2002 Minnesota Statutes

     169.826 Gross weight seasonal increases. 

    Subdivision 1.    Increase amounts.  The limitations 
 provided in sections 169.822 to 169.829 are increased:  

    (1) by ten percent between the dates set by the 
 commissioner based on a freezing index model each winter, 
 statewide; 

    (2) by ten percent between the dates set by the 
 commissioner based on a freezing index model each winter, in the 
 zone bounded as follows:  beginning at Pigeon River in the 
 northeast corner of Minnesota; thence in a southwesterly 
 direction along the north shore of Lake Superior to the 
 northeastern city limits of Duluth; thence along the eastern and 
 southern city limits of Duluth to the junction with trunk 
 highway No. 210; thence westerly along trunk highway No. 210 to 
 the junction with trunk highway No. 10; thence northwesterly 
 along trunk highway No. 10 to the Minnesota-North Dakota border; 
 thence northerly along that border to the Minnesota-Canadian 
 Border; thence easterly along said Border to Lake Superior; and 

    (3) by ten percent from the beginning of harvest to 
 November 30 each year for the movement of sugar beets, carrots, 
 and potatoes from the field of harvest to the point of the first 
 unloading.  Transfer of the product from a farm vehicle or small 
 farm trailer, within the meaning of chapter 168, to another 
 vehicle is not considered to be the first unloading.  The 
 commissioner shall not issue permits under this clause if to do 
 so will result in a loss of federal highway funding to the state.

    Subd. 2.   Duration.  The duration of a ten 
 percent increase in load limits is subject to limitation by 
 order of the commissioner, subject to implementation of 
 springtime load restrictions.  

    Subd. 3.    Excess weight permit.  When the ten percent 
 increase is in effect, a permit is required for a motor vehicle, 
 trailer, or semitrailer combination that has a gross weight in 
 excess of 80,000 pounds, an axle group weight in excess of that 
 prescribed in section 169.824, or a single axle weight in excess 
 of 20,000 pounds and which travels on interstate routes.  

    Subd. 4.    Weight limits set by other law.  In cases 
 where gross weights in an amount less than that set forth in 
 sections 169.822 to 169.829 are fixed, limited, or restricted on
 a highway or bridge by or under another section of this chapter,
 the lesser gross weight as fixed, limited, or restricted may not be 
 exceeded and must control instead of the gross weights set forth 
 in sections 169.822 to 169.829.  

    Subd. 5.    Weight limit for undesignated routes.  
 Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no 
 vehicle may exceed a total gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds 
 on routes which have not been designated by the commissioner 
 under section 169.832, subdivision 11. 

    Subd. 6.    Permit extension.  The commissioner may, 
 after determining the ability of the highway structure and frost 
 condition to support additional loads, grant a permit extending 
 seasonal increases for vehicles using portions of routes falling 
 within two miles of the southern boundary of the zone described 
 under subdivision 1, clause (2). 

    HIST: 1981 c 321 s 4; 1982 c 424 s 42; 1982 c 617 s 11-13; 
 1983 c 198 s 9; 1986 c 398 art 13 s 6-9; 1986 c 452 s 20; 
 1Sp1986 c 3 art 4 s 13; 1991 c 112 s 4; 1991 c 333 s 18,19; 1992 
 c 578 s 7-10; 1994 c 635 art 1 s 16; 1998 c 372 art 1 s 8; 2000 
 c 433 s 1; 2001 c 156 s 1; 2001 c 213 s 10; 2002 c 364 s 13