(a) General rule.--No person shall hang onto or ride on the outside or the rear end of any vehicle and no person on a pedalcycle, motorcycle, roller skates, sled or any similar device, shall hold fast to or attach the device to any moving vehicle or streetcar, and no operator of a vehicle or streetcar shall knowingly permit any person to hang onto or ride on the outside or rear end of the vehicle or streetcar operated, or allow any person on a pedalcycle, motorcycle, roller skates, sled or any similar device to hold fast or attach the device to the vehicle or streetcar operated on any highway.
(b) Exceptions.--This section is not applicable to firemen or garbage collectors or operators of fire trucks or garbage trucks or employees of public utility companies acting pursuant to and during the course of their duties or to other persons exempted by department regulations from the application of this section. This section does not prohibit attaching a trailer or semitrailer to a pedalcycle.