Senate Bill 75, which amends the slow moving vehicle statute in Kentucky has survived it’s second step on the senate floor with a 38-0 vote and has now moved on to the House Transportation Committee for its review. If the bill passes through the house committee, it will return to the house floor for a vote. If there are any changes it will return to the senate floor, if there are no changes it will land on the deck of the governor to sign into law.

The bill, which was introduced by six senators Jan. 4, if passed, would amend state law to allow reflective tape to be placed on slow-moving vehicles as opposed to the orange and red triangle that is currently required. The proposal would also amend current state law to allow for an alternative lighting system for motorless vehicles operated on a highway at night.

The amendment states as an alternative to the slow-moving vehicle emblem, one inch-wide white or silver reflective tape may be used on moterless slow-moving vehicles as follows: The rear of the vehicle shall be covered with a minimum of 100 square inches of the reflective tape. The reflective tape on the rear of the vehicle shall, at a minimum, outline the entire rear of the vehicle. Each side of the vehicle shall be covered with a minimum of 36 square inches of reflective tape and the highest point of the left front of the vehicle shall be covered with a minimum of 25 square inches of reflective tape.

Also included are two reflective lanterns, one on either side of the rear of the vehicle, showing white to the front of the vehicle and red to the rear of the vehicle, with the lantern on the left side of the vehicle situated at least 12 inches higher than the lantern on the right.

Logan County’s Senator Joey Pendelton was one of the six senators to step up trying to change the law. He says he is happy the bill is now on it’s way to the next step and feels very confident it will become law soon. According to Pendleton there is an emergency attached to the bill to speed it along considering there are several individual cases in the state involving the Amish community pending the outcome of this bill, five of them being in Logan County.

Although some Old Order Amish in Graves and Logan Counties have refused to adorn the slow moving vehicle emblem of a red/orange reflective triangle, Senator Pendelton stands firm that his involvement is not because he is giving special treatment to one group, but in fact feels reflective tape is much more effective than the triangle that is currently required on slow moving vehicles, including Amish buggies.

“I’ve had a few calls from Logan County asking why I’m giving special treatment to the Amish. This is not why I am for this bill. I have realized the tape works much better than the triangle,” said Pendleton who wasn’t for the bill at first, but then came home and looked at his farm equipment and saw that he had reflective tape on all of it.

Pendleton said he was being a hypocrite and took a step back. He also stated that he would not be for anything that would jeopardize the safety of others, but felt the tape was a better solution and that’s why he changed his mind on the bill, eventually getting on board.