Title 32 — MOTOR VEHICLES

A person may race a bicycle on a highway when competing in a racing event that has been approved by the Transportation Commission or local authorities on a highway under their jurisdictions. Approval of a bicycle highway racing event may be granted only under conditions that assu…

The transportation commission or local authorities may exempt participants in an approved bicycle highway racing event on a highway under their jurisdiction from compliance with any traffic laws otherwise applicable thereto, provided that traffic control is adequate to assure the…

Source: SL 1982, ch 242 , § 1; SL 1999, ch 210 , § 12; SL 2007, ch 183 , § 1.

No person shall drive or move on any highway any motor vehicle, unless the equipment upon the vehicle is in good working order and adjustment and the vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition as not to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highway. A vio…

The highway patrol officers under the supervision of the superintendent of the Division of Highway Patrol may upon evidence that any motor vehicle is being operated in nonconformance or in violation of any provision of chapters 32-14 to 32-19 , inclusive, or of chapters 32-22 to …

Peace officers are hereby authorized to issue a warning ticket to any driver whose motor vehicle is in violation of any of the provisions of this title. Such warning ticket shall clearly designate the provision of the motor vehicle laws which is being violated and shall provide f…

Each vehicle with a capacity of sixteen or more passengers, including the driver, owned or operated by a nonprofit organization, or privately owned and operated under a contract with a nonprofit organization, and used for the transportation of its members shall be inspected befor…

The Division of Highway Patrol may approve any person who is qualified to perform inspections of large passenger vehicles operated by a nonprofit organization as provided in § 32-21-3.1 to act as an inspector. The Department of Public Safety may promulgate rules, pursuant to chap…

The driver of a motor vehicle shall comply with any lawful order, signal, or direction of a peace officer; submit to any lawful inspection under this chapter, and comply with the provisions or requirements of a warning ticket issued by a peace officer. A violation of this section…

Any person performing an inspection under this chapter shall have been previously approved to act as an inspector by the Division of Highway Patrol. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 2018, ch 194 , § 3.

32-22-2 Movement of load or wide farm machinery during darkness as misdemeanor. 32-22-3 Maximum width of vehicle and load--Violation as misdemeanor--Farm machinery and recreation vehicle exceptions. 32-22-3.1

Combinations of vehicles of not more than three units may be operated upon a public highway if the combinations consist of truck tractor--semitrailer--semitrailer converted to full trailer by use of a dolly equipped with fifth wheel which is considered a part of the trailer for a…

32-22-11 Saddlemount combinations--Compliance with federal requirements--Maximum dimensions--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-22-11.1 Saddlemount combinations with fullmount--Compliance with federal requirements--Maximum dimensions--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-22-12

A motor carrier may transport automobiles and trucks in the method of double saddlemount or triple saddlemount if the carrier complies with the United States Department of Transportation motor carrier safety regulations regarding double and triple saddlemount as adopted by §

A combination of vehicles consisting of a double or triple saddlemount with fullmount, as defined in 23 C.F.R. 658.5 as of January 1, 2006, may be operated upon the highways of this state if the carrier complies with the United States Department of Transportation motor carrier sa…

32-22-12.1 Certain combination exempt--Specifications--Violation as misdemeanor--Rules. 32-22-12.2 Exception for combination of towing motor vehicle or farm tractor and two anhydrous ammonia fertilizer tanks. 32-22-12.3 Exception for combination of towing motor vehicle and two im…

The provisions of §§ 32-22-9 to 32-22-11 , inclusive, do not apply to a combination of vehicles consisting of a towing motor vehicle and two trailers which conform to the specifications contained in this section. In such a combination, the first trailer shall be connected to the …

The provisions of §§ 32-22-9 to 32-22-12.1 , inclusive, do not apply to a combination of vehicles consisting of a towing motor vehicle or farm tractor and two anhydrous ammonia fertilizer tank trailers. The vehicles in such a combination may not exceed a total length of seventy f…

The provisions of §§ 32-22-9 to 32-22-12.1 , inclusive, do not apply to any combination of vehicles consisting of a towing motor vehicle and two implements of husbandry which is being operated by or for a farm implement dealer. The operator of any such combination shall have in p…

Notwithstanding the length restrictions in § 32-22-12.1 , a combination of vehicles consisting of a towing motor vehicle and two trailers or semitrailers transporting light duty and medium duty trailers constituting inventory property of a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer of …

32-22-14 Maximum height of vehicles--Exceptions--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-22-14.1 Exemption of vehicles used to transport farm commodities or implements. 32-22-15

Except for farm machinery and fire department equipment for which there is no maximum height limit and for trailers carrying baledfeed for which the maximum height limit is fifteen feet, no motor vehicle may operate upon a public highway if the maximum height of the vehicle, incl…

A motor vehicle owned by a farmer used to transport his own farm commodities or farm implements is exempt from the size limitations prescribed pursuant to §§ 32-22-3 and 32-22-14 , except for travel on the interstate highway system. Source: SL 1979, ch 226 , § 2; SL 1983, ch 242 …

32-22-16 Maximum weight of vehicle or combination of vehicles--Axles--Misdemeanor. 32-22-16.1 Formula for weight on group of consecutive axles. 32-22-16.2 Application of maximum axle or tire weight limits to vehicle hauling logs--Exception. 32-22-16.3 Limited exemption for certai…

No motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on a public highway may have a weight: (1) In excess of twenty thousand pounds on any one axle, or in excess of the tire weight per inch of tire width prescribed by § 32-22-21 , including all enforcement tolerances; (2) In exc…

