1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to motor carriers; allowing recreational
1.3 	vehicle combination to transport equestrian equipment
1.4 	and supplies; regulating maximum axle weights allowed
1.5 	on highways; abolishing certain rules relating to
1.6 	motor carriers; allowing vehicle weight limit
1.7 	exception for transporting wood chips; providing for
1.8 	permit to transport manufactured storage buildings;
1.9 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 169.01,
1.10 	subdivision 78; 169.81, subdivision 3c; 169.8261;
1.11 	169.851, subdivision 5; 169.86, subdivision 5;
1.12 	repealing Minnesota Rules, parts 7800.0600; 7800.3200,
1.13 	subpart 1; 7805.0700; 8850.6900, subpart 20;
1.14 	8855.0500, subpart 1.
1.15 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.16 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.01,
1.17 	subdivision 78, is amended to read:
1.18 		Subd. 78.Recreational vehicle combination.
 1.19 	"Recreational vehicle combination" means a combination of
1.20 	vehicles consisting of a pickup truck as defined in section
1.21 	168.011, subdivision 29, attached by means of a fifth-wheel
1.22 	coupling to a camper-semitrailer which has hitched to it a
1.23 	trailer carrying a watercraft as defined in section 86B.005,
1.24 	subdivision 18; off-highway motorcycle as defined in section
1.25 	84.787, subdivision 7; motorcycle; motorized bicycle; snowmobile
1.26 	as defined in section 84.81, subdivision 3; or all-terrain
1.27 	vehicle as defined in section 84.92, subdivision 8; or
1.28 	equestrian equipment and supplies.  For purposes of this
1.29 	subdivision:
1.30 	(a) A "fifth-wheel coupling" is a coupling between a
2.1 	camper-semitrailer and a towing pickup truck in which a portion
2.2 	of the weight of the camper-semitrailer is carried over or
2.3 	forward of the rear axle of the towing pickup.
2.4 	(b) A "camper-semitrailer" is a trailer, other than a
2.5 	manufactured home as defined in section 327B.01, subdivision 13,
2.6 	designed for human habitation and used for vacation or
2.7 	recreational purposes for limited periods.

2.8 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.81,
2.9 	subdivision 3c, is amended to read:
2.10 		Subd. 3c.Recreational vehicle combination.
 2.11 	Notwithstanding subdivision 3, a recreational vehicle
2.12 	combination may be operated without a permit if:
2.13 	(1) the combination does not consist of more than three
2.14 	vehicles, and the towing rating of the pickup truck is equal to
2.15 	or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed;
2.16 	(2) the combination does not exceed 60 feet in length;
2.17 	(3) the camper-semitrailer in the combination does not
2.18 	exceed 28 feet in length;
2.19 	(4) the operator of the combination is at least 18 years of
2.20 	age;
2.21 	(5) the trailer carrying a watercraft, motorcycle,
2.22 	motorized bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, snowmobile, or 
2.23 	all-terrain vehicle, or equestrian equipment and supplies meets
2.24 	all requirements of law;
2.25 	(6) the trailers in the combination are connected to the
2.26 	pickup truck and each other in conformity with section 169.82;
2.27 	and
2.28 	(7) the combination is not operated within the seven-county
2.29 	metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2,
2.30 	during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00
2.31 	p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.

2.32 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.8261, is
2.33 	amended to read:
2.34 	169.8261 GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATIONS; FOREST PRODUCTS.
2.35 	(a) A vehicle or combination of vehicles hauling raw or
2.36 	unfinished forest products, including wood chips, by the most
3.1 	direct route to the nearest highway that has been designated
3.2 	under section 169.832, subdivision 11, may be operated on any
3.3 	highway with gross weights permitted under sections 169.822 to
3.4 	169.829 without regard to load restrictions imposed on that
3.5 	highway, except that such the vehicles must:
3.6 	(1) comply with seasonal load restrictions in effect
3.7 	between the dates set by the commissioner under section 169.87,
3.8 	subdivision 2;
3.9 	(2) comply with bridge load limits posted under section
3.10 	169.84;
3.11 	(3) be equipped and operated with six axles and brakes;
3.12 	(4) not exceed 90,000 pounds gross weight, or 98,000 pounds
3.13 	gross weight during the time when seasonal increases are
3.14 	authorized under section 169.826;
3.15 	(5) not be operated on interstate and defense highways;
3.16 	(6) obtain an annual permit from the commissioner of
3.17 	transportation; and 
3.18 	(7) obey all road postings; and 
3.19 	(8) not exceed 20,000 pounds gross weight on any single
3.20 	axle.
3.21 	(b) A vehicle operated under this section may exceed the
3.22 	legal axle weight limits listed in section 169.824 by not more
3.23 	than 12.5 percent; except that, the weight limits may be
3.24 	exceeded by not more than 22.5 percent during the time when
3.25 	seasonal increases are authorized under section 169.826,
3.26 	subdivision 1.

