Title XVI, Motor Vehicles

(1) No vehicle shall be operated upon any highway unless it is so constructed as to prevent its contents from escaping. (2) No vehicle shall be operated upon any public highway for a distance of over one (1) mile whose load is susceptible to shifting or spillage unless said load …

Whenever a vehicle is used to transport an explosive, it shall be marked on each side and the rear with the word "Explosives" in letters no less than eight (8) inches high, or there shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle a red flag not less than twenty-four (24) inches squ…

(1) No person shall use on a highway not covered with ice, a vehicle with a chained wheel, unless the wheel rests upon an ice shoe at least six (6) inches wide. (2) Where chains are used on rubber-tired vehicles, the cross chains shall be not more than three-fourths (3/4) of an i…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person shall not operate a vehicle on a highway with an iron, steel, or wooden wheel unless the wheel is equipped with a rubber strip or a rubber compound strip on the portion of the wheel that is in contact with the sur…

No person shall operate on a highway a vehicle that has greater weight on any tire per inch of width of the tire which is in contact with the surface of the highway, than four hundred (400) pounds, for iron or steel tires, or six hundred (600) pounds, for solid rubber or rubber c…

influence for refusing to take test, for being a repeat offender, and for causing accident resulting in death or serious physical injury to another person -- Hearing -- Length of suspension -- When application for ignition interlock license required. (1) The court shall at the ar…

(1) No person shall knowingly operate on any highway any vehicle on which any tire has been regrooved or recut or offer such tire for sale or exchange. (2) This section shall not apply to regrooved or recut vehicle tires which are designed and constructed in such a manner that re…

operated exclusively by automated driving system. (1) As used in this section, "fully autonomous vehicle" and "automated driving system" shall have the same meaning as in KRS 186.760. (2) A fully autonomous vehicle that is designed to be operated exclusively by the automated driv…

(1) No person shall operate on a highway any vehicle, object or contrivance, other than a motor truck or semitrailer truck, which weighs more than fifteen (15) tons, including the weight of the vehicle, object or contrivance and load, except as provided by subsection (2). This sh…

arrest for driving while impaired. When a defendant is arrested upon a charge of violating KRS 189A.010(1), the court clerk shall obtain forthwith the information from the defendant's driving history record and make it a part of the record of the case.

(1) As used in this section, "materials" shall mean cargo, whether divisible or nondivisible, that a motor vehicle transports in the usual and ordinary course of business and shall specifically include, but not be limited to, agricultural products, minerals, or natural resources …

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Appurtenances" means the following devices that do not extend beyond the maximum vehicle width as established in subsection (2) of this section by more than six (6) inches on either side of a recreational vehicle: 1. Hand holds for entry or egres…

In any judicial review of a pretrial suspension imposed for refusal to take an alcohol concentration or substance test under KRS 189A.200(1)(a), if the court determines, by the preponderance of the evidence, that: (1) The person was charged and arrested by a peace officer with vi…

manufactured homes, or vehicles -- Exception. A person shall not operate on any highway, except those highways designated by the secretary of transportation under the provisions of KRS 189.222, or those locally maintained highways under the provisions of KRS 189.222(13) or 189.23…

Exceptions -- Cabinet may promulgate administrative regulations to implement federal regulations -- Restriction of cabinet's enforcement powers on locally maintained roads. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet in re…

The secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, or his or her designee, is hereby authorized to join and negotiate with other states a compact for overdimensional permits. If the secretary joins a compact pursuant to this section, the cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulati…

counties -- Operation of certain overdimensional motor vehicles transporting agricultural commodities or materials authorized on all public roads. (1) In a county that does not have at least ten (10) miles of existing highway designated by the Transportation Cabinet for operation…

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Bill of lading" means a document evidencing the purchase of, or delivery order for, building materials issued by a person engaged in a business that sold or leased the building materials; (b) "Building materials" means equipment or materials asso…

weight. Any peace officer having reason to believe that the height, length, width or weight of any motor truck, semitrailer truck, or trailer, is in excess of the maximum limits prescribed by KRS 189.221 and subsection (1) of 189.222 or permitted by any special permit issued unde…

It is unlawful for the owner, or any other person, employing or otherwise directing the operator of any vehicle, to require or knowingly to permit the operation of such vehicle upon a highway in any manner contrary to law.

Every person who commits, attempts to commit, conspires to commit, or aids or abets in the commission of, any act declared by KRS 189.221 to 189.228 to be a crime, whether individually or in connection with one or more other persons or as a principal, agent, or accessory, shall b…

motor vehicles -- Department of Kentucky State Police powers -- Commercial motor vehicle inspectors. (1) The Department of Highways may take such actions, and may promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A, as are necessary and proper to carry out th…

For the purposes of KRS 189.221 to 189.228, proof of the registration of any vehicle in the name of any person shall be prima facie evidence of ownership of said vehicle by the person in whose name it is registered, and each violation by an owner, whether or not with the same veh…

agreement of persons applying for permit under KRS 189.212. (1) Except as provided in KRS 189.221(6), 189.222, and 189.2226, the department, in respect to state and federal highways, and county judges/executive in respect to county highways, may prescribe, by notice as provided i…

highways. The provisions of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, a vehicle that has a valid registration of a declared gross vehicle weight, including any towed unit, of eighty thousand (80,000) pounds or less shall be exempt from any axle weight provisions when operatin…

