CHAPTER 15. AUTHORIZED VEHICLES AND SPECIAL OPERATING PRIVILEGES

 This chapter establishes the types of vehicles which are considered authorized vehicles under, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  102, 4572(b) and 6107 (relating to definitions; visual signals on authorized vehicles; and designation of authorized vehicles by Department) and establishes special operating privileges for authorized vehicles.

 The vehicles enumerated in this section are designated as authorized vehicles of the type indicated. They may be equipped with one or two flashing or revolving yellow lights as provided in 75 Pa.C.S. §  4572(b) (relating to flashing or revolving yellow lights), and as defined in Chapter 173 (relating to flashing or revolving lights on emergency and authorized vehicles), except that school buses shall be equipped with red and amber flashing lights as defined in 75 Pa.C.S. §  4552 (relating to general requirements for school buses). The flashing or revolving yellow lights on all authorized vehicles except school buses shall be activated only when the vehicle is performing the type of work which is the basis of the designation of the vehicle as an authorized vehicle, except lights on Type VI vehicles may be activated whenever an emergency condition requires police assistance. The enumeration of vehicles is as follows:

   (1)  Type I. Type I vehicles include the following:

     (i)   Highway construction and maintenance vehicles. Such vehicles shall include, but not be limited to, traffic-line-painting trucks, sign and signal maintenance trucks, dump trucks, street sweepers, mowers, highway inspection vehicles, and vehicles involved in traffic studies or investigations or right-of-way operations.

     (ii)   Vehicles which are used in utility operations.

     (iii)   Highway service vehicles such as, but not limited to, tow trucks and road-service vehicles.

     (iv)   Vehicles used to collect money from parking meters.

   (2)  Type II. Snowplows, snowblowers and vehicles modified or equipped for the attachment of snowplows, snowblowers or similar devices.

   (3)  Type III. Garbage trucks and vehicles used for home delivery of United States mail or newspapers.

   (4)  Type IV. Vehicles which are used in the business of news gathering for any news medium.

   (5)  Type V. Vehicles which escort oversize loads.

   (6)  Type VI. Local mass transit vehicles and armored vehicles which are used in the transportation of coins, currency or other valuables for the business or financial community.

   (7)  Type VII. School buses.

   The provisions of this §  15.2 adopted March 17, 1978, effective March 18, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 759; amended May 25, 1984, effective May 26, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 1807; readopted April 21, 1989, effective April 22, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 1736. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (132803) to (132804).

 (a)  General. The following types of authorized vehicles may exercise the special privileges indicated when they are performing the type of work which is the basis of the vehicle’s designation as an authorized vehicle in §  15.2 (relating to types of authorized vehicles) and the special privileges can be executed in a reasonable and safe manner:

   (1)  Any type of authorized vehicle, except Types III, VI and VII vehicles, may utilize special median openings on divided highways designated for emergency and authorized vehicles, if every precaution is taken to insure the safety of all motorists and pedestrians.

   (2)  Types I, II and IV authorized vehicles may drive on highways, or any part thereof, closed to the general public when they are performing the type of work which is the basis of the designation of the vehicle as an authorized vehicle in §  15.2, if the driving can be done in a reasonable and safe manner.

   (3)  Type II authorized vehicles registered or leased by or under contract to the Commonwealth or a political subdivision may exceed the following statutory weight restrictions when they are performing the type of work which is the basis of the vehicle’s designation as an authorized vehicle:

     (i)   Maximum gross weight.

     (ii)   Registered gross weight.

     (iii)   Maximum axle weight.

     (iv)   Maximum wheel load.

   (4)  An authorized vehicle may disregard the requirements of 75 Pa.C.S. §  4305 (relating to vehicular hazard signal lamps) when one of the following occur:

     (i)   A flashing or revolving yellow light is used;

     (ii)   An activated arrow board or temporary arrow sign is used on a one-way roadway in accordance with Chapter 203 (relating to work zone traffic control); or

     (iii)   The vehicle is on a closed highway or in an area protected from the traveling public by a barrier or a series of channelizing devices.

 (b)  Special privileges with lights. The following types of authorized vehicles may exercise the special privileges indicated when they are performing the type of work which is the basis of the vehicle’s designation as an authorized vehicle in §  15.2, if the flashing or revolving yellow lights or the red flashing lights on school buses are activated and the special privileges can be executed in a reasonable and safe manner:

   (1)  Types I and II authorized vehicles may:

     (i)   Stop, stand or park, irrespective of official signs or 75 Pa.C.S. § §  101—9909 (relating to the Vehicle Code).

     (ii)   Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

   (2)  Types I, II and V authorized vehicles may drive slower than the minimum speed limit.

   (3)  Type III authorized vehicles may stop, stand or park irrespective of official signs or 75 Pa.C.S. § §  101—9909 (relating to the vehicle code). In addition, if a garbage truck is equipped with special driving controls on the right side, the operator may:

     (i)   Drive the garbage truck by use of the special controls at speeds not exceeding 20 miles per hour.

     (ii)   Disregard the following requirements of 75 Pa.C.S. §  3701 (relating to unattended vehicles):

       (A)   That the engine be stopped.

       (B)   That the ignition be locked, in a vehicle so equipped, and the key removed from the ignition.

   (4)  Type VII authorized vehicles may stop on the roadway at locations where the vehicle is not visible from a distance of 500 feet in each direction while actively engaged in loading or unloading school students if the school bus on-roadway loading zone has been established under §  104.3 (relating to standards), with the concurrence of the local authorities as defined in 75 Pa.C.S. §  102 (relating to definitions).

   The provisions of this §  15.3 adopted March 17, 1978, effective March 18, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 759; amended May 25, 1984, effective May 26, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 1807; readopted April 21, 1989, effective April 22, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 1736. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (132804) and (90186) to (90187).

   This section cited in 67 Pa. Code §  104.3 (relating to standards).