HEATING FUEL/UTILITY VEHICLES H.B. 5637 (S-3): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5637 (Substitute S-3 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Jerry O. Kooiman
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:
-- Provide an exemption from seasonal weight restrictions for vehicles hauling heating fuel.
-- Provide for an annual permit for nonemergency public utility work and nonemergency transport and delivery of heating fuel.
-- Revise the process by which a public utility may obtain from a county road commission a permit to operate a public utility vehicle in excess of seasonal load limits.
The Code prescribes maximum axle loads for various configurations of vehicles, which must be reduced during March, April, and May. The seasonal load restrictions do not apply to vehicles transporting agricultural commodities or to public utility vehicles on a highway, road, or street under the jurisdiction of a local road agency, if the county road commission is notified at least 48 hours in advance and issues a permit. Under the bill, vehicles transporting or delivering heating fuel also would be exempt.
Heating fuel transport and delivery vehicles and vehicles owned or operated by public utilities under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Public Service Commission would be exempt from the seasonal load limits only under the following circumstances:
-- For emergency work, the vehicle traveled to and from the work site or delivery site at a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour.
-- For nonemergency work, the fuel delivery and transport company or the utility applied to the county road commission annually for roads under its authority before traveling to and from the work or delivery site.
When the company or utility provided the required notice, the county road commission would have to issue an annual permit for nonemergency work. In the case of a heating fuel transport and delivery company permit, the county road commission could charge a maximum fee of $100 per vehicle for the actual and reasonable cost of issuing the permit. In the case of a utility permit, the local unit of government could charge a fee for the actual and reasonable cost of issuing the permit.
MCL 257.722 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 12-13-06 Fiscal Analyst: Debra Hollon
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5637/0506