AB108: Bill Text

LRB-0275/1

PEN:kmg:pg

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly BILL 108

February 8, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Powers, Gronemus, Albers, Seratti and Ott, cosponsored by Senators Burke and Cowles. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB108,1,2 An Act to amend 348.27 (7m) of the statutes; relating to: the order in which vehicles are towed in a three-vehicle combination.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law imposes size limits on vehicles that travel upon the highways. The department of transportation (DOT) may issue permits authorizing the permittee to operate a vehicle that exceeds these limits on vehicle size, weight, or load. One such permit authorizes the on-highway operation of a three-vehicle combination consisting of a towing vehicle and, in order by weight, with the lighter of the towed vehicles as the third vehicle in the three-vehicle combination unless not structurally possible, a mobile home or camping trailer and a boat trailer, motorcycle trailer, personal watercraft trailer, or all-terrain vehicle trailer, if the overall length of the combination of vehicles does not exceed 60 feet and if the towed vehicles are for the use of the operator of the towing vehicle.

This bill eliminates the requirement that the two towed vehicles in a three-vehicle combination be towed in the order of weight. However, DOT retains the authority to impose such reasonable conditions, prerequisite to the granting of such a permit, and to adopt such reasonable rules for the operation of a permittee thereunder as DOT considers necessary for the safety of travel and protection of the highways, which could include a requirement that the permittee tow vehicles in the order of weight.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB108, s. 1 Section 1. 348.27 (7m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,2,15 348.27 (7m) Three-vehicle combinations. The department may issue an annual or consecutive month permit for the movement of a 3-vehicle combination consisting of a towing vehicle and, in order by weight, with the lighter of the towed vehicles as the 3rd vehicle in the 3-vehicle combination unless not structurally possible, a mobile home or camping trailer and a boat trailer, motorcycle trailer, personal watercraft trailer, or all-terrain vehicle trailer, if the overall length of the combination of vehicles does not exceed 60 feet and the towed vehicles are for the use of the operator of the towing vehicle. A permit under this subsection may be issued only by the department, regardless of the highways to be used. The department may designate the routes that may be used by the permittee. The fee for an annual permit under this subsection is $40. The fee for a consecutive month permit under this subsection shall be determined in the manner provided in s. 348.25 (8) (bm), except that the $40 fee for an annual permit under this subsection shall be used in the computation.

AB108,2,16 (End)