SB 322

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate on a

highway any vehicle or vehicle combination that exceeds certain statutory weight

limits unless the person obtains a permit issued by the Department of

Transportation (DOT) or a local highway authority. In issuing an overweight permit,

DOT may impose reasonable conditions and restrictions on the permittee as DOT

deems necessary for the safety of travel and protection of the highways.

Under current law, DOT may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the

transportation of raw forest products in vehicle combinations having a gross weight

not exceeding 98,000 pounds if the vehicle combination has six or more axles and

meets other criteria (RS permit). "Raw forest products" includes logs, poles,

cordwood, wood chips, sawdust, and pulpwood. A vehicle combination operated

under an RS permit is subject to certain operating restrictions, including that it

cannot be operated on an interstate highway or any highway or bridge with a posted

weight limit that is less than the vehicle combination's gross weight, except as

described immediately below.

Also under current law, DOT or a local highway authority may impose special

weight limits on highways that, because of weakness of the roadbed due to

deterioration or climatic conditions or other special or temporary conditions, would

likely be seriously damaged or destroyed in the absence of the special limits. If

special weight limits are imposed, the limits must be posted by highway signs along

the affected highways. The special weight limits apply regardless of whether a

vehicle is being operated under an overweight permit unless the permit expressly

authorizes the special weight limits to be exceeded. When DOT issues an RS permit,

the RS permit must expressly authorize the vehicle combination to exceed, on state

trunk highways and state trunk highway routes designated as connecting highways,

any special weight limits posted in connection with the thawing of frozen highways.

Under this bill, an RS permit issued by DOT may not contain any condition or

limitation imposed by DOT in connection with the thawing of frozen highways that

are not state trunk highways or connecting highways, except that the operation of

the vehicle combination under the RS permit is subject to posted weight limits on

these local highways.