3.27 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.851,
3.28 	subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.29 		Subd. 5.Exception for farm and forest products. The
3.30 	maximum weight provisions of this section do Subdivision 4 of
3.31 	this section does not apply to the first haul of unprocessed or
3.32 	raw farm products and the transportation of raw and unfinished
3.33 	forest products, including wood chips,when the prescribed 
3.34 	maximum weight limitation is limitations permitted under
3.35 	sections 169.822 to 169.829 are not exceeded by more than ten
3.36 	percent.

4.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.86,
4.2 	subdivision 5, is amended to read:
4.3 		Subd. 5.Fee; proceeds deposited; appropriation.  The
4.4 	commissioner, with respect to highways under the commissioner's
4.5 	jurisdiction, may charge a fee for each permit issued.  All such
4.6 	fees for permits issued by the commissioner of transportation
4.7 	shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the
4.8 	trunk highway fund.  Except for those annual permits for which
4.9 	the permit fees are specified elsewhere in this chapter, the
4.10 	fees shall be:
4.11 	(a) $15 for each single trip permit.
4.12 	(b) $36 for each job permit.  A job permit may be issued
4.13 	for like loads carried on a specific route for a period not to
4.14 	exceed two months.  "Like loads" means loads of the same
4.15 	product, weight, and dimension.
4.16 	(c) $60 for an annual permit to be issued for a period not
4.17 	to exceed 12 consecutive months.  Annual permits may be issued
4.18 	for:
4.19 	(1) motor vehicles used to alleviate a temporary crisis
4.20 	adversely affecting the safety or well-being of the public;
4.21 	(2) motor vehicles which travel on interstate highways and
4.22 	carry loads authorized under subdivision 1a;
4.23 	(3) motor vehicles operating with gross weights authorized
4.24 	under section 169.826, subdivision 1a;
4.25 	(4) special pulpwood vehicles described in section 169.863;
4.26 	(5) motor vehicles bearing snowplow blades not exceeding
4.27 	ten feet in width; and
4.28 	(6) noncommercial transportation of a boat by the owner or
4.29 	user of the boat.
4.30 	(d) $120 for an oversize annual permit to be issued for a
4.31 	period not to exceed 12 consecutive months.  Annual permits may
4.32 	be issued for:
4.33 	(1) mobile cranes;
4.34 	(2) construction equipment, machinery, and supplies;
4.35 	(3) manufactured homes and manufactured storage buildings;
4.36 	(4) implements of husbandry when the movement is not made
5.1 	according to the provisions of paragraph (i);
5.2 	(5) double-deck buses;
5.3 	(6) commercial boat hauling; and
5.4 	(7) three-vehicle combinations consisting of two empty,
5.5 	newly manufactured trailers for cargo, horses, or livestock, not
5.6 	to exceed 28-1/2 feet per trailer; provided, however, the permit
5.7 	allows the vehicles to be moved from a trailer manufacturer to a
5.8 	trailer dealer only while operating on twin-trailer routes
5.9 	designated under section 169.81, subdivision 3, paragraph (c).
5.10 	(e) For vehicles which have axle weights exceeding the
5.11 	weight limitations of sections 169.822 to 169.829, an additional
5.12 	cost added to the fees listed above.  However, this paragraph
5.13 	applies to any vehicle described in section 168.013, subdivision
5.14 	3, paragraph (b), but only when the vehicle exceeds its gross
5.15 	weight allowance set forth in that paragraph, and then the
5.16 	additional cost is for all weight, including the allowance
5.17 	weight, in excess of the permitted maximum axle weight.  The
5.18 	additional cost is equal to the product of the distance traveled
5.19 	times the sum of the overweight axle group cost factors shown in
5.20 	the following chart:
5.21 	Overweight Axle Group Cost Factors
5.22 	Weight (pounds)         Cost Per Mile For Each Group Of:
5.23 	exceeding       Two consec-     Three consec-   Four consec-
5.24 	weight          utive axles     utive axles     utive axles
5.25 	limitations     spaced within   spaced within   spaced within
5.26 	on axles        8 feet or less  9 feet or less  14 feet or less
5.27 	     0-2,000    .12             .05             .04
5.28 	 2,001-4,000    .14             .06             .05
5.29 	 4,001-6,000    .18             .07             .06
5.30 	 6,001-8,000    .21             .09             .07
5.31 	 8,001-10,000   .26             .10             .08
5.32 	10,001-12,000   .30             .12             .09
5.33 	12,001-14,000   Not permitted   .14             .11
5.34 	14,001-16,000   Not permitted   .17             .12
5.35 	16,001-18,000   Not permitted   .19             .15
5.36 	18,001-20,000   Not permitted   Not permitted   .16
