32-19-1
Solid rubber tire vehicles--Tire requirements--Violation as petty offense.
32-19-2
Cleated or spiked rolling surfaces prohibited--Farm machinery excepted--Tire chains
excepted--Violation as petty offense.
32-19-3
Pneumatic tires with metal studs permitted--Limitation--Violation as misdemeanor.
32-19-3.1
Vehicles restricted on state trunk highways during inclement weather--Violation as
misdemeanor.
32-19-3.2
Pneumatic tires with retractable studs permitted--Limitation--Violation as
misdemeanor.
32-19-4
Repealed.
32-19-5
Special permits authorizing operation of traction engines.
32-19-6
Number of vehicles in tow limited--Violation as misdemeanor.
32-19-7
Permitted connection between towing and towed vehicle--Maximum length--Violation as misdemeanor.
32-19-8
Number of towed farm vehicles limited--Violation as petty offense.
32-19-8.1
Repealed.
32-19-9
Chains or cables required in addition to coupling--Fifth wheel and kingpin coupling--Violation as misdemeanor.
32-19-10
Safety chain slack and coupling--Violation as misdemeanor.
32-19-11
Superseded.
32-19-12
Operation with unsafe wheel as misdemeanor.
32-19-13
Operation with cut or worn tire as misdemeanor--Minimum tread.
32-19-1. Solid rubber tire vehicles--Tire requirements--Violation as petty offense.
Every solid rubber tire on a vehicle moved on any highway shall have rubber on its entire traction surface at least one inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery. A violation of this section is a petty offense.
Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0344; SL 1989, ch 255, § 87.
32-19-2. Cleated or spiked rolling surfaces prohibited--Farm machinery excepted--Tire chains excepted--Violation as petty offense.
No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway may have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike, or any other protuberances of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire except that it shall be permissible to use farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway and except also that it shall be permissible to use tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. A violation of this section is a petty offense.
Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0344; SL 1989, ch 255, § 88.
32-19-3. Pneumatic tires with metal studs permitted--Limitation--Violation as misdemeanor.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of §§ 32-19-2 and 32-22-21 and 32-22-22, no person may operate during the time period of May first to September thirtieth of each year, upon the highways of this state, a motor vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires in which there are embedded metal studs or wires of tungsten steel or other similar metal. However, any motor vehicle may be operated during the time period extending from October first to April thirtieth, and a school bus or a fire-fighting vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of over five thousand pounds owned or operated by any unit of local government may be operated anytime with such metal studs. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 1965, ch 206; SL 1980, ch 226, § 7; SL 1981, ch 246; SL 1982, ch 241; SL 1984, ch 230, § 20; SL 1985, ch 255.
32-19-3.1. Vehicles restricted on state trunk highways during inclement weather--Violation as misdemeanor.
Notwithstanding § 32-19-2, the secretary of transportation may restrict public travel upon the state trunk highway system to four-wheel drive vehicles or motor vehicles equipped with tire chains, studded snow tires, or snow tires having a tread of sufficient abrasive or skid-resistant design or composition and depth to provide adequate traction on icy or snow-packed roads. Notice of travel restriction under this section shall be given by placing at the beginning and end and major points of intersection, signs of substantial construction which conspicuously indicate motor vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires when traveling over this highway. Any person operating a motor vehicle not described herein on portions of the state trunk highway system on which travel has been restricted pursuant to this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 1986, ch 252.
32-19-3.2. Pneumatic tires with retractable studs permitted--Limitation--Violation as misdemeanor.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 32-19-3, any motor vehicle with pneumatic tires that features an embedded block, stud, flange, cleat, spike, or other protuberance that is retractable may be used at any time of the year upon the highways of this state. However, no such block, stud, flange, cleat, spike, or other protuberance may be engaged or extended from May first to September thirtieth, inclusive. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 2008, ch 159, § 1.
32-19-5. Special permits authorizing operation of traction engines.
The Department of Transportation and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may in their discretion issue special permits authorizing the operation upon a highway of traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with transverse corrugations upon the periphery of such movable tracks or farm tractors or other farm machinery.
Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0344; SL 1973, ch 2, § 232.
32-19-6. Number of vehicles in tow limited--Violation as misdemeanor.
No motor vehicle may be driven upon any highway drawing or having attached thereto more than one other vehicle, except that two other motor vehicles may be drawn if transported by the driveaway method in saddlemount, as provided by §§ 32-22-10 and 32-22-11, or in a combination of vehicles as provided in § 32-22-12.1. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0345; SL 1955, ch 173; SL 1955, ch 174; SL 1959, ch 260, § 1; SL 1963, ch 263; SL 1982, ch 244, § 3; SL 1989, ch 255, § 89.
32-19-7. Permitted connection between towing and towed vehicle--Maximum length--Violation as misdemeanor.
The drawbar or other connection between any two vehicles, one of which is towing or drawing the other on a highway, shall be of sufficient strength to hold the weight of the towed vehicle on any grade where operated. The towed vehicle shall not whip, weave, or oscillate or fail to follow substantially in the course of the towing vehicle. Whenever such connection consists of a chain, rope, or cable the length of such connection shall not exceed fifteen feet. It is a Class 2 misdemeanor to violate the provisions of this section.
Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0345; SL 1955, ch 173; SL 1955, ch 174; SL 1959, ch 260, § 1; SL 1963, ch 263; SL 1978, ch 229.
32-19-8. Number of towed farm vehicles limited--Violation as petty offense.
A farm tractor, or other type of farm power unit, may draw not to exceed two other vehicles or implements of husbandry upon the public highways of this state, if such equipment is being used exclusively by the farmer for the purpose of transporting to and from his farm agricultural commodities or products, or is being used for agricultural purposes relating to the operation and maintenance of his farm, any other statute notwithstanding. A violation of this section is a petty offense.
Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0345 as added by SL 1955, ch 174; SL 1963, ch 263; SL 1989, ch 255, § 90.
32-19-9. Chains or cables required in addition to coupling--Fifth wheel and kingpin coupling--Violation as misdemeanor.
Every trailer which shall be towed on the public highways at a speed in excess of twenty miles per hour shall be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of a safety chain, chains, cables, or equivalent devices in addition to the regular trailer hitch or coupling. This requirement does not apply to a semitrailer having a connecting device composed of a fifth wheel and kingpin assembly meeting the requirement of the interstate commerce commission, nor to a pole, pipe, casing, log, or piling dolly. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 1963, ch 276, §§ 1, 2; SDCL § 32-19-11.
32-19-10. Safety chain slack and coupling--Violation as misdemeanor.
No more slack shall be left in safety chains, cables, or equivalent devices than shall be necessary to permit proper turning and the safety chains, cables, or equivalent device shall be so connected to the towed and towing vehicle and to the drawbar to prevent the drawbar from dropping to the ground if the drawbar fails and shall be of sufficient strength to control the trailer in event of failure of the regular trailer hitch or coupling. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 1963, ch 276, §§ 1, 2; SDCL § 32-19-11.
32-19-12. Operation with unsafe wheel as misdemeanor.
No person may operate on the public highways of this state a licensed motor vehicle which has a tire rim or wheel assembly which is bent, cracked, or misaligned to a degree so as to affect the safe operation of the vehicle. The bolts, nuts, or lugs of the wheel assembly shall not be bent, loose, or missing. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 1979, ch 220, § 2.
32-19-13. Operation with cut or worn tire as misdemeanor--Minimum tread.
No person may operate on the public highways of this state a licensed motor vehicle which has a mounted tire having a cut into the fabric, or worn so that the fabric is visible, having knots or bulges in the sidewall or tread, or having a minimum tread depth less than two thirty-seconds of an inch on any two adjacent tread grooves. In addition, the tires mounted on the front axle of a motor vehicle of ten passenger or more capacity or exceeding a gross weight of twenty-six thousand pounds shall have a minimum tread depth of not less than three thirty-seconds of an inch on any two adjacent tread grooves. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 1979, ch 220, § 1.
