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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 348
BY SENATOR RISER
FEES/LICENSES/PERMITS. Provides relative to operation of dual-purpose farm and
construction equipment on highways. (8/1/14)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 32:385(A)(1), relative to motor vehicles; to provide with respect2
to the requirements for farm vehicles and equipment or for dual-purpose farm and3
construction equipment or machinery to operate on highways; to provide for4
exemptions; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 32:385(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:7
ยง385. Farm vehicles and equipment; exemptions8
A.(1)(a) Farm and agricultural vehicles and equipment, except draglines and9
bulldozers, being operated or transported for bona fide agricultural purposes or the10
transportation of farm vehicles and equipment or dual-purpose farm and11
construction equipment or machinery to be used for normal farm purposes by12
persons transporting such farm equipment or machinery, for distances not to exceed13
fifty miles from the point of origin, and fertilizer tending units shall be exempt from14
the requirements of R.S. 32:380 through 382 and, additionally, farm equipment shall15
be exempt from the requirements of R.S. 32:384.16
(b) Farm and agricultural vehicles and equipment, except draglines and17 SB NO. 348
SLS 14RS-685 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
bulldozers, being operated to transport farm equipment and machinery or dual-1
purpose farm and construction equipment or machinery to be used for normal2
farm purposes by persons transporting such farm equipment or machinery for3
distances more than fifty miles from the point of origin shall be exempt from the4
requirements of R.S. 32:380 through 382, and 384, provided that such vehicles5
and equipment shall comply with the following requirements:6
(i) Operate with escort vehicles ahead of and behind them.7
(ii) Observe traffic signals and regulatory signs, including escort8
vehicles.9
(iii) Operate only in daylight hours.10
(iv) Do not operate in rain or other weather conditions unsafe for such11
operation.12
(v) Observe all safety standards for farm equipment.13
(vi) Do not operate on interstate highways.14
(vii) Do not operate on or across a bridge with a posted weight limit.15
(c) Trailers and semi-trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more16
than twelve thousand pounds, when owned and used by a retail business in this state17
and designed and used exclusively for the purposes of pick-up or delivery of new,18
used, or repaired farm equipment for distances not to exceed fifty miles from the19
point of origin, shall be exempt from the requirements of R.S. 32:380.20
* * *21
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sharon F. Lyles.
DIGEST
Riser (SB 348)
Present law exempts farm and agricultural vehicles and equipment, except draglines and
bulldozers, operated for normal farm purposes from width (R.S. 32:380), height (R.S.
32:381), length (R.S. 32:382) and trailers and towed vehicle (R.S. 32:384) requirements
provided by law and authorizes such vehicles to use any public highways except interstate
highways during the period from 30 minutes after sunrise until 30 minutes before sunset
without obtaining a special permit for distances not to exceed 50 miles from the point of
origin.
Present law exempts trailers and semi-trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more SB NO. 348
SLS 14RS-685 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
than 12,000 pounds from width (R.S.32:380) when owned and used by a retail business in
this state and designed and used exclusively for the purposes of pick-up or delivery of new,
used, or repaired farm equipment for distances not to exceed 50 miles from the point of
origin.
Proposed law adds exemption for dual-purpose farm and construction equipment or
machinery.
Proposed law exempts farm and agricultural vehicles and equipment, except draglines and
bulldozers, being operated to transport dual-purpose farm and construction equipment or
machinery for normal farm purposes from width (R.S. 32:380), height (R.S. 32:381), length
(R.S. 32:382) and trailers and towed vehicle (R.S. 32:384) requirements provided by law and
authorizes such vehicles to use any public highways except interstate highways during the
period from 30 minutes after sunrise until thirty minutes before sunset without obtaining a
special permit for distances more than 50 miles from the point of origin provided such
vehicles shall meet the following requirements:
(1)Operate with escort vehicles ahead of and behind them.
(2)Observe traffic signals and regulatory signs, including escort vehicles.
(3)Operate only in daylight hours.
(4)Do not operate in rain or other weather conditions unsafe for such operation.
(5)Observe all safety standards for farm equipment.
(6)Do not operate on interstate highways.
(7)Do not operate on or across a bridge with a posted weight limit.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 32:385(A)(1))