AB 781

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate on 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 highway authority, as applicable.

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.

Current law defines an energy emergency as a period of disruption of energy

supplies which poses a serious risk to the economic well-being, health, or welfare of

the citizens of this state, as certified by executive order of the governor. During an

energy emergency, after consultation with the Department of Administration (DOA),

DOT may authorize, for a period not to exceed 30 days, the operation of overweight

vehicles weighing 50,000 pounds or more and carrying energy resources or fuel or

milk commodities designated by the governor to exceed statutory per-axle weight

limits by up to 10 percent and statutory gross vehicle weight limits by up to 15

percent. For vehicles operating under an overweight or oversize permit, DOT may

also waive the requirement, for issuance of certain permits, that the load being

transported be nondivisible.

Under this bill, during an energy emergency, DOT, after consultation with

DOA, may authorize motor vehicles that have a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or less

and that are transporting propane or heating oil for delivery to residences,

businesses, or other end users to exceed posted special weight limits that have been

imposed in connection with the thawing of frozen highways. A person operating a

motor vehicle under this authorization must, to the extent practicable, deliver

propane or heating oil at times of the day when the highways used are the least

vulnerable.

Under current law, if any bill introduced in either house of the legislature

directly or indirectly establishes an exception to vehicle weight limitations, DOT

must prepare a report, containing specified information, relating to the bill within

six weeks after the bill is introduced and before any vote is taken on the bill. This

bill directs DOT not to prepare such a report on this bill.