Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Pennsylvania Code



CHAPTER 213. SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES

Sec.


213.1.    Purpose.
213.2.    Definitions.
213.3.    General requirements.
213.4.    Posting.

Authority

   The provisions of this Chapter 213 issued under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  6103 and 6109(a)(7), unless otherwise noted.

Source

   The provisions of this Chapter 213 adopted January 11, 1980, effective January 12, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 132, unless otherwise noted.

Cross References

   This chapter cited in 67 Pa. Code §  211.191a (relating to Snow Emergency Route sign, R5-11).

§ 213.1. Purpose.

 The purpose of this chapter is to establish snow emergency routes by restricting the use of certain highways during periods of snow or ice emergency to vehicles which are properly equipped to minimize the safety hazard.

§ 213.2. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Department—The Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

   Limited access highway—A highway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access except at points and in the manner determined by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway.

   Mud and snow tire—A tire which, when, compared with conventional rib-type passenger car tires, has a relatively aggressive tread pattern and is designed primarily to provide additional starting, stopping, and driving traction in mud and snow. The tread shall also have ribs, lugs, blocks, or buttons, be generally discontinuous, and have the following characteristics when inflated:

     (i) A substantial portion of the lug, block, or rib edges in the tread design shall be at an angle greater than 30° to the tire circumferential center line.

     (ii) On at least one side of the tread design, the shoulder lugs shall protrude at least 1/2 inch in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel.

     (iii) Tires manufactured on or after January 1, 1976, shall be permanently labeled on at least one sidewall with the words ‘‘Mud and Snow’’ or any contraction using the letters ‘‘M’’ and ‘‘S,’’ such as MS, M/S, M-S, M & S, and the like.

   Snow emergency route—A limited access highway which the Department has designated as a snow emergency route by the posting of traffic control devices as provided for in §  213.4 (relating to posting).

§ 213.3. General requirements.

 No motor vehicle shall be driven upon a snow emergency route when the roadway is covered with ice or snow unless the motor vehicle is equipped with at least two mud and snow tires on a driven axle or tire chains on two tires on a driven axle.

§ 213.4. Posting.

 A traffic control device of the type specified in Chapter 211 (relating to official traffic control devices) shall be posted at every access point to a limited access highway which the Department has designated as a snow emergency route.

Cross References

   This section cited in 67 Pa. Code §  213.2 (relating to definitions).



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