Bill Text: MI SB0035 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Traffic control; traffic regulation; maximum length allowed for a recreational vehicle in combination with a trailer; revise. Amends secs. 719 & 721 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.719 & 257.721).

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-04-17 - Assigned Pa 0080'12 With Immediate Effect [SB0035 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2011-SB0035-Engrossed.html

---

SB-0035, As Passed Senate, November 2, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSTITUTE FOR

 

SENATE BILL NO. 35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled

 

"Michigan vehicle code,"

 

by amending sections 719 and 721 (MCL 257.719 and 257.721), section

 

719 as amended by 2009 PA 37 and section 721 as amended by 2000 PA

 

154.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 719. (1) A vehicle unloaded or with load shall not exceed

 

a height of 13 feet 6 inches. The owner of a vehicle that collides

 

with a lawfully established bridge or viaduct is liable for all

 

damage and injury resulting from a collision caused by the height

 

of the vehicle, whether the clearance of the bridge or viaduct is

 

posted or not.

 

     (2) Lengths described in this subsection shall be known as the

 

normal length maximum. Except as provided in subsection (3), the

 

following vehicles and combinations of vehicles shall not be

 

operated on a highway in this state in excess of these lengths:

 

     (a) Subject to subsection (8), any single vehicle: 40 feet; a

 

crib vehicle on which logs are loaded lengthwise of the vehicle:

 

42.5 feet; any single bus or motor home: 45 feet.

 

     (b) Articulated buses: 65 feet.

 

     (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a

 

combination of a truck and semitrailer or trailer, or a truck

 

tractor, semitrailer, and trailer, or truck tractor and semitrailer

 

or trailer, designed and used exclusively to transport assembled

 

motor vehicles or bodies, recreational vehicles, or boats: , that

 

does not exceed a length of 65 feet. Stinger-steered combinations:

 

shall not exceed a length of 75 feet. The load on the combinations

 

of vehicles described in this subdivision may extend an additional

 

3 feet beyond the front and 4 feet beyond the rear of the

 

combinations of vehicles. Retractable extensions used to support

 

and secure the load that do not extend beyond the allowable

 

overhang for the front and rear shall not be included in

 

determining length of a loaded vehicle or vehicle combination.

 

     (d) Truck tractor and semitrailer combinations: no overall

 

length, the semitrailer: not to exceed 50 feet.

 

     (e) Truck and semitrailer or trailer: 59 feet.

 

     (f) Except as provided in subdivision (g), truck tractor,

 

semitrailer, and trailer, or truck tractor and 2 semitrailers: 59

 

feet.

 

     (g) A truck tractor, semitrailer, and trailer, or a truck

 

tractor and 2 semitrailers, in which no semitrailer or trailer is

 

more than 28-1/2 feet long: 65 feet. This subdivision only applies

 

while the vehicle is being used for a business purpose reasonably

 

related to picking up or delivering a load and only if each

 

semitrailer or trailer is equipped with a device or system capable

 

of mechanically dumping construction materials or dumping

 

construction materials by force of gravity.

 

     (h) More than 1 motor vehicle, wholly or partially assembled,

 

in combination, utilizing 1 tow bar or 3 saddle mounts with full

 

mount mechanisms and utilizing the motive power of 1 of the

 

vehicles in combination: , not to exceed 55 feet.

 

     (i) A recreational vehicle that has its own motive power, in

 

combination with a trailer: 65 feet or, if the operator of the

 

recreational vehicle has a group commercial motor vehicle

 

designation on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license, 75

 

feet.

 

     (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the following vehicles and

 

combinations of vehicles shall not be operated on a designated

 

highway of this state in excess of these lengths:

 

     (a) Truck tractor and semitrailer combinations: no overall

 

length limit, the semitrailer not to exceed 53 feet. All

 

semitrailers longer than 50 feet shall have a wheelbase of 37.5 to

 

40.5 feet plus or minus 0.5 feet, measured from the kingpin

 

coupling to the center of the rear axle or the center of the rear

 

axle assembly. A semitrailer with a length longer than 50 feet

 

shall not operate with more than 3 axles on the semitrailer. City,

 

village, or county authorities may prohibit stops of vehicles with

 

a semitrailer longer than 50 feet within their jurisdiction unless

 

the stop occurs along appropriately designated routes, or is

 

necessary for emergency purposes or to reach shippers, receivers,

 

warehouses, and terminals along designated routes.

