1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to motor vehicles; changing allowable vehicle weights on certain 
1.3 	highways; extending seasonal restrictions on gravel roads; amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2006, sections 169.823, subdivision 1; 169.824, subdivision 2; 169.87, 
1.5 	subdivision 2.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.823, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Pneumatic-tired vehicle. No vehicle or combination of vehicles 
1.9 	equipped with pneumatic tires shall be operated upon the highways of this state:
1.10 	(1) where the gross weight on any wheel exceeds 9,000 pounds, except that on 
1.11 	paved county state-aid highways, paved county roads, designated local routes, and state 
1.12 	trunk highways the gross weight on any single wheel shall not exceed 10,000 pounds
1.13 	unless posted;
1.14 	(2) where the gross weight on any single axle exceeds 18,000 pounds, except that 
1.15 	on  paved county state-aid highways, paved county roads, designated local routes, and 
1.16 	state trunk highways the gross weight on any single axle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds
1.17 	unless posted;
1.18 	(3) where the maximum wheel load:
1.19 	(i) on the foremost and rearmost steering axles, exceeds 600 pounds per inch of tire 
1.20 	width or the manufacturer's recommended load, whichever is less; or
1.21 	(ii) on other axles, exceeds 500 pounds per inch of tire width or the manufacturer's 
1.22 	recommended load, whichever is less. This item applies to new vehicles manufactured 
1.23 	after August 1, 1991. For vehicles manufactured before August 2, 1991, the maximum 
1.24 	weight per inch of tire width is 600 pounds per inch or the manufacturer's recommended 
2.1 	load, whichever is less, until August 1, 1996. After July 31, 1996, this item applies to all 
2.2 	vehicles regardless of date of manufacture;
2.3 	(4) where the gross weight on any axle of a tridem exceeds 15,000 pounds, except 
2.4 	that for vehicles to which an additional axle has been added prior to June 1, 1981, the 
2.5 	maximum gross weight on any axle of a tridem may be up to 16,000 pounds provided the 
2.6 	gross weight of the tridem combination does not exceed 39,900 pounds where the first 
2.7 	and third axles of the tridem are spaced nine feet apart;
2.8 	(5) where the gross weight on any group of axles exceeds the weights permitted 
2.9 	under sections 169.822 to 169.829 with any or all of the interior axles disregarded, and 
2.10 	with an exterior axle disregarded if the exterior axle is a variable load axle that is not 
2.11 	carrying its intended weight, and their gross weights subtracted from the gross weight of 
2.12 	all axles of the group under consideration. 

2.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.824, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.14 		Subd. 2.Gross vehicle weight of all axles. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions 
2.15 	of section 169.85, the gross vehicle weight of all axles of a vehicle or combination of 
2.16 	vehicles shall not exceed:
2.17 	(1) 80,000 pounds for any vehicle or combination of vehicles on all state trunk 
2.18 	highways as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 29,  on all paved county state-aid 
2.19 	highways and paved county roads, and ~~for~~ on all routes designated under section 169.832, 
2.20 	subdivision 11;
2.21 	(2) 88,000 pounds for any vehicle or combination of vehicles with six or more 
2.22 	axles while exclusively engaged in hauling livestock on all state trunk highways other 
2.23 	than interstate highways, if the vehicle has a permit under section 169.86, subdivision 5, 
2.24 	paragraph (k); and
2.25 	(3) 73,280 pounds for any vehicle or combination of vehicles with five axles or less 
2.26 	on all paved routes, other than state trunk highways and routes that are designated under 
2.27 	section 169.832, subdivision 11~~, except that a vehicle needing reasonable access to a~~ 
2.28 	~~terminal or facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest, located within three miles of a ten-ton~~ 
2.29 	~~route, may not exceed 80,000 pounds. "Terminal" means any location where freight either~~ 
2.30 	~~originates, terminates, or is handled in the transportation process, or where commercial~~ 
2.31 	~~motor carriers maintain operating facilities; and~~.
2.32 	~~(4) 80,000 pounds for any vehicle or combination of vehicles with six or more~~ 
2.33 	~~axles on all routes, other than state trunk highways and routes that are designated under~~ 
2.34 	~~section 169.832, subdivision 11.~~
3.1 	(b) The maximum weights specified in this section for five consecutive axles shall 
3.2 	not apply to a four-axle ready-mix concrete truck which was equipped with a fifth axle 
3.3 	prior to June 1, 1981. The maximum gross weight on four or fewer consecutive axles of 
3.4 	vehicles excepted by this clause shall not exceed any maximum weight specified for four 
3.5 	or fewer consecutive axles in this section.

3.6 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.87, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
3.7 		Subd. 2.Seasonal load restriction. Except for portland cement concrete roads, 
3.8 	between the dates set by the commissioner of transportation each year, the weight on any 
3.9 	single axle shall not exceed five tons on a county highway, town road, or city street that 
3.10 	has not been restricted as provided in subdivision 1.  For purposes of this subdivision, the 
3.11 	commissioner shall set dates for gravel roads that are two weeks longer than the dates set 
3.12 	for bituminous roads. The gross weight on consecutive axles shall not exceed the gross 
3.13 	weight allowed in sections 169.822 to 169.829 multiplied by a factor of five divided by 
3.14 	nine. This reduction shall not apply to the gross vehicle weight.