Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 9.

Present law requires that motor vehicles and trailers carrying loads of logs, long pulpwood, poles, or posts that protrude four feet or more from the rear of the vehicle must use a flashing light and red flag to identify the back of the load from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and all other times when lights are required to be displayed. This bill makes the flashing light and flag requirements applicable at all times and authorizes the use of an orange flag instead of a red flag for motor vehicles and trailers carrying loads of logs or long pulpwood that protrude four feet or more from the rear of the vehicle. The light requirements for motor vehicles and trailers carrying loads of poles or posts that protrude four feet or more from the rear of the vehicle will remain the same as under present law, although this bill authorizes the use of an orange flag in place of a red flag on such loads. ON MARCH 21, 2022, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2208, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes this bill's requirements for use of flashing lights and/or a flag for motor vehicles and trailers carrying loads of logs or long pulpwood applicable to motor vehicles and trailers carrying loads of poles or posts that protrude four feet or more from the rear of the vehicle, so that the requirements will be uniform for all such loads. This amendment specifies that from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise, and at all other times when lights are required to be displayed, the blinking light and a flag will be required to mark such loads. During daylight hours when lights are not required to be used, this amendment authorizes the use of a blinking light or two red or orange flags to mark the load.