emblem shall be mounted or affixed on the rear of the slow-moving vehicle in compliance with standard S276.2 of the American society of agricultural engineers, as such standard was revised in March, 1968.

      (h)   No person shall operate any slow-moving vehicle on any highway which is within the national system of interstate and defense highways, the state highway system or the state system of modern express highways and freeways, unless such vehicle is equipped with a properly mounted slow-moving vehicle emblem, which has been approved by the secretary of transportation, and which is maintained in a clean, fluorescent and reflective condition, or display a slow-moving vehicle emblem on any vehicle other than a slow-moving vehicle or display such emblem on a slow-moving vehicle which is being operated at a speed of 25 miles per hour or more, or to use such emblem in any manner other than authorized by this section.

      (i)   Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a low-speed vehicle shall not be required to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem.

      History:   L. 1974, ch. 33, § 8-1717; L. 1975, ch. 39, § 19; L. 1975, ch. 427, § 34; L. 1984, ch. 39, § 15; L. 2000, ch. 179, § 23; July 1.