A person shall not operate a motor truck, except those registered at pleasure car rates and those registered with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,001 pounds, with or without a trailer or semi-trailer attached, or a motor bus, upon a highway outside the lighted area of a town or city, unless there shall be carried in such vehicle, ready at all hours for instant use, three electric flares or three reflector type flares of a type approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. However, if the vehicle is used in the transportation of hazardous material as defined in 5 V.S.A. § 2001(a)(1), three electric flares or three reflector type flares of a type specified in this section shall be carried. (Amended 1981, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2001, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 32, eff. June 21, 2002.)