Title 32, MOTOR VEHICLES

No downgrade may occur if before the department completes and records the downgrade on the commercial driver license information system driver record, the department receives notification that pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 382.503(a) (October 7, 2021), the commercial learner’s permit h…

After the department completes and records the downgrade of the commercial driver license information system driver record, if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration notifies the department that pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 382.503(a) (October 7, 2021), a driver is no longer …

After the department completes and records the downgrade of the driver record on the commercial driver license information system, and if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration notifies the department that the driver was erroneously identified as prohibited from operatin…

No person may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways of this state while that person's operator's license or privilege to drive a commercial motor vehicle is suspended, revoked, cancelled, or while subject to a disqualification. A violation of this section is a Class 1 …

No person may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways of this state while the person or the commercial motor vehicle is subject to any out-of-service order. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The court shall order any person convicted for a violation o…

No person may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways of this state while the motor carrier operation employing the person is subject to any out-of-service order. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 2022, ch 95 , § 2.

The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter: (1) Operators involved in farm to market transportation movements, at least sixteen years of age holding a valid operator's license, limited to those operators of a farm vehicle: (a) Controlled and operated by a farmer…

The Governor shall administer the highway safety program within this state and authorize, direct, and coordinate existing and future activities of agencies of this state and its political subdivisions in the program. The Governor shall do all things necessary to the administratio…

Subject to the provisions of § 32-13-1 , the political subdivisions of this state are hereby authorized and empowered to participate in said state and federal highway safety programs and do all acts necessary to carry out the purposes thereof. Source: SL 1967, ch 120 , § 2.

Terms used in chapters 32-14 to 32-19 , inclusive, 32-12 and 32-22 to 32-34 , inclusive, mean: (1) "Alcoholic beverage," as that term is defined by subdivision 35-1-1 (1); (2) "Authorized emergency vehicle," a vehicle of a fire department, a police vehicle, an ambulance or emerge…

No person may occupy a house trailer or a recreational vehicle as defined by § 32-3-1 while it is being towed. A violation of this section is a petty offense. This section does not apply to a recreational vehicle being towed by a truck, truck tractor, or pickup with a fifth - whe…

The provisions of §§ 32-22-2 and 32-22-3 do not apply to any road grader, snowplow, or snow removal equipment which does not exceed a width of thirteen feet and ten inches and which is being operated under contract to, or leased by, the state, a county, a township, municipality, …

For the purposes of §§ 32-14-14 to 32-14-16 , inclusive, the term, golf cart, means a four wheeled vehicle originally and specifically designed and intended to transport one or more individuals and golf clubs for the purpose of playing the game of golf on a golf course. Source: S…

Notwithstanding § 32-14-15 , any municipality or township with an unincorporated town may adopt, by ordinance, traffic regulations permitting the use of golf carts on a highway within its platted boundaries. The ordinance shall require that the golf cart is insured and the person…

Except as provided in § 32-14-15.1 , no person may operate a golf cart on a state or county highway except for crossing from one side of the highway to the other . A golf cart may cross the highway at a right angle, but only after stopping and yielding the right-of-way to all app…

Any person may operate a golf cart on a state or county highway if the posted speed limit is twenty-five miles per hour or less. Nothing in this section relieves golf cart operators of any statutory requirements associated with motor vehicle operation within this state. Source: S…

For the purposes of § 32-14-14 , the term, municipality, means any municipality organized pursuant to Title 9 and any improvement district established by a county pursuant to chapter 7-25A . A county may adopt, by ordinance, regulations to enforce and administer the provisions of…

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "multi-passenger quadricycle" means a vehicle equipped with fully operative pedals for propulsion by means of human muscular power exclusively. The vehicle must be: (1) Equipped with at least four wheels and is operated in a manner simil…

Unless otherwise allowed by a municipality, a multi-passenger quadricycle may not be operated on any bicycle path or multi-use path. Source: SL 2024, ch 118 , § 2.

An owner of a multi-passenger quadricycle must maintain financial responsibility as required by subdivisions 32-35-113 (1) and (4). Source: SL 2024, ch 118 , § 3.

