LRB-4841/1
EVM:kjf
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
December 7, 2017 - Introduced by Senator Tiffany, cosponsored by Representative
Swearingen. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
SB638,1,4 1An Act to repeal 348.15 (11); and to create 348.27 (9) (a) 3. g. and 348.27 (9) (a)
23. h. of the statutes; relating to: vehicle weight limits, and permits for vehicles
3transporting certain loads, on certain state trunk highways in Ashland County
4and Vilas County.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill eliminates a special vehicle weight provision that applies only on
portions of STH 13 in Ashland County and STH 70 in Vilas County and adds these
highway routes to the group of highway routes for which the Department of
Transportation may issue Michigan border permits.
Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate on a
highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles (vehicles) that exceeds certain
statutory limits on size, weight, or load unless that person possesses a permit issued
by DOT. 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, the 2017 Biennial Budget Act, established a special
weight limit that applies only to vehicles 1) that have 11 axles; 2) that are
transporting exclusively forest products or lumber; and 3) that are being operated
on certain portions of STH 13 in Ashland County or STH 70 in Vilas County.
Specifically, these vehicles are subject to a maximum weight limit of 164,000 pounds,
but no per wheel, axle, or group of axles weight limit is provided for these vehicles.
Also under current law, DOT may issue an annual or consecutive month permit
(Michigan border permit) for an oversize or overweight vehicle to 1) transport loads
within 11 miles of the Wisconsin-Michigan state line; 2) transport certain forest
products on portions of USH 2, if the vehicle does not violate Michigan law; and 3)

transport certain forest products on specified highway routes. This bill allows a
vehicle operating under a Michigan border permit as provided in item 3, above, to
operate on portions of STH 13 in Ashland County and STH 70 in Vilas County.
Because this bill concerns an exception to the vehicle weight limits specified in
ch. 348, stats., the Department of Transportation, as required by law, will prepare
a report to be printed as an appendix to 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:
SB638,1 1Section 1. 348.15 (11) of the statutes, as created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is
2repealed.
SB638,2 3Section 2. 348.27 (9) (a) 3. g. of the statutes is created to read:
SB638,2,54 348.27 (9) (a) 3. g. STH 13, from the junction of USH 2 and STH 13 in the city
5of Ashland to the intersection of STH 13 and Old Airport Road in Ashland County.
SB638,3 6Section 3. 348.27 (9) (a) 3. h. of the statutes is created to read:
SB638,2,87 348.27 (9) (a) 3. h. STH 70, from the junction of STH 70 and USH 45 in the city
8of Eagle River to the junction of STH 70 and USH 51 in Vilas County.
SB638,2,99 (End)
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