SB 181

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. With exceptions, a permit

may not be issued for transporting oversize loads if the load can be reasonably

divided or reduced to comply with statutory limits. The generally applicable height

limit on highways is 13.5 feet.

This bill allows DOT to issue annual or consecutive month permits for vehicles

or vehicle combinations transporting loads of hay or straw that exceed the statutory

height limitation of 13.5 feet. Every such permit issued by DOT must designate the

route to be used. If the route involves highways that are not state trunk highways,

the permit application must be accompanied by a written statement of route

approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the local highway. DOT may issue

these permits regardless of whether the load being transported is divisible.