Lamont County Enforcement Services

Farm Vehicles and Equipment on Roads As per the Traffic Safety Act and associated regulations, a vehicle used for farming operations is considered a commercial vehicle, and must abide by legislation for commercial vehicles.

This means that farm vehicles over a certain height, weight and width may require a permit when transporting cargo, and all cargo must be properly secured. Vehicles with farm plates are still considered to be commercial vehicles, and must abide by legislation for commercial vehicles.

Disclaimer Lamont County has provided the following information as a resource for our farming community. This information is intended to help the farming community develop an increased understanding of traffic laws in Alberta. It is up to each individual to follow the rules and regulations set out by all current legislation, including the Traffic Safety Act of Alberta, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation of Alberta, and the Commercial Vehicle Dimension & Weight Regulation of Alberta.

For Further information Please Contact: Lamont County Enforcement Services 5303-50 Ave Lamont AB, T0B 2R0 780-895-2233

Published May 2017

by Lamont County

Farm/Commercial Vehicles Classes of Vehicles in Alberta Alberta recognizes two classes of vehicles: 1. Private Passenger 2. Commercial Note: a vehicle used for farming operations is a Class 2 Commercial Vehicle.

What is a commercial vehicle?

A commercial vehicle is a vehicle operated on a highway (including county roads) by or on behalf of a person for the purpose of providing transportation. If a vehicle is used for any type of business, it’s considered a commercial vehicle. Farming has always been a commercial enterprise; therefore, the commercial legislation for weights and dimensions has always applied. This means that farm vehicles over a certain height, weight and width may require a permit when transporting cargo.

Securing and Hauling Hay/Straw The National Safety Code rules for commercial vehicle cargo securement do not apply to farmplated vehicles hauling hay or straw within a 50kilometre radius of the load’s origin.

In order for this exemption to apply, the vehicle must not exceed 80-kilometres per hour. In instances such as these, you will not require a permit, BUT the load must still be properly secured and not overweight.

If the load is not properly secured, you will face a $776 fine. If the cargo is not fully contained within the vehicle, it must still be properly secured using a system (i.e. tie straps) that provides a downward force equal to at 20% of the weight of the cargo.

Farm Plates If your vehicle has farm plates, it is still considered to be a commercial vehicle. Farm plates are used for registration purposes and to distinguish farmers from other industries when purchasing/possessing marked fuel. They do not carry with them any other value or exception related to height, width, weights, permits or securing loads.

Properly Secured loads All commercial vehicles must have properly secured cargo.

Height, Width, and Length Even if a vehicle has farm plates, the load must still be secured during transport to ensure it won’t leak, spill, Requirements blow off, fall from, fall through or otherwise be dislodged Dimensions: If the farm equipment/commercial from the commercial vehicle or shift upon or within the vehicle and its load exceed any or all of the vehicle to such an extent that the commercial vehicle’s following dimensions, you will need a permit: stability is adversely affected. If the load is not properly secured, the driver may face a $776 fine.

• 2.6 meters in width (8.5 feet) • 4.15 meters in height (13.6 feet) • 23 meters in length (75 feet)

Over Dimension Exceptions CVDWR AR 315/2002 (Width exceptions for farm equipment) 6. The provisions of section 4 with respect to the width of a commercial vehicle do not apply to: (a) A rubber tired farm tractor equipped with a dozer blade, if conspicuously displayed on each side of the widest part of the farm tractor, or displayed at the extremities of the blade, there are, (i) When the farm tractor is used during daylight, warning flags and (ii) When the tractor is used during darkness, (A) Warning lights, or (B) Warning flags made of fluorescent material that are adequately illuminated by the farm tractor’s working lights; (b) Farm equipment loaded on a trailer

Implements of Husbandry OLVC AR320/2002 8(1) A person who is less than 14 years old shall not drive an implement of husbandry on a highway (2) A person shall not permit another person who is less than 14 years old to drive an implement of husbandry on a highway.

