GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1030
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/21/99

Short Title:  Trailer Amendments.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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April 14, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CHANGE THE LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHT TRAILERS AND EXEMPT CERTAIN ADDITIONAL FARM TRAILERS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-129(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	Rear Lamps. – Every motor vehicle, and every trailer or semitrailer attached to a motor vehicle and every vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall have all originally equipped rear lamps or the equivalent in good working order, which lamps shall exhibit a red light plainly visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle. One rear lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed that the number plate carried on the rear of such vehicle shall under like conditions be illuminated by a white light as to be read from a distance of 50 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Every trailer or semitrailer shall carry at the rear, in addition to the originally equipped lamps, a red reflector of the type which has been approved by the Commissioner and which is so located as to height and is so maintained as to be visible for at least 500 feet when opposed by a motor vehicle displaying lawful undimmed lights at night on an unlighted highway.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the first paragraph of this subsection, it shall not be necessary for a trailer weighing less than 6,500 pounds to carry or be equipped with a rear lamp, provided such vehicle is equipped with and carries at the rear two red reflectors of a diameter of not less than three inches, such reflectors to be approved by the Commissioner, and which are so designed and located as to height and are maintained so that each reflector is visible for at least 500 feet when approached by a motor vehicle displaying lawful undimmed headlights at night on an unlighted highway.
The rear lamps of a motorcycle shall be lighted at all times while the motorcycle is in operation on highways or public vehicular areas."
Section 2.  G.S. 20-51(6) reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-51.  Exempt from registration.
The following shall be exempt from the requirement of registration and certificate of title:
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(6)	Any trailer or semitrailer attached to and drawn by a properly licensed motor vehicle when used by a farmer, his tenant, agent, or employee in transporting unginned cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, hay, tobacco, silage, cucumbers, potatoes, fertilizers or chemicals purchased or owned by the farmer or tenant for personal use in implementing husbandry, irrigation pipes, loaders, or equipment owned by the farmer or tenant from place to place on the same farm, from one farm to another, from farm to gin, from farm to dryer, or from farm to market, and when not operated on a for-hire basis.  The term "transporting”as used herein shall include the actual hauling of said products and all unloaded travel in connection therewith."
Section 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 1999.