Minnesota Session Laws - 1988, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1988 

                        CHAPTER 518-H.F.No. 1469 
           An act relating to traffic regulations; providing for 
          restrictions on vehicles transporting firewood on 
          trunk highways; amending Minnesota Statutes 1986, 
          sections 169.80, subdivision 1; and 169.81, by adding 
          a subdivision. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 169.80, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read:  
    Subdivision 1.  [LIMITATIONS.] It is a misdemeanor for a 
person to drive or move, or for the owner to cause or knowingly 
permit to be driven or moved, on a highway a vehicle or vehicles 
of a size or weight exceeding the limitations stated in sections 
169.80 to 169.88, or otherwise in violation of sections 169.80 
to 169.88, other than section 2, and the maximum size and weight 
of vehicles as prescribed in sections 169.80 to 169.88 shall be 
lawful throughout this state, and local authorities shall have 
no power or authority to alter these limitations except as 
express authority may be granted in sections 169.80 to 169.88. 
    When all the axles of a vehicle or combination of vehicles 
are weighed separately the sum of the weights of the axles so 
weighed shall be evidence of the total gross weight of the 
vehicle or combination of vehicles so weighed. 
    When each of the axles of any group that contains two or 
more consecutive axles of a vehicle or combination of vehicles 
have been weighed separately the sum of the weights of the axles 
so weighed shall be evidence of the total gross weight on the 
group of axles so weighed. 
    When, in any group of three or more consecutive axles of a 
vehicle or combination of vehicles any axles have been weighed 
separately and two or more axles consecutive to each other in 
the group have been weighed together, the sum of the weights of 
the axles weighed separately and the axles weighed together 
shall be evidence of the total gross weight of the group of 
axles so weighed. 
    The provisions of sections 169.80 to 169.88 governing size, 
weight, and load shall not apply to fire apparatus, or to 
implements of husbandry temporarily moved upon a highway, or to 
loads of loose hay or corn stalks if transported by a 
horse-drawn vehicle or drawn by a farm tractor, or to a vehicle 
operated under the terms of a special permit issued as provided 
by law.  For purposes of sections 169.80 to 169.88, a 
specialized vehicle resembling a low-slung two-wheel trailer 
having a short bed or platform shall be deemed to be an 
implement of husbandry when the vehicle is used exclusively to 
transport implements of husbandry; and the term "temporarily 
moved upon a highway" shall mean a movement not to exceed 50 
miles. 
    In addition to any other special permits authorized, an 
annual permit may be issued authorizing movements on interstate 
highways and movements exceeding 50 miles on noninterstate 
highways of oversize vehicles and loads when the vehicles or 
combination of vehicles are used exclusively to transport 
implements of husbandry.  Annual permits are issued in 
accordance with the applicable provisions of section 169.86, 
except that the transporting vehicle or combination of vehicles 
may be moved at the discretion of the permittee without prior 
route approval from the permit issuing office of the department 
of transportation if: 
    (a) The overall width of the transporting vehicle, 
including load, does not exceed 14 feet; 
    (b) The transporting vehicle otherwise complies with 
equipment requirements and length, height and weight limitations 
prescribed by this chapter; 
    (c) The movement is made after the hour of sunrise and not 
later than 30 minutes after sunset; 
    (d) The movement is not made when visibility is impaired by 
weather, fog or other conditions rendering persons and vehicles 
not clearly visible at a distance of 500 feet, or on Sundays 
after 12 o'clock noon, and holidays; 
    (e) The transporting vehicle shall display at the front and 
rear end of the load or vehicle a pair of flashing amber lights, 
as provided in section 169.59, subdivision 4, whenever the 
overall width of the vehicle exceeds ten feet, six inches; and 
    (f) The movement, if made on a trunk highway, is made on a 
trunk highway with a surfaced roadway width of not less than 24 
feet. 
    The fee for an annual permit is $24. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 169.81, is 
amended by adding a subdivision to read:  
    Subd. 5a.  [FIREWOOD LOADS.] No vehicle that has a cargo 
area without a rear wall may be driven or moved on a trunk 
highway with a load of cut firewood of less than three feet in 
length unless the rear of the cargo area is covered with a 
material of sufficient strength to prevent any part of the load 
from escaping from the rear.  No person shall transport firewood 
in any vehicle in an unsafe manner.  Violation of this 
subdivision is a petty misdemeanor except that a peace officer 
may issue a citation that amounts to a warning (1) for a first 
offense, and (2) if, in the judgment of the citing peace officer 
at the site, the load of firewood is made safe for transport.  
     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Section 1 is effective August 1, 1988, and applies to 
violations occurring on or after that date. 
    Approved April 14, 1988