LRB-3279/1
ARG:jld&emw
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
December 3, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Petrowski and Tiffany, cosponsored
by Representatives Mursau, Czaja, Ripp, Jarchow, A. Ott, R. Brooks, E.
Brooks
, Schraa, Allen and Kulp. Referred to Committee on Transportation
and Veterans Affairs.
SB417,1,3 1An Act to create 348.05 (2) (e), 348.15 (10) and 348.16 (3) (c) of the statutes;
2relating to: the width and weight limits of certain motor vehicles operated on
3a highway.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates vehicle weight and width exceptions allowing limited
operation on the highway of certain logging vehicles without limitation on weight
and with a width of up to 12 feet.
Under current law, unless an exception applies, no person may operate on a
highway, without a permit, any vehicle that exceeds certain statutory size or weight
limits. Unless an exception applies, a person may not, without a permit, operate on
a highway any vehicle having a total width in excess of eight feet six inches.
Statutory weight limits depend in part on the type and configuration of the vehicle.
This bill creates vehicle weight and width exceptions for skidders, forwarders,
harvesters, and wheeled feller bunchers operated for logging purposes and operated
on the highway for a distance of 0.5 miles or less under which these vehicles may be
operated, without a permit, at a width of up to 12 feet and without limitation on
weight if unladen.
Under current law, if any bill introduced in either house of the legislature
directly or indirectly establishes an exception to vehicle weight limits, the
Department of Transportation (DOT) must prepare a report, containing specified
information, relating to the bill within six weeks after the bill is introduced and
before any vote is taken on the bill.

This bill directs DOT not to prepare such a report on this bill.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB417,1 1Section 1. 348.05 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB417,2,52 348.05 (2) (e) Twelve feet for skidders, forwarders, harvesters, and wheeled
3feller bunchers operated for logging purposes and operated on the highway for a
4distance of 0.5 miles or less. This paragraph does not apply on any highway that is
5a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways.
SB417,2 6Section 2. 348.15 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
SB417,2,117 348.15 (10) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (3) (a), (b), and (c), but subject to par. (b),
8there is no weight limitation per wheel, axle, or group of axles, and no gross weight
9limitation, for skidders, forwarders, harvesters, and wheeled feller bunchers
10operated for logging purposes and operated unladen on the highway for a distance
11of 0.5 miles or less.
SB417,2,1412 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply on any highway that is posted with a weight
13limitation as provided in s. 348.17 (1) or that is a part of the national system of
14interstate and defense highways.
SB417,3 15Section 3. 348.16 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB417,2,1816 348.16 (3) (c) Subsection (2) does not apply to the operation of any skidder,
17forwarder, harvester, or wheeled feller buncher under circumstances for which there
18is no weight limitation under s. 348.15 (10).
SB417,4 19Section 4. Nonstatutory provisions.
SB417,3,3
1(1) Notwithstanding section 13.096 (2) of the statutes, the department of
2transportation may not prepare a report on this bill under section 13.096 (2) and (3)
3of the statutes.
SB417,5 4Section 5. Initial applicability.
SB417,3,65 (1) This act first applies to vehicles operated on the effective date of this
6subsection.
SB417,3,77 (End)
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