Are farm roads considered highways?

[gunz4life]

I'm building a truck(weekend racer) and it's registered and inspected. The truck has slicks on it. I've been needing to make some adjustments to the suspension and it requires a little bit of driving to test it. I wouldn't go over the speed limit(which is 45). Just a little stop and go for a few feet to see which way the truck pulls after adjustments. Then I need to tune for part throttle driveability. I don't plan on street racing,burning out or doing nasty launches - I know that stuff belongs on the track. Would it be alright to drive my truck on a farm road? Or is the farm road no different than a regular highway. I'm worried that I might get a ticket for slicks, nitrous kit(no bottle), no mirrors, no seatbelts(just 1 safety harness), no emissions gear, and a fuel cell. The place where I want to test/tune is out where nobody lives and I wouldn't be bothering traffic. Thanks for any advice you guys could give me.

[PhilipCal]

In Texas I believe the Farm to Market Roads are maintained by the State or County. (Help us out you Texas Guys/Gals). That would make you subject to the same traffic laws you'd be subject to on any other publicly maintained roadway. In Alabama, we have no Farm to Market Roads by that name, but as a practical matter, most county roads serve that function, as do many state highways. Again, you'd be subject to the same traffic laws as any other motor vehicle. I'm specifically addressing the equipment you stated you don't have on the vehicle. Where you to be stopped by a Trooper, Deputy, or Municipal Officer, it would be pretty much a matter of Officer discretion as to whether or not you were cited for any violation.

[AKA=Cruz]

Farm roads are considered highways..

"Highway or street" means the width between the
boundary lines of a publicly maintained way any part of which is
open to the public for vehicular travel.

§ 225.005. DESIGNATION OF HISTORICAL ROUTE. (a) The
department shall mark with a historical name a farm-to-market or
ranch road that follows a historical route if:
(1) a county historical commission applies to the
Texas Historical Commission and the department for the marking of
the road; and
(2) the Texas Historical Commission certifies that the
name has been in common usage in the area for at least 50 years.
(b) The evidence to support a certification under
Subsection
(a) must:
(1) be submitted by the county historical commission
applying for the designation; and
(2) include an affidavit from each of at least five
longtime residents of the area.
(c) The department shall prepare and install signs along the
road that indicate the road's historical name. The county
historical commission applying for the designation shall pay the
cost of preparing the signs.

[SgtScott31]

Not necessarily a "highway" in TN, but still a "public road." Any road open and accessible to the public is deemed such in my state and all applicable traffic laws apply.

[Northtechsan]

As Cruz stated, in Texas ANY publicly maintained roadway is considered a "highway". Which includes FM roads, County Roads, Residential Streets, State Roads, Limited and Controlled accesses Highways (US Routes, Interstates, and Tollway's/Turnpikes).

The only place you could test your truck without having to worry about getting cited would be a closed track, or on private property. You can test your car on the FM roads, but if your stopped officer discretion would apply and you could be cited.

[gunz4life]

Well lets say one of you guys seen me out there. Like I said, I'd be doing the speed limit, no crazy stuff. Just trying to get the truck driveable. And you stopped me, would you still cite me knowing that I meant no harm and nobody was put in any danger? The truck seems like a regular work truck(except for the sound and the lack of side mirrors and the slicks). I guess what I want to know is do I have a good chance of just being told "go home" or will I most likely get tickets out the wazoo.

[AKA=Cruz]

Well lets say one of you guys seen me out there. Like I said, I'd be doing the speed limit, no crazy stuff. Just trying to get the truck driveable. And you stopped me, would you still cite me knowing that I meant no harm and nobody was put in any danger? The truck seems like a regular work truck(except for the sound and the lack of side mirrors and the slicks). I guess what I want to know is do I have a good chance of just being told "go home" or will I most likely get tickets out the wazoo.

Yes, I would cite you. If you lost control of the vehicle or killed yourself or someone on the road I would have work it has an accident since you where on a public roadway. The roadways are our (LEOs) responsibility to keep safe, not a personal play ground.

[gunz4life]

Yes, I would cite you. If you lost control of the vehicle or killed yourself or someone on the road I would have work it has an accident since you where on a public roadway. The roadways are our (LEOs) responsibility to keep safe, not a personal play ground.

I fully understand that, but what I'm talking about is driving between 5 and 20mph while nobody is on the road. Like I said, I'm not gonna be playing around, just driving normal like everybody else except I'm pulling over in the grass to adjust my suspension and carburetor so the truck drives straight and goes without stumbles or backfires. But I guess overall I'm wrong anyway because the truck is not street legal and shouldn't be on public roadways. Thanks for the answers ya'll.

[NE75]

But I guess overall I'm wrong anyway because the truck is not street legal and shouldn't be on public roadways. Thanks for the answers ya'll.

Bingo. I'm a car guy myself, but my primary concern would be an unlicensed and probably uninsured vehicle on the public roadway.

Here's why you should NEVER do this, EVER... The one time you do it is the one time that you'll be involved in an accident.

And the other driver is going to get a lawyer, and you will get a fistful of citations. Trailer the truck to a Dyno, spend the $200-300 for a dyno tune and $100 on an alignment.

[gunz4life]

The truck is tagged/inspected and insured. I think I'm going to go ahead and put street tires on it and use it to go to work(work is 1/4mile away). At this point the only things that would stand out to an officer is the lack of side mirrors, racing harness instead of seatbelt, and fuel cell under the bed. I trailered the truck up to the track and found out my posi unit was broken, but I ran anyway. It ran 12.8(no nitrous). Thanks for they advice guys.