Bill Text: IA SF291 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to size, weight, and load limit applicability to authorized emergency vehicles. (Formerly SF 49.)
Sponsorship: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-02 - Referred to Transportation. S.J. 769. [SF291 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-SF291-Introduced.html
Senate File 291 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO SF 49) A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to size, weight, and load limit applicability 2 to authorized emergency vehicles. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1672SV (3) 86 ns/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 321.453, Code 2015, is amended to read 1 2 as follows: 1 3 321.453 Exceptions. 1 4 The provisions of this chapter governing size, weight, and 1 5 load and the permit requirements of chapter 321E do not apply 1 6 to fire apparatus; self=propelled authorized emergency vehicles 1 7 which are owned and operated by a state, county, or municipal 1 8 law enforcement agency; road maintenance equipment owned by, 1 9 under lease to, or used in the performance of a contract with 1 10 any state or local authority; implements of husbandry when 1 11 moved or moving upon a highway that is not a portion of the 1 12 interstate; or equipment used primarily for construction of 1 13 permanent conservation practices on agricultural land when 1 14 moved or moving upon a highway that is not a portion of the 1 15 interstate, so long as the equipment is without payload and 1 16 the movement does not violate posted weight limitations on 1 17 bridges, except as provided in sections 321.463, 321.471, 1 18 and 321.474. A vehicle that is carrying an implement of 1 19 husbandry or equipment used primarily for construction of 1 20 permanent conservation practices and is exempted from the 1 21 permit requirements under this section shall be equipped 1 22 with an amber flashing light visible from the rear. If the 1 23 amber flashing light is obstructed by the loaded implement or 1 24 equipment, the loaded implement or equipment shall also be 1 25 equipped with and display an amber flashing light. The vehicle 1 26 shall also be equipped with warning flags on that portion of 1 27 the vehicle which protrudes into oncoming traffic, and shall 1 28 only operate from thirty minutes prior to sunrise to thirty 1 29 minutes following sunset. 1 30 Sec. 2. Section 321.457, subsection 3, Code 2015, is amended 1 31 to read as follows: 1 32 3. Fire fighting apparatus, self=propelled authorized 1 33 emergency vehicles which are owned and operated by a state, 1 34 county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and vehicles 1 35 operated during daylight hours when transporting poles, pipe, 2 1 machinery, or other objects of a structural nature which cannot 2 2 be readily disassembled when required for emergency repair of 2 3 public service facilities or properties are not subject to the 2 4 limitations on overall length of vehicles and combinations of 2 5 vehicles imposed under this section. However, for operation 2 6 during nighttime hours, these vehicles and the load being 2 7 transported shall be equipped with a sufficient number of 2 8 clearance lamps on both sides and marker lamps at the extreme 2 9 ends of the projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of 2 10 the load. A member of the state patrol or a peace officer 2 11 designated by the department under section 321.477 shall also 2 12 be notified prior to the operation of the vehicle. 2 13 Sec. 3. Section 321.471, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2 14 2015, is amended to read as follows: 2 15 a. Local authorities with respect to a highway under their 2 16 jurisdiction may by ordinance or resolution prohibit the 2 17 operation of vehicles upon the highway or impose restrictions 2 18 as to the weight of vehicles to be operated upon the highway 2 19 for a total period of not to exceed ninety days in any one 2 20 calendar year, whenever the highway by reason of deterioration, 2 21 rain, snow, or other climatic conditions will be seriously 2 22 damaged or destroyed unless the use of vehicles on the 2 23 highway is prohibited or the permissible weights reduced. 2 24 The ordinance or resolution shall not apply to implements of 2 25 husbandry as defined in section 321.1, implements of husbandry 2 26 loaded on hauling units for transporting the implements to 2 27 locations for repair, self=propelled authorized emergency 2 28 vehicles which are owned and operated by a state, county, or 2 29 municipal law enforcement agency, or fire apparatus and road 2 30 maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the 2 31 performance of a contract with a state or local authority. 2 32 Sec. 4. Section 321.471, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2 33 2015, is amended to read as follows: 2 34 a. Upon a finding that a bridge or culvert does not 2 35 meet established standards set forth by state and federal 3 1 authorities, local authorities may by ordinance or resolution 3 2 impose limitations for an indefinite period of time on 3 3 the weight of vehicles upon bridges or culverts located on 3 4 highways under their sole jurisdiction. The limitations shall 3 5 be effective when signs giving notice of the limitations 3 6 are erected. The ordinance or resolution shall not apply 3 7 to implements of husbandry loaded on hauling units for 3 8 transporting the implements to locations for purposes of 3 9 repair, to self=propelled authorized emergency vehicles which 3 10 are owned and operated by a state, county, or municipal law 3 11 enforcement agency, or to fire apparatus or road maintenance 3 12 equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the performance 3 13 of a contract with a state or local authority. 3 14 Sec. 5. Section 321.474, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended 3 15 to read as follows: 3 16 1. The department shall have authority, as granted to 3 17 local authorities, to determine by resolution and to impose 3 18 restrictions as to the weight of vehicles, except implements of 3 19 husbandry as defined in section 321.1, implements of husbandry 3 20 loaded on hauling units for transporting the implements to 3 21 locations for repair, self=propelled authorized emergency 3 22 vehicles which are owned and operated by a state, county, or 3 23 municipal law enforcement agency, and fire apparatus and road 3 24 maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the 3 25 performance of a contract with a state or local authority, 3 26 operated upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the 3 27 department for a definite period of time not to exceed twelve 3 28 months. The restrictions shall be effective when signs giving 3 29 notice of the restrictions and the expiration date of the 3 30 restrictions are erected upon the affected highway or portion 3 31 of highway. 3 32 Sec. 6. Section 321.474, subsection 2, Code 2015, is amended 3 33 to read as follows: 3 34 2. Upon a finding that a bridge or culvert does not 3 35 meet established standards set forth by state and federal 4 1 authorities, the department may impose, by resolution, 4 2 restrictions for an indefinite period of time on the weight of 4 3 vehicles operated upon bridges or culverts located on highways 4 4 under its jurisdiction. The restrictions shall be effective 4 5 when signs giving notice of the restrictions are erected. The 4 6 restrictions shall not apply to implements of husbandry loaded 4 7 on hauling units for transporting the implements to locations 4 8 for purposes of repair, to self=propelled authorized emergency 4 9 vehicles which are owned and operated by a state, county, or 4 10 municipal law enforcement agency, or to fire apparatus or road 4 11 maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the 4 12 performance of a contract with a state or local authority. 4 13 EXPLANATION 4 14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 4 15 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 4 16 Current law provides that fire apparatus are not subject 4 17 to certain motor vehicle size, weight, and load limit 4 18 requirements, or the permit requirements of Code chapter 321E. 4 19 Current law also provides that fire apparatus are not subject 4 20 to local ordinances or departmental regulations restricting 4 21 vehicle weight. 4 22 The bill broadens these exceptions to include all 4 23 self=propelled authorized emergency vehicles which are owned 4 24 and operated by a state, county, or municipal law enforcement 4 25 agency. Authorized emergency vehicles include fire department 4 26 vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency 4 27 vehicles owned by the government. LSB 1672SV (3) 86 ns/nh
