(a) General rule.--No vehicle shall be operated on the highway unless the vehicle is equipped with tires of a type, size and construction approved by the department for the vehicle and unless the tires are in a safe operating condition as determined in accordance with regulations of the department, except that commercial implements of husbandry may be equipped with tires marked for nonhighway use.

(b) Vehicles not equipped with pneumatic tires.--It is unlawful for any person to operate or move, or cause or permit to be moved, in contact with any highway any vehicle equipped with traction or road contact surfaces other than pneumatic tires unless of a type, size and construction permitted by regulations of the department and unless the movement is made under specific conditions allowed by regulations of the department.

(c) Ice grips and tire studs.--Tires in which ice grips or tire studs of wear resisting material have been installed which provide resiliency upon contact with the road and which have projections not exceeding two thirty-seconds of an inch beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire shall be permitted between November 1 of each year and April 15 of the following year. The Governor may by executive order extend the time tires with ice grips or tire studs may be used when highway conditions are such that such tires would be a safety factor in traveling Commonwealth highways. The use of tires with ice grips or tire studs contrary to the provisions of this subsection shall be unlawful.

(d) Tire chains.--Tire chains may be temporarily used on vehicles during periods of snow and ice emergency if they are in conformance with regulations promulgated by the department.

(e) Penalty.--

(1) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (c) shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine as indicated in paragraph (2) and, in default of payment thereof, shall undergo imprisonment for not more than 30 days.

(2) Fines for violation of subsection (c) relating to the period of use of ice grips or tire studs shall be determined from the following chart based on the period of unauthorized use:

April 16 to May 31

$35

June 1 to June 30

45

July 1 to July 31

55

August 1 to August 31

55

September 1 to September 30

55

October 1 to October 31

55

(3) Fines for any other violation of subsection (c) shall be determined according to the chart in paragraph (2) except that fines for violations occurring between November 1 to April 15 shall be $10.

(Nov. 10, 1979, P.L.460, No.95, eff. imd.; July 10, 1984, P.L.679, No.146, eff. 60 days; May 20, 1993, P.L.30, No.10, eff. 60 days)

1993 Amendment. Act 10 amended subsec. (a).

1984 Amendment. Act 146 amended subsecs. (c) and (e).