SB368: Bill Text

LRB-0834/1

ARG:jld:rs

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Senate BILL 368

December 21, 2007 - Introduced by Law Revision Committee. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Tourism.

SB368,1,4 An Act to amend 348.07 (2) (gm) and 348.07 (4) of the statutes; relating to: the operation of certain 3-vehicle combinations on certain highways without a permit (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Transportation).

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, with certain exceptions, no person may operate on a highway any single vehicle with an overall length in excess of 40 feet or any combination of two vehicles with an overall length in excess of 65 feet, unless the person has a permit to exceed these lengths. Exceptions allow certain vehicles to be operated with no length limitation or a different length limitation on highways designated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT must designate, by rule, the highways to which these exceptions apply. 2005 Wisconsin Act 363 (Act 363) inadvertently altered this DOT highway designation process for semitrailers or trailers operated as part of a double bottom, which is a combination of three vehicles consisting of a truck tractor, a semitrailer, and a trailer or a truck tractor and two semitrailers.

This bill corrects the error in Act 363 and clarifies that the length exception allowing 28 feet six inch semitrailers or trailers operated as part of a double bottom applies to highways designated by DOT.

For further information, see the Notes provided by the Law Revision Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Law Revision Committee prefatory note: This bill is a remedial legislation proposal, requested by the Department of Transportation and introduced by the Law Revision Committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c) 4., stats. After careful consideration of the various provisions of the bill, the Law Revision Committee has determined that this bill makes minor substantive changes in the statutes, and that these changes are desirable as a matter of public policy.

SB368, s. 1 Section 1. 348.07 (2) (gm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB368,2,3 348.07 (2) (gm) 28 feet 6 inches for a semitrailer or trailer operated as part of a double bottom on a highway designated under sub. (4).

SB368, s. 2 Section 2. 348.07 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB368,3,4 348.07 (4) The secretary shall, by rule, designate the highways to which sub. (2) (f), (fm), (gm), and (gr) and s. 348.08 (1) (e) apply. The designation of highways under this subsection may not be inconsistent with the designation of highways made by the U.S. secretary of transportation under P.L. 97-424, section 411. The secretary may also designate additional highways by rule. In adopting a rule designating other highways, which may include 2-lane highways, the secretary shall specify the factors which resulted in the determination to designate the highways. These factors shall include, but are not limited to, safety, economics, energy savings, industry productivity and competition. Vehicles to which sub. (2) (f), (fm), (gm), and (gr) and s. 348.08 (1) (e) apply may also operate on highways not designated under this subsection for a distance of 15 miles or less in order to obtain access to a highway designated under this subsection or to reach fuel, food, maintenance, repair, rest, staging, terminal or vehicle assembly facilities or points of loading or unloading. The secretary may, by rule, designate an access route of more than 15 miles from a highway designated under this subsection when the longer route provides safer and better access to a location which is within the 15-mile limit. Household goods carriers may operate between highways designated under this subsection and points of loading and unloading.

SB368,3,5 (End)