AB151: Bill Text

LRB-1305/4

TNF:kmg:kaf

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 151

February 16, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Ourada, Ainsworth, Albers, Seratti, Rutkowski, Springer, Gronemus, Hubler and Murat, cosponsored by Senators Schultz and Breske. Referred to Committee on Highways and Transportation.

AB151,1,3 An Act to amend 348.15 (3) (br), 348.25 (3), 348.25 (4) (intro.) and 348.27 (1); and to create 348.27 (14) of the statutes; relating to: weight and length limitations for vehicles and combinations of vehicles transporting potatoes.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) may issue annual and consecutive month permits for certain vehicles and combinations of vehicles that exceed size, weight or load limitations. This bill allows DOT to issue annual and consecutive month permits for vehicles or combinations of vehicles transporting loads of potatoes that exceed length or weight limitations over any class of highway except interstate and defense highways. A permit does not authorize the operation of a vehicle or vehicle combination at a maximum gross weight of more than 90,000 pounds.

For a vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds length limitations, the annual permit fee is $60. For an overweight vehicle or combination of vehicles, the annual permit fee is $100.

In addition, the bill permits a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is transporting exclusively potatoes to exceed, without a permit, certain weight limitations on state trunk highways, connecting highways and certain highways under the jurisdiction of local authorities. The overweight vehicle or vehicle combination may not be operated on interstate and defense highways. The bill provides that such vehicle or vehicle combination may have a gross weight of not more than 80,000 pounds, distributed as follows:

1. The gross weight imposed by the wheels of any one axle may not exceed 21,500 pounds.

2. For 2 axles 8 or less feet apart, the gross weight may not exceed 37,000 pounds.

3. For groups of 3 consecutive axles more than 9 feet apart, the gross weight may not exceed a weight of 4,000 pounds over the statutory weight limit for other vehicles having the same number of axles and the same distance between axles.

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:

AB151, s. 1 Section 1. 348.15 (3) (br) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB151,2,10 348.15 (3) (br) In the case of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting exclusively peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise or, in the case of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting exclusively scrap metal or in the case of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting exclusively potatoes, the gross weight imposed on the highway by the wheels of any one axle may not exceed 21,500 pounds or, for 2 axles 8 or less feet apart, 37,000 pounds or, for groups of 3 or more consecutive axles more than 9 feet apart, a weight of 4,000 pounds more than is shown in par. (c), but not to exceed 80,000 pounds. This paragraph does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways.

AB151, s. 2 Section 2. 348.25 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB151,3,2 348.25 (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 (13) (14). 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.

AB151, s. 3 Section 3. 348.25 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB151,3,8 348.25 (4) (intro.) Except as provided under s. 348.26 (5) or (6) or 348.27 (3m), (9), (9m), (9r), (10), (12) or, (13) or (14), 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:

AB151, s. 4 Section 4. 348.27 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB151,3,15 348.27 (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 (13) (14) shall be made upon forms prescribed by the department.

AB151, s. 5 Section 5. 348.27 (14) of the statutes is created to read:

AB151,4,2 348.27 (14) Transportation of potatoes. (a) The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation on a vehicle or combination of vehicles of loads of potatoes exceeding statutory length or weight limitations over any class of highway, except that no vehicle or vehicle combination may exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s. 348.15 (3) (c) by more than 10,000 pounds. A permit issued under this paragraph does not authorize the operation of any vehicle or vehicle combination at a maximum gross weight in excess of 90,000 pounds. The fee for an annual permit under this paragraph is $100. This paragraph does not apply to highways designated as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways.

AB151,4,6 (b) The fee for a consecutive month permit under this subsection for a vehicle or combination of vehicles the weight of which exceeds any of the provisions of s. 348.15 (3) shall be determined in the manner provided in s. 348.25 (8) (bm), except that the fee for an annual permit under par. (a) shall be used in the computation.

AB151,4,7 (End)