Bill Text: IA SF49 | 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. (See SF 291.)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-19 - Passed subcommittee. [SF49 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-SF49-Introduced.html
Senate File 49 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY SODDERS 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 1672SS (1) 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, 1 5 and load and the permit requirements of chapter 321E do not 1 6 apply tofire apparatusauthorized emergency vehicles; road 1 7 maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the 1 8 performance of a contract with any state or local authority; 1 9 implements of husbandry when moved or moving upon a highway 1 10 that is not a portion of the interstate; or equipment used 1 11 primarily for construction of permanent conservation practices 1 12 on agricultural land when moved or moving upon a highway that 1 13 is not a portion of the interstate, so long as the equipment is 1 14 without payload and the movement does not violate posted weight 1 15 limitations on bridges, except as provided in sections 321.463, 1 16 321.471, and 321.474. A vehicle that is carrying an implement 1 17 of husbandry or equipment used primarily for construction of 1 18 permanent conservation practices and is exempted from the 1 19 permit requirements under this section shall be equipped 1 20 with an amber flashing light visible from the rear. If the 1 21 amber flashing light is obstructed by the loaded implement or 1 22 equipment, the loaded implement or equipment shall also be 1 23 equipped with and display an amber flashing light. The vehicle 1 24 shall also be equipped with warning flags on that portion of 1 25 the vehicle which protrudes into oncoming traffic, and shall 1 26 only operate from thirty minutes prior to sunrise to thirty 1 27 minutes following sunset. 1 28 Sec. 2. Section 321.457, subsection 3, Code 2015, is amended 1 29 to read as follows: 1 30 3. Fire fighting apparatus and authorized emergency 1 31 vehicles operated during daylight hours when transporting 1 32 poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural 1 33 nature which cannot be readily disassembled when required for 1 34 emergency repair of public service facilities or properties are 1 35 not subject to the limitations on overall length of vehicles 2 1 and combinations of vehicles imposed under this section. 2 2 However, for operation during nighttime hours, these vehicles 2 3 and the load being transported shall be equipped with a 2 4 sufficient number of clearance lamps on both sides and marker 2 5 lamps at the extreme ends of the projecting load to clearly 2 6 mark the dimensions of the load. A member of the state patrol 2 7 shall also be notified prior to the operation of the vehicle. 2 8 Sec. 3. Section 321.471, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2 9 2015, is amended to read as follows: 2 10 a. Local authorities with respect to a highway under their 2 11 jurisdiction may by ordinance or resolution prohibit the 2 12 operation of vehicles upon the highway or impose restrictions 2 13 as to the weight of vehicles to be operated upon the highway 2 14 for a total period of not to exceed ninety days in any one 2 15 calendar year, whenever the highway by reason of deterioration, 2 16 rain, snow, or other climatic conditions will be seriously 2 17 damaged or destroyed unless the use of vehicles on the 2 18 highway is prohibited or the permissible weights reduced. 2 19 The ordinance or resolution shall not apply to implements of 2 20 husbandry as defined in section 321.1, implements of husbandry 2 21 loaded on hauling units for transporting the implements to 2 22 locations for repair, authorized emergency vehicles, or fire 2 23 apparatus and road maintenance equipment owned by, under lease 2 24 to, or used in the performance of a contract with a state or 2 25 local authority. 2 26 Sec. 4. Section 321.471, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2 27 2015, is amended to read as follows: 2 28 a. Upon a finding that a bridge or culvert does not 2 29 meet established standards set forth by state and federal 2 30 authorities, local authorities may by ordinance or resolution 2 31 impose limitations for an indefinite period of time on 2 32 the weight of vehicles upon bridges or culverts located on 2 33 highways under their sole jurisdiction. The limitations shall 2 34 be effective when signs giving notice of the limitations 2 35 are erected. The ordinance or resolution shall not apply 3 1 to implements of husbandry loaded on hauling units for 3 2 transporting the implements to locations for purposes of 3 3 repair, authorized emergency vehicles, or to fire apparatus or 3 4 road maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in 3 5 the performance of a contract with a state or local authority. 3 6 Sec. 5. Section 321.474, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended 3 7 to read as follows: 3 8 1. The department shall have authority, as granted to 3 9 local authorities, to determine by resolution and to impose 3 10 restrictions as to the weight of vehicles, except implements of 3 11 husbandry as defined in section 321.1, implements of husbandry 3 12 loaded on hauling units for transporting the implements to 3 13 locations for repair, authorized emergency vehicles, and fire 3 14 apparatus and road maintenance equipment owned by, under 3 15 lease to, or used in the performance of a contract with a 3 16 state or local authority, operated upon any highway under 3 17 the jurisdiction of the department for a definite period of 3 18 time not to exceed twelve months. The restrictions shall be 3 19 effective when signs giving notice of the restrictions and 3 20 the expiration date of the restrictions are erected upon the 3 21 affected highway or portion of highway. 3 22 Sec. 6. Section 321.474, subsection 2, Code 2015, is amended 3 23 to read as follows: 3 24 2. Upon a finding that a bridge or culvert does not 3 25 meet established standards set forth by state and federal 3 26 authorities, the department may impose, by resolution, 3 27 restrictions for an indefinite period of time on the weight of 3 28 vehicles operated upon bridges or culverts located on highways 3 29 under its jurisdiction. The restrictions shall be effective 3 30 when signs giving notice of the restrictions are erected. The 3 31 restrictions shall not apply to implements of husbandry loaded 3 32 on hauling units for transporting the implements to locations 3 33 for purposes of repair, to authorized emergency vehicles, or to 3 34 fire apparatus or road maintenance equipment owned by, under 3 35 lease to, or used in the performance of a contract with a state 4 1 or local authority. 4 2 EXPLANATION 4 3 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 4 4 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 4 5 Current law provides that fire apparatus are not subject 4 6 to certain motor vehicle size, weight, and load limit 4 7 requirements, and the permit requirements of Code chapter 321E. 4 8 Current law also provides that fire apparatus are not subject 4 9 to local ordinances or departmental regulations restricting 4 10 vehicle weight. 4 11 The bill broadens these exceptions to include all authorized 4 12 emergency vehicles. Authorized emergency vehicles include fire 4 13 department vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances, emergency 4 14 vehicles owned by the government, and privately owned vehicles 4 15 authorized by the director of transportation under Code section 4 16 321.451. LSB 1672SS (1) 86 ns/nh