(1) The secretary of transportation may install and maintain traffic control devices upon state-maintained highways in such manner as is reasonably necessary to promote the safety and convenience of the traveling public. (2) The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions o…

highway work zones. The secretary of the Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A governing the posting of signs advising motorists that penalties are increased for traffic violations occurring in a highway work zone. The admi…

Definitions -- Procedures -- Administrative regulations. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Automated speed enforcement device" means a photographic, radar, lidar, laser, or other device with one (1) or more vehicle sensors that transmits a vehicle's speed and an image of the rear…

(1) Subject to the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, if a violation of KRS 189.2326, 189.290 to 189.575, or 189.910 to 189.960 occurred in a highway work zone, the fine shall be: (a) 1. Five hundred dollars ($500) if no person is physically injured or dies as a resu…

highway work zones -- Penalty -- Disposition of restitution payments. (1) A person shall not intentionally destroy, remove, injure, or deface a temporary traffic control device erected for the purpose of enhancing traffic safety or worker safety in a highway work zone. A temporar…

The secretary of transportation may, by official order, assume the responsibility for regulating traffic and parking on streets accepted as a part of the state highway system, and may contract with the city or a joint city-county agency for the performance of this function.

In any judicial review of a pretrial suspension imposed under KRS 189A.200(1)(b), if the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) The person was charged and arrested by a peace officer with a violation of KRS 189A.010(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), or (e); (2) The pea…

death or serious physical injury to another person. In any judicial review of a pretrial suspension imposed under KRS 189A.200(1)(c), if the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) The person was charged and arrested by a peace officer with violation of KRS …

Every motor vehicle licensed under KRS 186.050(3) through (14) shall display all plates issued by the county clerk. Except as provided in KRS 186.045, the registration receipt shall be kept in the truck at all times and shall be available for inspection.

(1) "Motor bus" shall mean any motor vehicle designed primarily for the transportation of passengers and having a seating capacity in excess of nine (9) passengers including the driver, provided, however, that transit authorities created pursuant to KRS Chapter 96A are exempt fro…

After June 27, 2019, no new overweight or overdimensional permit, or any new overweight or overdimensional tolerance, for motor carriers shall be granted under this chapter, except that the overweight permit established in KRS 177.985 and 177.986 may be extended until June 30, 20…

(1) (a) The department may issue permits for the operation of motor vehicles, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, boats, or any other vehicle transporting a nondivisible load, whose gross weight including load, height, width, or length exceeds the limits prescribed by this…

commodities weighing between 80,001 and 120,000 pounds -- Administrative regulations. (1) As used in this section, "metal commodities": (a) Means output products from metal-producing industries that are transported in their most basic and original form from a mill or storage faci…

Kentucky riverport -- Width and mileage limitations -- Administrative regulations. (1) As used in this section, "riverport" means a riverport facility established by a riverport authority under KRS 65.520. (2) In order to promote economic development and retain jobs within this s…

specified routes -- Axle-weight limitation -- Administrative regulations. (1) (a) Subject to the provisions of KRS 189.222, the department may promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A governing the issuance of annual permits for the operation of motor veh…

transporting feed for livestock or poultry to a farm or other facility housing livestock or poultry. (1) The department may promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A governing the issuance of annual certificates for the operation of motor vehicles exclusiv…

The District Court where the offense occurred shall have venue and jurisdiction with the courts of this Commonwealth of all prosecutions for violations of the weight provisions of KRS 189.221, 189.222, 189.226, 189.230, 189.270, 189.2713, and 189.2717.

and trailers by cities. (1) KRS 189.221 to 189.230 and 189.280 shall not apply to motor trucks, semitrailer trucks, or trailers owned by the United States, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or any agency of them, any county or city. (2) If any motor truck, semitrailer truck, or trail…

vehicles. After June 29, 2021, and until July 1, 2027: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Local government" means: 1. A city, county, charter county government, urban-county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government that is located within the boundarie…

(1) As used in this section, "low-speed vehicle" shall have the same meaning as in KRS 186.010. (2) A person may operate a low-speed vehicle on a highway if: (a) The vehicle meets the federal motor vehicle safety standards for low-speed vehicles set forth in 49 C.F.R. sec. 571.50…

low-speed vehicle, golf cart, or utility vehicle -- Administrative regulations. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Commercial delivery personnel" means employees of a licensed commercial delivery service; (b) "Golf cart" has the same meaning as in KRS 189.286; (c) "Local governmen…

(1) As used in this section, "alternative-speed motorcycle" shall have the same meaning as in KRS 186.010. (2) A person may operate an alternative-speed motorcycle on a highway if: (a) The motorcycle bears a sticker, affixed by the manufacturer or dealer, on the left side of the …

requirements -- Definitions of motorcycle and moped. (1) A person shall not operate a motorcycle on a highway: (a) Except when that person is in possession of a valid motorcycle operator's license; and (b) Unless that person uses an approved eye-protective device, in the manner p…

Headgear requirements. (1) As used in this section, "motor scooter" has the same meaning as in KRS 186.010. (2) A person may operate a motor scooter on a highway if the operator has a valid motorcycle operator's license or motorcycle instructional permit in his or her possession.…

Ordinance -- Qualifications for operation -- Exemption from title, registration, and emissions compliance requirements -- Preemption by Transportation Cabinet. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Golf cart" means any self-propelled vehicle that: 1. Is designed for the transportatio…