AB414: Bill Text

LRB-2854/1

ARG:kjf:jf

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 414

June 14, 2007 - Introduced by Representative Sherman, cosponsored by Senator Jauch. Referred to Committee on Forestry.

AB414,1,3 An Act to amend 348.27 (9) (a); and to create 348.01 (2) (ax) of the statutes; relating to: annual or consecutive month permits for vehicles or combinations of vehicles transporting loads near the Wisconsin-Michigan border.

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 limits on size, weight, or load unless that person possesses a permit issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT may issue an annual or consecutive month permit (Michigan border permit) for an oversize or overweight vehicle or combination of vehicles to: 1) transport loads within 11 miles of the Wisconsin-Michigan state line; or 2) transport exclusively peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise on USH 2 in Iron County or Ashland County if the vehicle or vehicle combination is traveling between this state and Michigan and does not violate Michigan law.

This bill allows a vehicle or vehicle combination operating under a Michigan border permit under the circumstances described in item 2), above, to transport wood chips or forestry biomass and to operate the vehicle or vehicle combination on USH 2 in Bayfield County from the Ashland County line through Hart Lake Road.

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:

AB414, s. 1 Section 1. 348.01 (2) (ax) of the statutes is created to read:

AB414,2,2 348.01 (2) (ax) "Forestry biomass" has the meaning given in s. 26.385 (1).

AB414, s. 2 Section 2. 348.27 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB414,2,17 348.27 (9) (a) The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation on a vehicle or combination of vehicles of loads exceeding statutory length or weight limitations over any class of highway for a distance not to exceed 11 miles from the Michigan-Wisconsin state line, except that a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting exclusively peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise, wood chips, or forestry biomass may operate under such a permit anywhere upon USH 2 in Iron County or Ashland County or upon USH 2 in Bayfield County from the Ashland County line through Hart Lake Road if the vehicle or combination of vehicles is traveling between this state and Michigan and does not violate length or weight limitations established, as of April 28, 2004, under Michigan law. If the roads desired to be used by the applicants involve streets or 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.

AB414, s. 3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

AB414,2,20 (1) This act first applies to permits issued on the effective date of this subsection.

AB414,2,21 (End)