Public Act 14 of 2006 amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to require certain vehicles used for agricultural purposes that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2007 to comply with the following standards approved by the American Standards Institute and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers:

• ASAE S276.6: Slow-Moving Vehicle Identification Emblem (SMV Emblem)
• ASAE S279.12: Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment on Highways.

Such a vehicle, referred to in the Vehicle Code as an "implement of husbandry," is any of the following: (1) a farm tractor, (2) a vehicle designed to be drawn by a farm tractor or an animal, (3) a vehicle that directly harvests farm products, or (4) a vehicle that directly applies fertilizer, spray, or seeds to a farm field.

A person will be prohibited from selling an implement of husbandry manufactured on or after January 1, 2007 that does not comply with the above standards.

The Vehicle Code currently requires that an implement of husbandry being operated or moved on a highway when lights are required to:

• Display lighted rear lamps plainly visible from 500 feet
• Or be accompanied by a vehicle that illuminates the implement of husbandry with its headlights and displays lighted rear lamps visible from 500 feet.

Under the new law, these requirements apply only to implements of husbandry manufactured before January 1, 2007.

The code also currently provides that all vehicles - including implements of husbandry - that are not required to be equipped with head or rear lamps, must have at least one white front light and a red rear light visible from 500 feet during the period between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise and at other times of insufficient light. Under the new law, this provision will apply only to implements of husbandry manufactured before January 1, 2007.

Related Link
> American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers