Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Country Fire Authority Act 1958 - SECT 50

Required safety features of motor vehicles driven during fire danger period near crops

50. Required safety features of motor vehicles driven during fire danger
period near crops













(1) In the country area of Victoria a person shall not drive or operate a
vehicle propelled by internal combustion (other than a vehicle referred to in
subsection (2)) so that the vehicle is in contact with any crop, grass,
stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation unless the vehicle is fitted
with an efficient silencing device so constructed that all the exhaust from
the engine of the vehicle passes through the silencing device.

Penalty: 10 penalty units.

(2) In the country area of Victoria a person must not drive or operate a
tractor or a self-propelled farm machine or a traction engine or an
earth-moving, excavating or road-making machine propelled by or incorporating
a heat engine within nine metres of or in contact with any crop, grass,
stubble, weeds, undergrowth or vegetation unless the tractor, traction engine
or machine-

   (a)  is free from faults and mechanical defects which would tend to cause
        an outbreak of fire; and

   (b)  is fitted with a spark arrester; and



   (c)  carries the prescribed fire suppression equipment during a fire danger
        period.

Penalty: 10 penalty units.

(3) A person operating a tractor, traction engine or machine referred to in
subsection (2) must maintain the spark arrester in proper working order so as
to prevent the discharge of exhaust particles which may tend to cause an
outbreak of fire.

Penalty: 10 penalty units.

(4) A person must not fit a spark arrester to a tractor, traction engine or
machine referred to in subsection (2) unless the spark arrester complies with
the standard prescribed under subsection (5).

Penalty: 10 penalty units.

(5) A person must not sell a tractor, traction engine or machine unless it is
fitted with a spark arrester which complies with the relevant Standards
Association of Australia standard prescribed for the purposes of this
subsection.

Penalty: 10 penalty units.

(6) The Chief Officer may exempt a person from compliance with subsection
(2)(c) where in the opinion of the Chief Officer the circumstances surrounding
the operation of the tractor, traction engine or machine warrant it.

(7) Nothing in this section requires a tractor, engine or machine referred to
in subsection (2) which is fitted with a turbocharger or an exhaust aspirated
air-cleaner to be fitted with a spark arrester.



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