1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; modifying width 
  1.3             limitations on recreational equipment; prescribing 
  1.4             maximum length of motor homes; amending Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 2000, sections 169.80, subdivision 2; and 
  1.6             169.81, subdivision 2. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.80, 
  1.9   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 2.  [OUTSIDE WIDTH.] (a) The total outside width of a 
  1.11  vehicle exclusive of rear view rearview mirrors or load 
  1.12  securement devices which are not an integral part of the vehicle 
  1.13  and not exceeding three inches on each side, or the load may not 
  1.14  exceed 102 inches except that the outside width of a vehicle 
  1.15  owned by a political subdivision and used exclusively for the 
  1.16  purpose of handling sewage sludge from sewage treatment 
  1.17  facilities to farm fields or disposal sites, may not exceed 12 
  1.18  feet, and except as otherwise provided in this section. 
  1.19     (b) A vehicle exceeding 102 inches in total outside width, 
  1.20  owned by a political subdivision and used for the purpose of 
  1.21  transporting or applying sewage sludge to farm fields or 
  1.22  disposal sites may not transport sludge for distances greater 
  1.23  than 15 miles, nor may it be used for transportation of sewage 
  1.24  sludge or return travel between the hours of sunset and sunrise, 
  1.25  or at any other time when visibility is impaired by weather, 
  1.26  smoke, fog, or other conditions rendering persons and vehicles 
  2.1   not clearly discernible on the highway at a distance of 500 feet.
  2.2      (c) The total outside width of a low bed trailer or 
  2.3   equipment dolly, and the load, used exclusively for transporting 
  2.4   farm machinery and construction equipment may not exceed nine 
  2.5   feet in width except that a low bed trailer or equipment dolly 
  2.6   with a total outside width, including the load, in excess of 102 
  2.7   inches may not be operated on any interstate highway without 
  2.8   first having obtained a permit for the operation under section 
  2.9   169.86.  The vehicle must display 12-inch square red flags as 
  2.10  markers at the front and rear of the left side of the vehicle. 
  2.11     (d) The total outside width of a trackless trolley car or 
  2.12  passenger motor bus, operated exclusively in a city or 
  2.13  contiguous cities in this state, may not exceed nine feet. 
  2.14     (e) The maximum width limitation in paragraph (a) for 
  2.15  recreational equipment as defined in section 168.011, 
  2.16  subdivision 25, is exclusive of appurtenances on the 
  2.17  recreational equipment that do not extend beyond the width of 
  2.18  the exterior rearview mirror of the recreational equipment if 
  2.19  the recreational equipment is self-propelled, or the exterior 
  2.20  rearview mirror of the towing vehicle if the recreational 
  2.21  equipment is towed.  
  2.22     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.81, 
  2.23  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.24     Subd. 2.  [LENGTH OF SINGLE VEHICLE; EXCEPTIONS.] (a) 
  2.25  Statewide, no single vehicle may exceed 40 feet in overall 
  2.26  length, including load and front and rear bumpers, except:  
  2.27     (1) mobile cranes, which may not exceed 48 feet in overall 
  2.28  length; and 
  2.29     (2) buses, which may not exceed 45 feet in overall length; 
  2.30  and 
  2.31     (3) type A, B, or C motor homes as defined in section 
  2.32  168.011, subdivision 25, paragraph (c), which may not exceed 45 
  2.33  feet in overall length.  
  2.34     (b) Statewide, no semitrailer may exceed 48 feet in overall 
  2.35  length, including bumper and load, but excluding 
  2.36  non-cargo-carrying equipment, such as refrigeration units or air 
  3.1   compressors, necessary for safe and efficient operation and 
  3.2   located on the end of the semitrailer adjacent to the 
  3.3   truck-tractor.  However, statewide, a single semitrailer may 
  3.4   exceed 48 feet, but not 53 feet, if the distance from the 
  3.5   kingpin to the centerline of the rear axle group of the 
  3.6   semitrailer does not exceed 43 feet.  
  3.7      (c) Statewide, no single trailer may have an overall length 
  3.8   exceeding 45 feet, including the tow bar assembly but exclusive 
  3.9   of rear bumpers that do not increase the overall length by more 
  3.10  than six inches. 
  3.11     (d) For determining compliance with this subdivision, the 
  3.12  length of the semitrailer or trailer must be determined 
  3.13  separately from the overall length of the combination of 
  3.14  vehicles.  
  3.15     (e) No semitrailer or trailer used in a three-vehicle 
  3.16  combination may have an overall length in excess of 28-1/2 feet, 
  3.17  exclusive of: 
  3.18     (1) non-cargo-carrying accessory equipment, including 
  3.19  refrigeration units or air compressors and upper coupler plates, 
  3.20  necessary for safe and efficient operation, located on the end 
  3.21  of the semitrailer or trailer adjacent to the truck or 
  3.22  truck-tractor; 
  3.23     (2) the tow bar assembly; and 
  3.24     (3) lower coupler equipment that is a fixed part of the 
  3.25  rear end of the first semitrailer or trailer.