4921 - Width of vehicles.
SUBCHAPTER B WIDTH, HEIGHT AND LENGTH Sec. 4921. Width of vehicles. 4922. Height of vehicles. 4923. Length of vehicles. 4924. Limitations on length of projecting loads. 4925. Width of projecting loads on passenger vehicles. Cross References. Subchapter B is referred to in sections 4961, 4962, 4968, 4970, 4977, 4978, 4979.4 of this title. § 4921. Width of vehicles. (a) General rule.--The total outside width of a vehicle, including any load, shall not exceed eight feet except as otherwise provided in this section. With regard to stinger- steered automobile or boat transporters or vehicles operating as provided in section 4908 (relating to operation of certain combinations on interstate and certain other highways), the total width of a vehicle, including any load, shall not exceed eight and one-half feet, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. (b) Special vehicles.-- (1) Any implement of husbandry or vehicle loaded with vegetable produce or forage crops and not exceeding 11 feet in width may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways. (2) Any implement of husbandry not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways: (i) Between parts of one farm owned or operated by the owner of the implement of husbandry. (ii) Between farms owned or operated by the owner of the implement of husbandry located not more than 50 miles apart. (iii) Between: (A) farms; or (B) a farm owned or operated by a farmer and a place of business of a mechanic or dealer in implements of husbandry; located not more than 150 miles away for the purpose of buying, selling, trading, loaning and leasing, demonstrating, repairing or servicing the implement of husbandry. (3) Special mobile equipment not exceeding nine feet two inches in width may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways. (4) The department may regulate the operation of special vehicles subject to this subsection which regulations may prohibit the operation of special vehicles on certain days or during certain hours. (5) An implement of husbandry or vehicle used exclusively for highly perishable crops for processing and not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width may be operated on highways other than freeways between sunset and sunrise only during the period of May 20 to October 15. The implement or vehicle, when used at this time, shall have two rotating yellow beacons and vehicular hazard signal lamps operating. (6) Commercial implements of husbandry not exceeding 12 feet in width, including wheels and tires, may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways. (c) Buses.--Any bus operated wholly within a municipality, where permitted by the municipality, or in more than one municipality, where approved by the Public Utility Commission, may have a total outside width not to exceed eight feet six inches when operated upon a highway having traffic-lane widths of not less than ten feet. (c.1) Motor homes or recreational trailers.--Any motor home or recreational trailer may have a total outside width not to exceed eight feet six inches. (c.2) Utility trailers.--A utility trailer with a registered gross weight not to exceed 10,000 pounds may have a total outside width not to exceed eight feet six inches. (c.3) Trucks other than combinations.--The total outside width, including any load, of a truck other than a combination shall not exceed eight and one-half feet except as otherwise provided in this chapter. (d) Nondivisible loads.--Vehicles carrying nondivisible loads not exceeding eight feet six inches in width may operate on any highway having a roadway width of 20 feet or more. (e) Mirrors, sunshades and tarpaulins.--Mirrors, sunshades and tarpaulins may extend beyond the maximum width of a vehicle as follows: (1) Mirrors may extend on each side a maximum of six inches beyond the width of the vehicle, trailer or load, whichever is greater. (2) Sunshades may extend a maximum of six inches on each side of the vehicle. (3) Tarpaulins and the mechanical components of the devices used to secure tarpaulins may extend no more than six inches on each side of a vehicle or trailer. (e.1) School buses.--School bus side stop signal arms, as provided for in section 4552 (relating to general requirements for school buses), may, when in an extended position displaying red visual signals while the vehicle is stopped and loading or discharging students, extend beyond the width limitation otherwise provided in this section. (f) Exceptions.--The provisions of this subchapter governing the width of vehicles do not apply to street sweepers, snow removal equipment, truck-mounted line-painting equipment and recycling equipment used under the act of July 28, 1988 (P.L.556, No.101), known as the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act. (July 20, 1979, P.L.168, No.55, eff. imd.; Mar. 7, 1982, P.L.152, No.49, eff. imd.; July 7, 1983, P.L.32, No.19, eff. imd.; Dec. 19, 1988, P.L.1290, No.163, eff. imd.; June 30, 1990, P.L.266, No.63, eff. imd.; Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1411, No.174, eff. 60 days; May 20, 1993, P.L.30, No.10, eff. 60 days; July 2, 1993, P.L.408, No.58, eff. 60 days; Feb. 10, 1994, P.L.10, No.2, eff. imd.; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.820, No.115, eff. imd.; July 11, 1996, P.L.660, No.115, eff. 60 days; Apr. 17, 1997, P.L.6, No.3, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2001, P.L.411, No.33, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1667, No.211, eff. 60 days) 2004 Amendment. Act 211 amended subsec. (b)(1). 2001 Amendment. Act 33 amended subsec. (b). 1997 Amendment. Act 3 amended subsec. (a) and added subsec. (c.3) 1996 Amendment. Act 115 added subsec. (c.2). 1994 Amendments. Act 2 amended subsec. (a) and Act 115 added subsec. (c.1). 1993 Amendments. Act 10 amended subsecs. (b)(5) and (6) and (d) and Act 58 amended subsecs. (e) and (f). 1988 Amendment. Act 163 added subsec. (e.1). Cross References. Section 4921 is referred to in sections 4908, 4961 of this title.