SB181: Bill Text

LRB-1107/1

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2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Senate BILL 181

September 13, 2011 - Introduced by Senators Harsdorf, Galloway and Lassa, cosponsored by Representatives Petrowski, Spanbauer and Ripp. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Elections.

SB181,1,3 An Act to amend 348.25 (3), 348.25 (4) (intro.), 348.27 (1) and 348.28 (1); and to create 348.27 (16) of the statutes; relating to: annual or consecutive month permits for vehicles transporting overheight loads of hay or straw.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate upon a highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds certain statutory size or weight limits unless the person obtains a permit issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) or a local authority, as applicable. With exceptions, a permit may not be issued for transporting oversize loads if the load can be reasonably divided or reduced to comply with statutory limits. The generally applicable height limit on highways is 13.5 feet.

This bill allows DOT to issue annual or consecutive month permits for vehicles or vehicle combinations transporting loads of hay or straw that exceed the statutory height limitation of 13.5 feet. Every such permit issued by DOT must designate the route to be used. If the route involves highways that are not state trunk highways, the permit application must be accompanied by a written statement of route approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the local highway. DOT may issue these permits regardless of whether the load being transported is divisible.

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:

SB181, s. 1 Section 1. 348.25 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,2,11 348.25 (3) The department shall prescribe forms for applications for all single trip permits the granting of which is authorized by s. 348.26 and for those annual, consecutive month or multiple trip permits the granting of which is authorized by s. 348.27 (2) and (4) to (15) (16). The department may impose such reasonable conditions prerequisite to the granting of any permit authorized by s. 348.26 or 348.27 and adopt such reasonable rules for the operation of a permittee thereunder as it deems necessary for the safety of travel and protection of the highways. The department may limit use of the highways under any permit issued to specified hours of the day or days of the week. Local officials granting permits may impose such additional reasonable conditions as they deem necessary in view of local conditions.

SB181, s. 2 Section 2. 348.25 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,2,17 348.25 (4) (intro.) Except as provided under s. 348.26 (5), (6), or (7) or 348.27 (3m), (4m), (9), (9m), (9r), (9t), (10), (12), (13), or (15), or (16), permits shall be issued only for the transporting of a single article or vehicle which exceeds statutory size, weight or load limitations and which cannot reasonably be divided or reduced to comply with statutory size, weight or load limitations, except that:

SB181, s. 3 Section 3. 348.27 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,3,3 348.27 (1) Applications. All applications for annual, consecutive month or multiple trip permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles or loads shall be made to the officer or agency designated by this section as having authority to issue the particular permit desired for use of the particular highway in question. All applications under subs. (2) and (4) to (15) (16) shall be made upon forms prescribed by the department.

SB181, s. 4 Section 4. 348.27 (16) of the statutes is created to read:

SB181,3,9 348.27 (16) Transportation of hay or straw. (a) The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of loads of hay or straw on a vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds the height limitations under s. 348.06. Every permit issued under this subsection shall designate the route to be used by the permittee.

SB181,3,13 (b) If the roads desired to be used by an applicant for a permit under this subsection involve highways other than those within the state trunk highway system, the application shall be accompanied by a written statement of route approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the other highway.

SB181, s. 5 Section 5. 348.28 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,3,17 348.28 (1) Permits issued under ss. 348.25, 348.26 and 348.27 (1) to (10), (12) to (13), and (15), and (16) shall be carried on the vehicle during operations so permitted.

SB181, s. 6 Section 6. Effective date.

SB181,3,20 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after publication.

SB181,3,21 (End)