 

     (b) Truck and semitrailer or trailer combinations: 65 feet,

 

except that a person may operate a truck and semitrailer or trailer

 

designed and used to transport saw logs, pulpwood, and tree length

 

poles that does not exceed an overall length of 70 feet or a crib

 

vehicle and semitrailer or trailer designed and used to transport

 

saw logs that does not exceed an overall length of 75 feet. A crib

 

vehicle and semitrailer or trailer designed to and used to

 

transport saw logs shall not exceed a gross vehicle weight of

 

164,000 pounds. A person may operate a truck tractor and

 

semitrailer designed and used to transport saw logs, pulpwood, and

 

tree length wooden poles with a load overhang to the rear of the

 

semitrailer which does not exceed 6 feet if the semitrailer does

 

not exceed 50 feet in length.

 

     (c) Notwithstanding subsection (4)(d), a truck tractor with a

 

log slasher unit and a log saw unit: no overall limit if the length

 

of each unit does not exceed 28-1/2 feet, or the overall length of

 

the log slasher unit and the log saw unit, as measured from the

 

front of the first towed unit to the rear of the second towed unit

 

while the units are coupled together, does not exceed 58 feet. The

 

coupling devices of the truck tractor and units set forth in this

 

subdivision shall meet the requirements established under the motor

 

carrier safety act of 1963, 1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.25.

 

     (d) Truck tractor and 2 semitrailers, or truck tractor,

 

semitrailer, and trailer combinations: no overall length limit, if

 

the length of each semitrailer or trailer does not exceed 28-1/2

 

feet each, or the overall length of the semitrailer and trailer, or

 

2 semitrailers as measured from the front of the first towed unit

 

to the rear of the second towed unit while the units are coupled

 

together does not exceed 58 feet.

 

     (e) More than 1 motor vehicle, wholly or partially assembled,

 

in combination, utilizing 1 tow bar or 3 saddle mounts with full

 

mount mechanisms and utilizing the motive power of 1 of the

 

vehicles in combination: , not to exceed 75 feet.

 

     (4) The following combinations and movements are prohibited:

 

     (a) A truck shall not haul more than 1 trailer or semitrailer,

 

and a truck tractor shall not haul more than 2 semitrailers or 1

 

semitrailer and 1 trailer in combination at any 1 time, except that

 

a farm tractor may haul 2 wagons or trailers, or garbage and refuse

 

haulers may, during daylight hours, haul up to 4 trailers for

 

garbage and refuse collection purposes, not exceeding in any

 

combination a total length of 55 feet and at a speed limit not to

 

exceed 15 miles per hour.

 

     (b) A combination of vehicles or a vehicle shall not have more

 

than 11 axles, except when operating under a valid permit issued by

 

the state transportation department or a local authority with

 

respect to a highway under its jurisdiction.

 

     (c) Any combination of vehicles not specifically authorized

 

under this section is prohibited.

 

     (d) Except as provided in subsection (3)(c), a combination of

 

2 semitrailers pulled by a truck tractor, unless each semitrailer

 

uses a fifth wheel connecting assembly that conforms to the

 

requirements of the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963 PA 181,

 

MCL 480.11 to 480.25.

 

     (e) A vehicle or a combination of vehicles shall not carry a

 

load extending more than 3 feet beyond the front of the lead

 

vehicle.

 

     (f) A vehicle described in subsections (2)(e) and (3)(e)

 

employing triple saddle mounts unless all wheels that are in

 

contact with the roadway have operating brakes.

 

     (5) All combinations of vehicles under this section shall

 

employ connecting assemblies and lighting devices that are in

 

compliance with the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963 PA 181,

 

MCL 480.11 to 480.22 480.25.

 

     (6) The total gross weight of a truck tractor, semitrailer,

 

and trailer combination or a truck tractor and 2 semitrailers

 

combination that exceeds 59 feet in length shall not exceed a ratio

 

of 400 pounds per engine net horsepower delivered to clutch or its

 

equivalent specified in the handbook published by the society of

 

automotive engineers, inc. (SAE), 1977 edition.

 

     (7) A person who violates this section is responsible for a

 

civil infraction. The owner of the vehicle may be charged with a

 

violation of this section.