For the purposes of § 32-22-16 the maximum gross weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles allowable on a public highway shall be determined by the following formula: W = 500 [LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36] In applying the above formula, "W" equals the overall gross weight on any …

A motor vehicle hauling unfinished logs is not in violation of the maximum axle or tire weight limits set by § 32-22-16 or 32-22-21 if the total gross vehicle weight of the vehicle is within the maximum limits set by §§ 32-22-16 and 32-22-21 and the load is adjusted to the legal …

No vehicle hauling agricultural products from farm storage or livestock from a farm is subject to enforcement action for violations not exceeding the legal limits imposed pursuant to § 32-22-16 or 32-22-21 by more than five percent. However, the vehicle is only exempt pursuant to…

32-22-19 Combination vehicles deemed single for weight purposes. 32-22-20

Any combination of vehicles being operated upon the public highways shall, for the purposes of § 32-22-16 , be deemed to be a single vehicle. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0336 (6) (e) as added by SL 1953, ch 234 ; SL 1957, ch 223 , § 2; SL 1959, ch 260 , § 2; SL 1980, ch 226 , § 9. 32-…

It is a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person to operate or move, or cause to be operated or moved, upon any public highway on the state trunk system, any load, including farm machinery or implements of husbandry, which exceed the width limitations prescribed by § 32-22-3 during the…

32-22-21 Maximum weight per tire and on any axle or combination of axles--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-22-21.1 Single trip permits to move to scale site. 32-22-21.2 Highways to which maximum weight limit applies. 32-22-22 Tire width defined. 32-22-23

The Transportation Commission shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26 , to provide for the issuance of single trip permits by the Division of Highway Patrol to allow a motor vehicle or motor vehicle combination to move to a public or private scale site for the purpose of…

The maximum weight limit as provided by subsection 32-22-21(1)(e) applies to the following highways: (1) The interstate highway system; (2) Any locally designated highway within the corporate limits of any municipality adjacent to the interstate highway system; (3) U.S. Highway 1…

"Tire width," when applied to pneumatic tires, shall mean the diameter of the cross - section of such tires as customarily measured and rated by the manufacturers of motor vehicles and tires. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0336 (6) (e) as added by SL 1943, ch 158 , § 2; SL 1947, ch 192 ;…

32-22-24 Reduced load maximums from February fifteenth to April thirtieth--Extension of period--Changing restrictions--Overweight permits--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-22-25 Reduced weight maximums on specific roads--Notice--Exceeding weight limit as misdemeanor. 32-22-26

The maximum axle and axle group loadings as set forth in § 32-22-16 shall be reduced during the period of each year from February fifteenth to April thirtieth, inclusive. The proper highway authority, responsible for maintenance of the highways, shall set reduced load limits duri…

If, for any reason, the improved highways of this state are rendered incapable of bearing the customary traffic without undue damage, or if it is considered by the Department of Transportation, the board of county commissioners of any county, the board of supervisors of any towns…

32-22-27 Solid or cushion rubber tires--Maximum weight per inch width of tire--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-22-28 Metal wheeled vehicles--Maximum weight--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-22-29 Track vehicles excepted. 32-22-30

No vehicle equipped with solid or cushion rubber tires may be operated upon the highways of this state if the weight of such vehicle or vehicles and load resting upon the surface of the highway exceeds four hundred pounds upon any inch width of such solid or cushion rubber tires …

No vehicle equipped with tires, rollers, or wheels, the rolling surface of which resting upon the highway consists in whole or in part of metal, may be operated upon any highway of this state if the weight of such vehicle or any load thereon or weight of vehicle and load resting …

The provisions of §§ 32-22-27 and 32-22-28 shall not apply to traction engines or tractors, the propulsive power of which is asserted, not through wheels resting upon the ground but by means of a flexible band or chain generally known as a movable track when the portions of the m…

Except for self-propelled or towed farm machinery operated pursuant to § 32-22-3.2 or a recreation vehicle, no motor vehicle may operate upon a public highway if the width, measured at the widest points, either of the vehicle or the load, exceeds one hundred two inches, excluding…

32-22-3.2 Operation of farm implement exceeding width limitations--Restricted hours--Warning lights. 32-22-4

Any farm implement exceeding the width limitations prescribed by § 32-22-3 may be operated during the period of day between one - half hour after sunset and one - half hour before sunrise on the following day on any road not specified in § 32-22-2 , if the equipment has flashing …

32-22-30.1 Construction vehicles and equipment--Operation on highway projects. 32-22-30.2 32-22-30.2 to 32-22-30.6. Repealed by SL 1984, ch 230 , §§ 27 to 31. 32-22-31

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Department of Transportation or county commissioners may permit public and private vehicles and equipment in excess of the weight limitations established in this chapter to be operated on highway construction projects on public …

32-22-31.1 Highway construction vehicles--Inspection of scale tickets for compliance with weight limitations--Reporting offenders. 32-22-31.2 Highway construction vehicles on contract to county, township or municipality--Inspection of scale tickets for compliance with weight limi…

The Department of Transportation may inspect any scale tickets issued by any weigh scale operator for a vehicle being used in connection with the construction, repair, or maintenance of a public highway pursuant to a contract administered by the Department of Transportation for c…

Any county highway superintendent or municipal street superintendent may inspect any scale ticket issued by any weight scale operator for a vehicle being used in connection with removal of construction aggregate from a county - permitted gravel pit or for the construction, repair…