Legal Weights for Commercial Vehicles  Steering Axle: 5500 kgs power unit or

7300 kgs truck

(i) During daylight, if warning flags are displayed at the widest part of the vehicle or load, or

 Single Axle: 9100 kgs

(ii) During darkness, if warning lights are displayed at the widest part of the vehicle or load;

 Tridem Axle: 24000 kgs

(c) Any other farm equipment (i) During daylight, or (ii) During darkness, if warning lights are displayed at the widest part of the vehicle or load

Legal Weights for Farm Trailers 

Farm trailers fall under quantum axle groups



9100 kilograms for a quantum axle group consisting of 2 axles



17 000 kilograms for a quantum axle group consisting of 3 or more axles with 12 or more tires



15 000 kilograms for a quantum axle group consisting of 3 or more axles with fewer than 12 tires

Weights, Permits, Road Bans Please note that Alberta Weights, permits, and road bans are only valid on provincial highways and roads.

Additional permits may be required, and weights and road bans must be compiled with each respective municipality and county travelling through.

 Tandem Axle: 17 000 kgs

Flotation Tires CSVR AR121/2009 32 (1) in this section and sections 33 to 36 (h) “self-propelled floater implement of husbandry” means a motor vehicle that is designed, adapted or modified exclusively for the field application of fertilizers. (i) 36 Self propelled floater implement of husbandry. No person shall operate a self-propelled floater implement of husbandry on a paved highway at any time during which the implement is carrying a load.

Trip Inspection Reports for Farm Plated Vehicles CSVR AR121/2009 Written pre-trip inspection reports are NOT required to be produced to a Peace Officer when stopped.

However, every vehicle registered over 4500 kgs must complete a trip inspection before operating their vehicle for the day.

Daily Trip Inspection Requirements CVSR AR121/2009 10 (2) Unless otherwise provided in this Regulation, an owner or carrier shall not permit a driver to drive, and a driver shall not drive, a commercial vehicle unless (a) The commercial vehicle has been inspected in accordance with the daily trip inspection requirements set out in this section; and (b) No major defect was detected in the vehicle during the daily trip inspection referred to in clause (a)

Log Books For Farm Plated Vehicles Log Books are NOT required for farm vehicles operated within the Province. However, log books for farm vehicles may be required in other jurisdictions.

CVIP’s for Farm Plated Vehicles CVIP’s or annual mechanical inspections are NOT required on farm plated vehicles. However, farm vehicles are legislated to be in the same working order as every other commercial vehicle on the road.

Provincial Road Ban 1-855-ROADBAN (1-855-762-3226)

Alberta Central Permit Office 1-800-662-7138

Dangerous Goods 1-800-272-9600

All Laws are subject to change. Please refer to the most current laws.

For the full Traffic Safety Act, Visit www.qp.alberta.ca

Lamont County Public Works 780-895-2547 Toll Free: 1-866-895-2547

Trespassing and ATVs Lamont County ASB and Emergency Services would like to make the following notice to those who use recreational vehicles (offroad vehicles, ATVs, side-by-sides, and RTVs): With the current wet and muddy conditions, out of consideration for land owners and to reduce soil borne disease transfer, do not enter premises without consent.

The Alberta Clubroot Management Plan best management practices state that the reduction of soil transfer by minimizing vehicle and equipment traffic to and from fields can decrease the risk of clubroot spread.

Lamont County ASB address:

553004A—Hwy 831, Lamont AB, T0B 2R0

Phone:

780.895.2585 (office) 780.895.2892 (fax)

Email:

ASB@lamontcounty.ca

Web:

www.lamontcounty.ca/ Agricultural-Services

The Province of Alberta, Petty Trespass Act, Section 2.1 (1) states: Entry on land may be prohibited by notice to that effect, and entry is prohibited without any notice on land a)

that is a lawn, garden or land that is under cultivation,

b)

that is surrounded by a fence, a natural boundary or a combination of a fence and a natural boundary, or

c)

that is enclosed in a manner that indicates the owner’s or occupier’s intention to keep persons off the land or to keep animals on the land.

Entry onto someone’s land without permission can be considered trespassing, and carries a fine of $1000 for the first offense, and $2000 for each additional offense. Please obtain a landowner’s permission before using their land.

Regulated weeds most likely to be found within Lamont County:

Noxious: Scentless Chamomile

Weeds In Alberta Alberta is a beautiful place, so there’s no question as to why legislation has long been put in place to protect its valuable assets from invasive species.

Weed Control Act of Alberta  1865: Canada Thistle Act of Upper Canada  1907: Noxious Weeds Act

Woolly Burdock

 1972, 1979: Alberta Weed Act

Common Mullein

Weed Designation

White Cockle

Canada Thistle

Dame’s Rocket

 2010: Alberta Weed Act (most recent revision)

Countless hours of research about weeds has been completed, which has helped classify weeds by the threat they pose to us. There are two weed designations under the Alberta Weed Act: Prohibited Noxious - These weeds pose a serious threat to Agriculture and the environment and as such, must be eradicated. These weeds are capable of very rapid spread, are extremely competitive and can quickly destroy native vegetation and crops.

Noxious - These weeds are highly invasive, can pose a significant threat to agriculture and the environment. They can quickly out compete native vegetation and crops. Many noxious weeds are also toxic to domestic animals and wildlife. Noxious weeds must be controlled.

Perennial Sowthistle

Protecting What We Have Tall Buttercup

Weed control work is necessary, even on small infestations, in order to prevent them from spreading and becoming more difficult to control. We encourage you to review the weed fact sheets at www.abinvasives.ca, and consider one or more of the control options provided.

Toadflax

Oxeye Daisy

Tansy

Prohibited Noxious: Hoary Alyssum A few of the many Scentless Chamomile bags picked on a creek.

Landowner Responsibility We all have a vested interest in controlling these weeds, and all landowners are responsible for taking action to ensure weed populations are controlled and do not increase. Noxious weeds will continue to spread unless we collectively make a concerted effort to control them. Mandatory control work by all landowners is the most effective way to stop the spread of these plants.

If noxious weeds are found on properties, Lamont County will: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Contact landowner via phone or Introductory Letter Non-compliance letter if no action Follow up in person or via phone Issue Weed Notice according to Weed Control Act—control action required or will be done by the county, at the landowner’s expense

If prohibited noxious weeds are found on properties, Lamont County will: 1. Contact landowner to make aware of prohibited noxious weeds 2. Issue Mandatory Weed Notice according to Weed Control Act—control action required or will be done at landowners expense by the county

Thank you for your cooperation!

Rental Equipment Available The Agriculture Service Department has rental equipment available to help you with livestock and weed management. All equipment requires a deposit at time of rental. Equipment availability can be found by calling Bonnie at (780) 895-2585.     

Trailer Sprayer (4 acres/tank) - $50.00/day Pasture/Range Sprayer (40 acres/tank) - $50.00/day Morand Cattle Squeeze—$50.00/day Morand Cattle Squeeze with Palp—$50.00/day Paul Scale - $20.00/day

Weed Inspectors Under the Alberta Weed Act, the County must employ weed inspectors to inspect all land within its jurisdiction.

Inspectors will attempt to make contact with residents when possible. Once appointed, inspectors have the legal right to enter on any land, provided it is during reasonable hours. A person shall not willfully obstruct an inspector, as this is a offence that is finable under the act.

Weed Inspection Report Once a property had been inspected a report is made. This report includes property owner, legal land description, inspection notes and if any regulated weeds were found they are marked out in a orange polygon (shape) which highlights the location(s) of weeds found within the property.

Let Us Help!

Weed control can be a daunting task.

Lamont County recognizes this, which is why we have put in place a program to assist landowners: Reverse-Fenceline Agreement : An agreement between the County and landowner that allows us to spray regulated weeds found along the property edge and Municipal Right of Way. Free of Charge