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1.16 Special Lighting Equipment

Second division or combination vehicles longer than 25 feet or wider than 80 inches (excluding mirrors, bumpers and other safety devices) must have special lighting equipment. The following lighting equipment is required on vehicles operated outside the limits of cities, towns or villages between sunset and sunrise:

• Two yellow or amber lights on the front of the vehicle. One light must be on each upper-front corner and visible for 500 feet.
• Three red lights on the rear of the vehicle in a horizontal line and visible for 500 feet.
• Two yellow or amber reflectors on the front of the vehicle. One reflector must be on each lower corner.
• Two red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle. One reflector must be not more than 12 inches from each lower corner.

Second division or combination vehicles longer than 20 feet and weighing more than 3,000 gross pounds must have special reflectors when operated outside the limits of cities, villages or towns between sunset and sunrise. The required reflectors, which must be approved include:

• Two amber reflectors on each side of the vehicle, not more than 5 feet above the road and placed at approximately 1/3 the length of the side of the vehicle.
• One amber reflector on each side of the vehicle not more than 12 inches from the front and not more than 5 feet above the road.
• One red reflector on each side of the vehicle not more than 12 inches from the rear and not more than 5 feet above the road.

Special lighting equipment required on trailers and semitrailers with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less include:

• Two red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle. Reflectors must not be more than 12 inches from each lower corner and visible for 300 feet in headlight beams.
• Electric turn signals. Vehicles must have right and left signals on the front and rear. They must be visible from 300 feet.

1.17 Vehicle Registration

Registration ID Cards

Registration identification cards for second division vehicles, except police trailers or semitrailers, must be in the vehicle, carried by the driver or carried by the person in control of the vehicle at all times.

Motor Fuel Tax ID Card

When required by the Motor Fuel Tax Law, a valid Motor Fuel Tax Identification Card or an authorized reproduction must be carried in the cab of the vehicle or carried by the driver. The driver must display or surrender the card upon request of a police officer or other agent of the Department of Revenue.

Second division registration fees are based on the type of operation and the gross weight of the vehicle and load. The fee schedule is printed on the application, which may be obtained from the Secretary of Stateʼs office.

License Plates

All vehicles except motorcycles, motorized pedalcycles, trailers, semitrailers, truck tractors and vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP) must display two license plates (front and rear) on the vehicle. Trailers must display one on the rear, and truck tractors must display one on the front. Buses registered under the IRP must display one apportioned plate on the rear of the bus.

The IRP is a reciprocity agreement between the states and the Canadian provinces, providing for the payment of license fees to a specific jurisdiction based on the number of fleet-miles driven in that jurisdiction. A license plate and an Identification Card listing the jurisdictions for which the fees have been paid are issued for each vehicle by the base state of the applicant. The gross weight at which the vehicle has been registered also is listed. Vehicles with a maximum gross weight over 26,000 pounds are required to display IRP plates. Lighter vehicles that conduct interstate commerce may choose to display these plates, while those that conduct intrastate commerce must have IRP plates.

Apportioned Plates

Specific kinds of license plates are issued for second division vehicles. License plates for second division vehicles are issued for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. Apportioned plates are issued for the registration year beginning April 1 and ending March 31. Semitrailer plates are permanent plates.

Intrastate carriers may not operate any motor vehicle on highways unless there is a sign painted on or affixed to both sides of the vehicle. The trade name, permit number and registration number of the carrier must be shown. The letters on the sign must be a minimum of 2-inches-high with a 1/2-inch brush stroke. Interstate carrier vehicles must show the registration or authority number of the carrier on both sides of the unit.

All tow trucks except those owned by governmental agencies must display a sign on each side. The sign must have letters not less than 2-inches-high, which contrast with the background. The sign must state the name, address and telephone number of the owner or operator.

Movement Documents

All trucks, truck tractors and buses must carry one or more movement documents that show:

• The vehicleʼs point of origin and destination and its cargo or passengers.
• Whether the trip is for-hire or not-for-hire.
• Whether the trip is interstate or intrastate.