Senate Bill 2646

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 63-5-51.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ISSUE ANNUAL BLANKET PERMITS FOR VEHICLES TRANSPORTING COMMODITIES IN SEALED CONTAINERIZED CARGO UNITS FOR IMPORT AND EXPORT FROM A PORT; TO PROVIDE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ANNUAL BLANKET PERMIT; TO PROVIDE THE FEE FOR AN ANNUAL BLANKET PERMIT; TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PROMULGATE RULES REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF A BLANKET PERMIT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 63-5-51.1, Mississippi Code of 1972:

63-5-51.1. (1) In addition to other permits authorized to be issued for non-divisible overweight loads, the Department of Transportation is authorized to issue annual blanket permits for vehicles transporting commodities in sealed containerized cargo units for export or import moving to or from a port.

(2) An annual blanket permit may be issued for a pulling unit transporting a sealed container having a maximum gross vehicle weight of ninety-five thousand (95,000) pounds with a maximum tandem axle weight of forty-four thousand (44,000) pounds. The fee for an annual blanket permit shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and the permit shall expire one (1) year from the date of issuance.

(3) An annual permit shall be maintained in the pulling unit and available for inspection along with a copy of the international billing lading. Vehicles permitted for movement of overweight sealed containerized units are authorized for twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week continuous movement.

(4) The Department of Transportation may establish rules and regulations for the issuance of such blanket permits.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.