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SB 47 - Loads of Unprocessed Forest Prod- ucts - strobe lights, flags at rear

Gillis, Sr., Hugh M (20th)	Hill, Jack (4th)	Dean, Nathan (31st)

Status Summary	SC:	Trans	HC:	MotV	FR:	01/25/99	LA:	04/28/99	Signed by Governor

First Reader Summary

A bill to amend Code Section 32-6-24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of length and loads of vehicles, so as to provide that the rear extremity of loads of unprocessed forest products shall be marked with an amber strobe warning light and warning flags which meet certain requirements of law; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equipment of motor vehicles generally, so as to change the provisions relating to light or flag on projecting load.

Code Sections - 40-8-27

SB 47  99                                          LC 10 2671 
 
      SENATE BILL 47 
 
      By:  Senators Gillis of the 20th, Hill of the 4th, 
           Dean of the 31st and others 
 
                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
                               AN ACT 
 
 
  1- 1  To amend Code Section 32-6-24 of the Official Code of 
  1- 2  Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of length and 
  1- 3  loads of vehicles, so as to provide that the rear extremity 
  1- 4  of loads of unprocessed forest products shall be marked with 
  1- 5  an amber strobe warning light and warning flags which meet 
  1- 6  certain requirements of law; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 8 
  1- 7  of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 
  1- 8  relating to equipment of motor vehicles generally, so as to 
  1- 9  change the provisions relating to light or flag on 
  1-10  projecting load; to provide that any motor vehicle or 
  1-11  trailer transporting a load of logs, long pulpwood, poles, 
  1-12  or posts that extend more than four feet beyond the rear of 
  1-13  the body or bed of such vehicle shall have securely affixed 
  1-14  as close as practical to the end of any such projection one 
  1-15  or more amber strobe type lamps equipped with a 
  1-16  multidirectional type lens so mounted as to be visible from 
  1-17  the rear and both sides of the  projecting load; to provide 
  1-18  specifications for the strobe lamp and when and where the 
  1-19  lamp is to be in operation; to provide that an emergency 
  1-20  light permit as provided for in Code Section 40-8-92 is not 
  1-21  required on a vehicle utilizing an amber strobe light to 
  1-22  comply with the provisions of this Act; to provide that 
  1-23  certain projecting loads shall also be marked with a flag; 
  1-24  to provide specifications for such flags and when and where 
  1-25  they shall be displayed; to provide for related matters; to 
  1-26  repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. 
 
  1-27       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 
 
  1-28                           SECTION 1. 
 
  1-29  Code Section 32-6-24 of the Official Code of Georgia 
  1-30  Annotated, relating to regulation of length of vehicles and 
  1-31  loads, is amended by striking in its entirety subparagraph 
  1-32  (b)(2)(B) and inserting in lieu thereof a new subparagraph 
  1-33  (b)(2)(B) to read as follows: 
 
  1-34        "(B) Loads of unprocessed forest products, including 
  1-35        but not limited to poles, logs, pilings, and lumber, 
 
 
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  2- 1        whether they are single pieces or pieces loaded end to 
  2- 2        end or overlapping, may be a maximum total length of 
  2- 3        60 feet with a maximum length of 41 feet between the 
  2- 4        kingpin and the center of the rear tandem axles or the 
  2- 5        rear axle in the case of a single axle.  The length of 
  2- 6        the truck tractor transporting such load shall not 
  2- 7        affect or be calculated in the maximum total load 
  2- 8        length. The rear extremity of each load shall be 
  2- 9        marked with an amber strobe warning light and warning 
  2-10        flags which meet the requirements set forth in Code 
  2-11        Section 40-8-27. Additionally, loads moved at night 
  2-12        must be equipped with a red marker light at the rear 
  2-13        extremity of such load as provided in Code Section 
  2-14        40-8-27 or with an amber strobe light." 
 
  2-15                           SECTION 2. 
 
  2-16  Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of 
  2-17  Georgia Annotated, relating to equipment of motor vehicles 
  2-18  generally, is amended by striking in its entirety Code 
  2-19  Section 40-8-27, relating to the requirement of light or 
  2-20  flag on projecting load, and inserting in lieu thereof a new 
  2-21  Code Section 40-8-27 to read as follows: 
 
  2-22    "40-8-27. 
 
  2-23    (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code 
  2-24    section, whenever Whenever the load upon any vehicle 
  2-25    extends to the rear four feet or more beyond the bed or 
  2-26    body of such vehicle, there shall be displayed at the 
  2-27    extreme rear end of the load, at the times specified in 
  2-28    Code Section 40-8-20, a red light plainly visible from a 
  2-29    distance of at least 500 feet to the sides and rear. The 
  2-30    red light required under this Code section shall be in 
  2-31    addition to the red rear light required upon every 
  2-32    vehicle. At any other time there shall be displayed at the 
  2-33    extreme rear end of such load a red flag as described in 
  2-34    subsection (c) of this Code section or cloth not less than 
  2-35    12 inches square and so hung that the entire area is 
  2-36    visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the 
  2-37    rear. 
 
  2-38    (b) Any motor vehicle or trailer transporting a load of 
  2-39    logs, long pulpwood, poles, or posts which extend more 
  2-40    than four feet beyond the rear of the body or bed of such 
  2-41    vehicle shall have securely affixed as close as practical 
  2-42    to the end of any such projection one amber strobe type 
  2-43    lamp equipped with a multidirectional type lens so mounted 
 
 
 
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  3- 1    as to be visible from the rear and both sides of the 
  3- 2    projecting load. If the mounting of one strobe lamp cannot 
  3- 3    be accomplished so that it is visible from the rear and 
  3- 4    both sides of the projecting load, multiple strobe lights 
  3- 5    shall be utilized so as to meet the visibility 
  3- 6    requirements of this subsection. The strobe lamp shall 
  3- 7    flash at a rate of at least 60 flashes per minute and 
  3- 8    shall be plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 
  3- 9    feet to the rear and sides of the projecting load any time 
  3-10    of the day or night. The lamp shall be operating at any 
  3-11    time of the day or night when the vehicle is operated on 
  3-12    any highway or parked on the shoulder or immediately 
  3-13    adjacent to the traveled portion of any public roadway. 
  3-14    The projecting load shall also be marked with a flag as 
  3-15    described in subsection (c) of this Code section.  An 
  3-16    emergency light permit as provided for in Code Section 
  3-17    40-8-92 is not required on a vehicle utilizing an amber 
  3-18    strobe light to comply with the provisions of this Code 
  3-19    section. 
 
  3-20    (c) The flag as required by subsection (a) or (b) of this 
  3-21    Code section shall be of a bright red or orange color not 
  3-22    less than 12 inches square which is clearly visible and 
  3-23    shall be displayed in such a manner that the entire area 
  3-24    of the flag is visible from the rear of the vehicle." 
 
  3-25                           SECTION 3. 
 
  3-26  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are 
  3-27  repealed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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