SB 531

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 certain forest products on USH 2 in

Iron County or Ashland County or in Bayfield County from the Ashland County line

through Hart Lake Road, 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 operate solely

within Wisconsin, eliminating the requirement that the vehicle or vehicle

combination be traveling between Wisconsin and Michigan. However, if the vehicle

or vehicle combination is traveling between Wisconsin and Michigan, it is still

subject to the requirement that it not be in violation of Michigan law.

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.