 

     (8) The provisions in subsections (2)(a) and (3)(b)

 

prescribing the length of a crib vehicle on which logs are loaded

 

lengthwise do not apply unless section 127(d) of title 23 of the

 

United States Code, 23 USC 127 , is amended to allow crib vehicles

 

carrying logs to be loaded as described in this section.

 

     (9) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Designated highway" means a highway approved by the state

 

transportation department or a local authority with respect to a

 

highway under its jurisdiction.

 

     (b) "Length" means the total length of a vehicle, or

 

combination of vehicles, including any load the vehicle is

 

carrying. Length does not include devices described in 23 CFR

 

658.16 and 23 CFR part 658, appendix d, . 23 CFR 658.16 and 23 CFR

 

part 658, appendix d, as on file with the secretary of state are

 

adopted by reference. A safety or energy conservation device shall

 

be excluded from a determination of length only if it is not

 

designed or used for the carrying of cargo, freight, or equipment.

 

Semitrailers and trailers shall be measured from the front vertical

 

plane of the foremost transverse load supporting structure to the

 

rearmost transverse load supporting structure. Vehicle components

 

not excluded by law shall be included in the measurement of the

 

length, height, and width of the vehicle.

 

     (c) "Stinger-steered combinations" means a truck tractor and

 

semitrailer combination in which the fifth wheel is located on a

 

drop frame located behind and below the rearmost axle of the power

 

unit.

 

     Sec. 721. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5),

 

a passenger vehicle or a pickup truck shall not be driven upon a

 

highway drawing or having attached to the passenger vehicle or

 

pickup truck more than 1 vehicle or trailer.

 

     (2) The drawbar or other connection between 2 vehicles, 1 of

 

which is towing or drawing the other on a highway, shall not exceed

 

15 feet in length from 1 vehicle to the other. If the connection

 

consists of a chain, rope, or cable, there shall be displayed upon

 

the connection a red flag or other signal or cloth not less than 12

 

inches both in length and width.

 

     (3) A vehicle or trailer towed or drawn by a vehicle shall be

 

attached to the vehicle with forms of coupling devices in a manner

 

so that when the combination is operated in a linear alignment on a

 

level, smooth, paved surface, the movement of the towed or drawn

 

vehicle or trailer does not deviate more than 3 inches to either

 

side of the path of the towing vehicle that tows or draws it. The

 

vehicle or trailer shall also be connected to the towing vehicle by

 

suitable safety chains or devices, 1 on each side of the coupling

 

and at the extreme outer edge of the vehicle or trailer. Each chain

 

or device and connection used shall be of sufficient strength to

 

haul the vehicle or trailer when loaded. In the case of an

 

implement of husbandry with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross

 

combination weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, the safety

 

chains or devices required under this subsection shall conform to

 

the federal motor carrier safety regulations requirements contained

 

in 49 C.F.R. CFR 393.70(d)(5).

 

     (4) A pickup truck with a fifth wheel assembly shall not tow a

 

semitrailer unless the fifth wheel assembly conforms to the

 

standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963

 

PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22 480.25.

 

     (5) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a pickup truck with a

 

towing rating equal to, or greater than, the weight being towed,

 

equipped with a fifth wheel assembly that conforms with the

 

standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963

 

PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22 480.25, towing attached with a

 

semitrailer designed for recreational living purposes may tow an

 

additional trailer or semitrailer under the following conditions:

 

     (a) The additional trailer or semitrailer shall be attached

 

pursuant to as provided in subsection (3). The safety chains

 

described in subsection (3) shall be securely attached at the

 

extreme outer edge of the attached trailer or semitrailer with a

 

locking mechanism. The towing vehicle hitch shall be of substantial

 

material and shall be attached in a proper and skillful manner to

 

the frame of the towing vehicle.

 

     (b) The total length of the pickup truck, semitrailer designed

 

for recreational living purposes, and additional trailer or

 

semitrailer, and load, shall not exceed 65 75 feet on any highways

 

in this state.

 

     (c) The gross weight of the additional trailer or semitrailer

 

towed or drawn shall not exceed the empty weight of the pickup

 

truck or the empty weight of the semitrailer.

 

     (6) For the purposes of this section, a pickup truck towing a

 

semitrailer and additional trailer shall be considered a passenger

 

vehicle and shall comply with the speed limit requirements of

 

section 627(5).

 

     (7) A person who violates this section is responsible for a

 

civil infraction.