LRB-4055/1
ARG:eev:rs
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
January 22, 2014 - Introduced by Representatives Kulp, Murtha and Ripp,
cosponsored by Senator Petrowski. Referred to Committee on
Transportation.
AB647,1,4 1An Act to renumber and amend 348.27 (11m) (a); to amend 348.27 (11m) (b);
2and to create 348.01 (2) (bu) and 348.27 (11m) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes;
3relating to: agricultural emergency permits issued by the Department of
4Transportation for vehicles transporting oversize loads.
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. The generally applicable
width limit on highways, without a permit, is 8 feet 6 inches, subject to numerous
exceptions. The generally applicable height limit on highways, without a permit, is
13 feet 6 inches, subject to limited exceptions.
Current law allows DOT, upon determination by the Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection that an agricultural emergency exists,
to issue permits (agricultural emergency permits) authorizing vehicles transporting
any of the following loads to exceed the generally applicable width limitation of 8 feet
6 inches if the total outside width does not exceed 12 feet: 1) hay in bales; and 2) from
September 15 to December 15 of each year, Christmas trees from the point of
harvesting or staging to a Christmas tree yard or point of commercial shipment.
However, this authorization is limited to the operation of commercial motor vehicles
on interstate highways.

This bill modifies the agricultural emergency permit issued by DOT. Under the
bill, an agricultural emergency permit may also be issued for vehicles transporting
baled straw, cornstalks, or stover if the straw, cornstalks, or stover is to be used for
feed or bedding. Baled hay also may be transported under the permit only if the hay
is to be used for feed or bedding. In addition, an agricultural emergency permit also
authorizes the operation of vehicles up to 14 feet 6 inches tall and 12 feet 5 inches
wide and is not limited to the operation of commercial motor vehicles on interstate
highways.
For further information see the state 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:
AB647,1 1Section 1. 348.01 (2) (bu) of the statutes is created to read:
AB647,2,32 348.01 (2) (bu) "Stover" means the leaves and stalks of field crops, such as corn,
3sorghum, or soybean, that are commonly left in a field after harvesting the grain.
AB647,2 4Section 2. 348.27 (11m) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 348.27 (11m) (a)
5(intro.) and amended to read:
AB647,2,156 348.27 (11m) (a) (intro.) If the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer
7protection determines that an agricultural emergency exists, the secretary of
8transportation may authorize the issuance of permits to allow vehicles that are
9transporting any of the following loads of hay in bales and, from September 15 to
10December 15 of each year, loads of Christmas trees from the point of harvesting or
11staging to a Christmas tree yard or point of commercial shipment
to exceed the width
12limitation under s. 348.05 (1) if the total outside width does not exceed 12 feet. This
13authorization is limited to the operation of commercial motor vehicles upon routes
14of the national system of interstate and defense highways.
5 inches and the height
15does not exceed 14 feet 6 inches:
AB647,3 16Section 3. 348.27 (11m) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:
AB647,3,2
1348.27 (11m) (a) 1. Baled hay, baled straw, baled cornstalks, or baled stover if
2the hay, straw, cornstalks, or stover is to be used for feed or bedding.
AB647,3,53 2. From September 15 to December 15 of each year, Christmas trees from the
4point of harvesting or staging to a Christmas tree yard or point of commercial
5shipment.
AB647,4 6Section 4. 348.27 (11m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB647,3,107 348.27 (11m) (b) In authorizing the issuance of permits under this subsection,
8the secretary of transportation shall specify in writing the factors which resulted in
9the determination to issue permits under this subsection. The factors shall include
10the effect of the increased width size limits on highway safety.
AB647,3,1111 (End)
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