SB 135

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

highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles (vehicle) 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 to: 1) transport loads within 11 miles of the Wisconsin-Michigan state line;

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 is traveling between this state and Michigan and does not violate Michigan

law, as of April 28, 2004; or 3) transport certain forest products on USH 2 from STH

13 in the city of Ashland through Hart Lake Road in Bayfield County, regardless of

whether the vehicle is traveling between this state and Michigan.

This bill allows a vehicle operating under a Michigan border permit as provided

in item 2), above, to also operate in Florence County. Also under the bill, the vehicle's

operation must be in compliance with current provisions of Michigan law, rather

than Michigan law as of April 28, 2004.

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 because current law already

allows the same loads to be transported on USH 2 in other counties.