Minnesota Session Laws - 1995, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 174-S.F.No. 965 
                  An act relating to transportation; authorizing 
                  issuance of permits for 12-foot wide loads of baled 
                  straw; changing classification and endorsement 
                  requirements to operate a vehicle carrying liquid 
                  fertilizer; amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 
                  169.851, subdivision 1; 169.862; and 171.02, 
                  subdivision 2a. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 169.851, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] For the purposes of this 
        section and sections 169.862, 169.871, and 169.872, the terms 
        defined in subdivisions 2 and 3 have the meanings given to them. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 169.862, is 
        amended to read: 
           169.862 [PERMITS FOR WIDE LOADS OF BALED AGRICULTURAL 
        PRODUCTS.] 
           The commissioner of transportation with respect to highways 
        under the commissioner's jurisdiction, and local authorities 
        with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, may issue an 
        annual permit to enable a vehicle carrying round bales of hay, 
        straw, or cornstalks, with a total outside width of the vehicle 
        or the load not exceeding 11-1/2 feet, to be operated on public 
        streets and highways.  The commissioner of transportation and 
        local authorities may issue an annual permit to enable a 
        vehicle, having a maximum width of 102 inches, carrying a first 
        haul of square bales of straw, each bale having a minimum size 
        of four feet by four feet by eight feet, with a total outside 
        width of the load not exceeding 12 feet, to be operated on 
        public streets and highways between August 1 and December 1 
        within 35 miles of the border between this state and the state 
        of North Dakota.  The commissioner of transportation and local 
        authorities may issue an annual permit to enable a vehicle 
        carrying square bales of hay, each with an outside dimension of 
        not less than three feet by four feet by seven feet, with a 
        total height of the loaded vehicle not exceeding 15 feet, to be 
        operated on those public streets and highways designated in the 
        permit.  Permits issued under this section are governed by the 
        applicable provisions of section 169.86 except as otherwise 
        provided herein and, in addition, carry the following 
        restrictions:  
           (a) The vehicles may not be operated between sunset and 
        sunrise, 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 Sunday from noon until sunset, or 
        on the days the following holidays are observed:  New Year's 
        Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving 
        Day, and Christmas Day.  
           (b) The vehicles may not be operated on interstate highways.
           (c) The vehicles may not be operated on a trunk highway 
        with a pavement less than 24 feet wide.  
           (d) A vehicle operated under the permit must be equipped 
        with a retractable or removable mirror on the left side so 
        located that it will reflect to the driver a clear view of the 
        highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the 
        vehicle.  
           (e) A vehicle operated under the permit must display red, 
        orange, or yellow flags, 18 inches square, as markers at the 
        front and rear and on both sides of the load.  The load must be 
        securely bound to the transporting vehicle.  
           (f) Farm vehicles not for hire carrying round baled hay 
        less than 20 miles are exempt from the requirement to obtain a 
        permit.  All other requirements of this section apply to 
        vehicles transporting round baled hay. 
           The fee for the permit is $24. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.02, 
        subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2a.  [EXCEPTION TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ENDORSEMENT 
        EXCEPTIONS.] Notwithstanding subdivision 2, (1) a hazardous 
        materials endorsement is not required to operate a vehicle 
        having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less while 
        carrying in bulk tanks a total of not more than 200 gallons of 
        petroleum products and (2) a class CC license or hazardous 
        materials endorsement is not required to operate a farm vehicle 
        as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 
        390.5, having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less 
        while carrying in bulk tanks a total of not more than 1,500 
        gallons of liquid fertilizer. 
           Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 3 is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 15, 1995 
           Signed by the governor May 16, 1995, 1:15 p.m.