March 18, 2003, Introduced by Reps. DeRossett, Casperson, Hummel, Shackleton and Bradstreet and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 719 (MCL 257.719), as amended by 2002 PA
453.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 719. (1) A vehicle unloaded or with load shall not
2 exceed a height of 13 feet 6 inches. The owner of a vehicle that
3 collides with a lawfully established bridge or viaduct is liable
4 for all damage and injury resulting from a collision caused by
5 the height of the vehicle, whether the clearance of the bridge or
6 viaduct is posted or not.
7 (2) Lengths described in this subsection shall be known as
8 the normal length maximum. Except as provided in subsection (3),
9 the following vehicles and combinations of vehicles shall not be
10 operated on a highway in this state in excess of these lengths:
1 (a) Any single vehicle: 40 feet; any single bus or motor
2 home: 45 feet.
3 (b) Articulated buses: 65 feet.
4 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
5 combination of a truck and semitrailer or trailer, or a truck
6 tractor, semitrailer, and trailer, or truck tractor and
7 semitrailer or trailer, designed and used exclusively to
8 transport assembled motor vehicles or bodies, recreational
9 vehicles, or boats, that does not exceed a length of 65 feet.
10 Stinger-steered combinations shall not exceed a length of 75
11 feet. The load on the combinations of vehicles described in this
12 subdivision may extend an additional 3 feet beyond the front and
13 4 feet beyond the rear of the combinations of vehicles.
14 Retractable extensions used to support and secure the load that
15 do not extend beyond the allowable overhang for the front and
16 rear shall not be included in determining length of a loaded
17 vehicle or vehicle combination.
18 (d) Truck tractor and semitrailer combinations: no overall
19 length, the semitrailer not to exceed 50 feet.
20 (e) Truck and semitrailer or trailer: 59 feet.
21 (f) Truck tractor, semitrailer, and trailer, or truck tractor
22 and 2 semitrailers: 59
65 feet.
23 (g) More than 1 motor vehicle, wholly or partially assembled,
24 in combination, utilizing 1 tow bar or 3 saddle mounts with full
25 mount mechanisms and utilizing the motive power of 1 of the
26 vehicles in combination, not to exceed 55 feet.
27 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the following vehicles
1 and combinations of vehicles shall not be operated on a
2 designated highway of this state in excess of these lengths:
3 (a) Truck tractor and semitrailer combinations: no overall
4 length limit, the semitrailer not to exceed 53 feet. All
5 semitrailers longer than 50 feet shall have a wheelbase of 37.5
6 to 40.5 feet plus or minus 0.5 feet, measured from the kingpin
7 coupling to the center of the rear axle or the center of the rear
8 axle assembly. Before April 1, 2003, a semitrailer with a length
9 longer than 50 feet shall not operate with more than 2 axles on
10 the semitrailer. After March 31, 2003, a semitrailer with a
11 length longer than 50 feet shall not operate with more than 3
12 axles on the semitrailer. City, village, or county authorities
13 may prohibit stops of vehicles with a semitrailer longer than 50
14 feet within their jurisdiction unless the stop occurs along
15 appropriately designated routes, or is necessary for emergency
16 purposes or to reach shippers, receivers, warehouses, and
17 terminals along designated routes.
18 (b) Truck and semitrailer or trailer combinations: 65 feet,
19 except that a person may operate a truck and semitrailer or
20 trailer designed and used to transport saw logs, pulpwood, and
21 tree length poles that does not exceed an overall length of 70
22 feet. A person may operate a truck tractor and semitrailer
23 designed and used to transport saw logs, pulpwood, and tree
24 length wooden poles with a load overhang to the rear of the
25 semitrailer which does not exceed 6 feet if the semitrailer does
26 not exceed 50 feet in length.
27 (c) Truck tractor and 2 semitrailers, or truck tractor,
1 semitrailer, and trailer combinations: no overall length limit,
2 if the length of each semitrailer or trailer does not exceed
3 28-1/2 feet each, or the overall length of the semitrailer and
4 trailer, or 2 semitrailers as measured from the front of the
5 first towed unit to the rear of the second towed unit while the
6 units are coupled together does not exceed 58 feet.
7 (d) More than 1 motor vehicle, wholly or partially assembled,
8 in combination, utilizing 1 tow bar or 3 saddle mounts with full
9 mount mechanisms and utilizing the motive power of 1 of the
10 vehicles in combination, not to exceed 75 feet.
11 (4) The following combinations and movements are prohibited:
12 (a) A truck shall not haul more than 1 trailer or
13 semitrailer, and a truck tractor shall not haul more than 2
14 semitrailers or 1 semitrailer and 1 trailer in combination at any
15 1 time, except that a farm tractor may haul 2 wagons or trailers,
16 or garbage and refuse haulers may, during daylight hours, haul up
17 to 4 trailers for garbage and refuse collection purposes, not
18 exceeding in any combination a total length of 55 feet and at a
19 speed limit not to exceed 15 miles per hour.
20 (b) A combination of vehicles or a vehicle shall not have
21 more than 11 axles, except when operating under a valid permit
22 issued by the state transportation department or a local
23 authority with respect to a highway under its jurisdiction.
24 (c) Any combination of vehicles not specifically authorized
25 under this section is prohibited.
26 (d) A combination of 2 semitrailers pulled by a truck
27 tractor, unless each semitrailer uses a fifth wheel connecting
1 assembly which conforms to the requirements of the motor carrier
2 safety act of 1963, 1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22.
3 (e) A vehicle or a combination of vehicles shall not carry a
4 load extending more than 3 feet beyond the front of the lead
5 vehicle.
6 (f) A vehicle described in subsections (2)(e) and (3)(d)
7 employing triple saddle mounts unless all wheels that are in
8 contact with the roadway have operating brakes.
9 (5) All combinations of vehicles under this section shall
10 employ connecting assemblies and lighting devices that are in
11 compliance with the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963 PA
12 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22.
13 (6) The total gross weight of a truck tractor, semitrailer,
14 and trailer combination or a truck tractor and 2 semitrailers
15 combination that exceeds 59 feet in length shall not exceed a
16 ratio of 400 pounds per engine net horsepower delivered to clutch
17 or its equivalent specified in the handbook published by the
18 society of automotive engineers, inc. (SAE), 1977 edition.
19 (7) A person who violates this section is responsible for a
20 civil infraction. The owner of the vehicle may be charged with a
21 violation of this section.
22 (8) As used in this section:
23 (a) "Designated highway" means a highway approved by the
24 state transportation department or a local authority with respect
25 to a highway under its jurisdiction.
26 (b) "Length" means the total length of a vehicle, or
27 combination of vehicles, including any load the vehicle is
1 carrying. Length does not include safety and energy conservation
2 devices including, but not limited to, impact absorbing bumpers,
3 rear view mirrors, turn signal lamps, marker lamps, steps and
4 hand holds for entry and egress, flexible fender extensions, mud
5 flaps, or splash and spray suppressant devices; load induced tire
6 bulge; refrigeration or heating units; or air compressors
7 attached to the vehicle. A safety or energy conservation device
8 shall be excluded from a determination of length only if it is
9 not designed or used for the carrying of cargo, freight, or
10 equipment. Semitrailers and trailers shall be measured from the
11 front vertical plane of the foremost transverse load supporting
12 structure to the rearmost transverse load supporting structure.
13 (c) "Stinger-steered combinations" means a truck tractor and
14 semitrailer combination in which the fifth wheel is located on a
15 drop frame located behind and below the rearmost axle of the
16 power unit.