The provisions of chapters 32-14 to 32-19 , inclusive, and of chapters 32-22 to 32-34 , inclusive, applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highways, shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by this state or any county, municipality, district, or any oth…

Local authorities, except as expressly authorized by chapter 32-25 and § 32-29-2 , may not alter any speed limitations declared in chapter 32-25 or enact or enforce any ordinance, charter provision, or bylaw duplicating the provisions of chapter 32-23 or enact or enforce any rule…

Local authorities may also regulate the speed of vehicles in public parks and shall erect at all entrances to such parks adequate signs giving notice of any such special speed regulations. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0334. 32-14-5 . Traffic control devices--One - way traffic--Processi…

Local authorities may provide by ordinance for the regulation of traffic on highways under their jurisdiction by means of traffic officers or traffic control devices on any portion of the highway where traffic is heavy or continuous or local authorities may prohibit other than on…

Local authorities, including road districts, may by ordinance or resolution prohibit the operation of vehicles upon any highway or impose restrictions as to the weight of vehicles allowed. Such prohibitions or restrictions apply only to vehicles to be operated upon any highway un…

Local authorities, including road districts, may by ordinance or resolution prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles or impose limitations as to the weights of such vehicles on designated highways. The prohibitions and limitations shall be designated by appro…

The provisions of chapters 32-14 to 32-19 , inclusive, 32-22 and of 32-26 to 32-32 , inclusive, do not apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles, and other equipment while actually engaged in work upon the surface of a highway, but shall apply to such persons and vehicles when trav…

Nothing in chapters 32-14 to 32-19 , inclusive, or in chapters 32-22 to 32-34 , inclusive, shall be construed to prevent the owner of real property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel by permission of the owner and not as a matter of right from prohibiting such us…

No person shall operate any vehicle, including, but not limited to, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and all - terrain vehicles, upon any private land without permission from the owner or lessee of such land. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a vehicle used on a highway …

It is a petty offense to register in this state a motor vehicle, except motorcycles, manufactured on or after July 1, 1953, unless it is equipped with safety glass or safety glazing material in all partitions, doors, windows, windshields, or wind deflectors. The Department of Rev…

Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of at least two hundred feet. A violation of this section is a petty offense. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0347…

It is a Class 2 misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided in § 32-15-12 , for any vehicle to be equipped with or for any person to use upon a vehicle any siren, or any compression or spark plug whistle, or any exhaust horn, or whistle which does not produce a harmonious sound, or…

Every police and fire department and fire patrol vehicle and every ambulance used for emergency calls shall be equipped with a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0347; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 32.

It is a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person to sell or offer for sale any new motor vehicle, excepting motorcycles, farm tractors, and vehicles used primarily for the distribution and application of agricultural fertilizer or chemicals, when drawn by another vehicle, unless it is …

Any silage truck or seasonal farm truck, licensed under the provisions of § 32-5-97.1 and having a gross vehicle weight of six to twenty tons, shall be exempt from the provisions of §§ 32-15-1 , 32-15-2 , 32-15-5 , 32-15-7 , 32-15-10 , and 32-15-13 ; provided, however, such motor…

No person may drive a motor vehicle on a highway unless the motor vehicle is equipped with an exhaust system and a muffler both in good working condition and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. Exhaust systems on passenger or passenger - carrying vehicles…

No person may drive or move any vehicle on any highway unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0350; S…

It is a petty offense for any person to replace any glass or glazing materials used in partitions, doors, windows, windshields, or wind deflectors in any motor vehicle with any material other than safety glass. Source: SL 1953, ch 243 , § 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 44.0102-1; SL 1978, c…

Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with an approved laminated safety glass windshield. The windshield shall be in such position that it affords continuous horizontal frontal protection to the driver and front seat occupants. The minimum vertical height of the unobstructed wind…

Any testing equipment used to enforce § 32-15-2.4 or 32-15-2.5 shall be used in compliance with the meter manufacturer's testing procedures. The law enforcement officer shall note on any citation for a violation of § 32-15-2.4 or § 32-15-2.5 the serial number of the meter used an…

No glass or glazing material, at any location where it is used, may be cracked or broken so as to cut or injure any person in or around the vehicle. Source: SL 1978, ch 228 , § 2.

No glass or glazing material may be cracked, broken, shattered, or distorted to the extent that it significantly impairs the vision of the motor vehicle operator. Source: SL 1978, ch 228 , § 3.

No motor vehicle required to be registered in this state and which is operated on the highways of this state may be equipped with one - way glass or any adhesive film or other glaze or application on or in the front windshield, side wing vents, or side windows on either side forw…

No motor vehicle required to be registered in this state and which is operated on the highways of this state may be equipped with one - way glass, adhesive film, or other glaze in the rear windows behind the operators seat that reduces light transmission below twenty percent, wit…

Terms used in this chapter mean: (1) "Light transmission," the ratio of the amount of total light to pass through a product or material to the amount of total light falling on the product or material and the glazing; (2) "Dealer," any person who engages in the manufacture of or i…

Each manufacturer of film, glaze, or other application for a motor vehicle windshield or window shall certify to the Department of Public Safety that the film, glaze, or application the manufacturer makes or installs complies with the light transmission specifications of §§ 32-15…