6.1 	20,001-22,000   Not permitted   Not permitted   .20
6.2 	The amounts added are rounded to the nearest cent for each axle
6.3 	or axle group.  The additional cost does not apply to paragraph
6.4 	(c), clauses (1) and (3).
6.5 	For a vehicle found to exceed the appropriate maximum permitted
6.6 	weight, a cost-per-mile fee of 22 cents per ton, or fraction of
6.7 	a ton, over the permitted maximum weight is imposed in addition
6.8 	to the normal permit fee.  Miles must be calculated based on the
6.9 	distance already traveled in the state plus the distance from
6.10 	the point of detection to a transportation loading site or
6.11 	unloading site within the state or to the point of exit from the
6.12 	state.
6.13 	(f) As an alternative to paragraph (e), an annual permit
6.14 	may be issued for overweight, or oversize and overweight,
6.15 	construction equipment, machinery, and supplies.  The fees for
6.16 	the permit are as follows:
6.17 	Gross Weight (pounds) of Vehicle          Annual Permit Fee
6.18 	     90,000 or less                             $200
6.19 	     90,001 - 100,000                           $300
6.20 	    100,001 - 110,000                           $400
6.21 	    110,001 - 120,000                           $500
6.22 	    120,001 - 130,000                           $600
6.23 	    130,001 - 140,000                           $700
6.24 	    140,001 - 145,000                           $800
6.25 	If the gross weight of the vehicle is more than 145,000 pounds
6.26 	the permit fee is determined under paragraph (e).
6.27 	(g) For vehicles which exceed the width limitations set
6.28 	forth in section 169.80 by more than 72 inches, an additional
6.29 	cost equal to $120 added to the amount in paragraph (a) when the
6.30 	permit is issued while seasonal load restrictions pursuant to
6.31 	section 169.87 are in effect.
6.32 	(h) $85 for an annual permit to be issued for a period not
6.33 	to exceed 12 months, for refuse-compactor vehicles that carry a
6.34 	gross weight of not more than:  22,000 pounds on a single rear
6.35 	axle; 38,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle; or, subject to
6.36 	section 169.828, subdivision 2, 46,000 pounds on a tridem rear
7.1 	axle.  A permit issued for up to 46,000 pounds on a tridem rear
7.2 	axle must limit the gross vehicle weight to not more than 62,000
7.3 	pounds.
7.4 	(i) For vehicles exclusively transporting implements of
7.5 	husbandry, an annual permit fee of $24.  A vehicle operated
7.6 	under a permit authorized by this paragraph may be moved at the
7.7 	discretion of the permit holder without prior route approval by
7.8 	the commissioner if:
7.9 	(1) the total width of the transporting vehicle, including
7.10 	load, does not exceed 14 feet;
7.11 	(2) the vehicle is operated only between sunrise and 30
7.12 	minutes after sunset, and is not operated at any time after
7.13 	12:00 noon on Sundays or holidays;
7.14 	(3) the vehicle is not operated when visibility is impaired
7.15 	by weather, fog, or other conditions that render persons and
7.16 	other vehicles not clearly visible at 500 feet;
7.17 	(4) the vehicle displays at the front and rear of the load
7.18 	or vehicle a pair of flashing amber lights, as provided in
7.19 	section 169.59, subdivision 4, whenever the overall width of the
7.20 	vehicle exceeds 126 inches; and
7.21 	(5) the vehicle is not operated on a trunk highway with a
7.22 	surfaced roadway width of less than 24 feet unless such
7.23 	operation is authorized by the permit.
7.24 	A permit under this paragraph authorizes movements of the
7.25 	permitted vehicle on an interstate highway, and movements of 75
7.26 	miles or more on other highways.
7.27 	(j) $300 for a motor vehicle described in section
7.28 	169.8261.  The fee under this paragraph must be deposited as
7.29 	follows:
7.30 	(1) in fiscal years 2005 through 2010:
7.31 	(i) the first $50,000 in each fiscal year must be deposited
7.32 	in the trunk highway fund for costs related to administering the
7.33 	permit program and inspecting and posting bridges;
7.34 	(ii) all remaining money in each fiscal year must be
7.35 	deposited in a bridge inspection and signing account in the
7.36 	special revenue fund.  Money in the account is appropriated to
8.1 	the commissioner for:
8.2 	(A) inspection of local bridges and identification of local
8.3 	bridges to be posted, including contracting with a consultant
8.4 	for some or all of these functions; and
8.5 	(B) erection of weight-posting signs on local bridges; and
8.6 	(2) in fiscal year 2011 and subsequent years must be
8.7 	deposited in the trunk highway fund.

8.8 	Sec. 6. REPEALER.
 8.9 	Minnesota Rules, parts 7800.0600; 7800.3200, subpart 1;
8.10 	7805.0700; 8850.6900, subpart 20; and 8855.0500, subpart 1, are
8.11 	repealed.