ANNUAL/MULTIPLE-TRIP VEHICLE PERMIT

House Bill 4644 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Triston Cole

Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Complete to 6-5-17

SUMMARY:

Under the Michigan Vehicle Code (at MCL 257.725), upon receipt of a written application and good cause being shown, a jurisdictional authority may issue a written special permit authorizing an applicant to operate upon or remove from a highway a vehicle or combination of vehicles that are of a size, weight, or load exceeding the maximum specified in the code or otherwise not in conformity with the code.

House Bill 4644 would:

·       Amend Section 725 of the Michigan Vehicle Code to require a jurisdictional authority to allow an applicant to obtain an annual multiple-trip permit for a power unit without requiring a separate permit for each individual piece of equipment carried by that power unit.

·       Increase MDOT fees for multiple-trip/annual-basis permits as follows: 

-   for vehicles exceeding standard weight/load limits the bill would increase the multiple-trip/annual-basis permit fee from $100 to $264;

-   for vehicles exceeding standard size limits only, the bill would increase the multiple-trip/annual-basis permit fee from $30 to $264.

As defined in Section 725, "jurisdictional authority" means the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), a county road commission, or a "local authority" (i.e. city of village) having jurisdiction over the highway upon which a vehicle is proposed to be moved under the permitting provisions of Section 725.  For the balance of this analysis, we will refer to jurisdictional authorities other than MDOT as local road agencies.

The bill is described in more detail below.

Permitting Authority

House Bill 4644 would amend Section 725 of the Michigan Vehicle Code to require a jurisdictional authority to allow an applicant to obtain an annual multiple-trip permit for a power unit without requiring a separate permit for each individual piece of equipment carried by that power unit.

The bill specifies all of the following would apply to an annual multiple-trip permit:

·         The permit could be stored and presented by the holder using a mobile device.

·         The permit would have to specify that the vehicle for which it is issued could only travel in the extreme right-hand lane available for travel unless passing a slower-moving vehicle or for other safety reasons.

·         The permit could not contain any restrictions on daily operating hours and would only include Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend as restricted holidays.  The permit could not restrict travel on weekends.  

·         The permit would not require travel below the posted speed limit.

·         The permit could not require the applicant to input a route or obtain approval of a route when applying for or operating under it.

·         The permit would require the applicant display a red light and an orange flag or cloth, or a red light and a red flag or cloth after sunset in the manner specified in Section 693 of the Michigan Vehicle Code.

Permit Fees

Section 725 currently establishes fees associated with issuing permits for vehicles exceeding standard size/weight/load limits.  The fees vary depending on whether issued for a single trip or for multiple trips/annual basis; whether issued for vehicles exceeding standard weight/load limits or size limits only; and whether issued by MDOT or a local road agency.

With respect to vehicles that exceed standard weight or load limits, or which exceed both standard size limits and standard weight/load limits, Section 725 currently authorizes MDOT to charge a permit fee of $50 for single trip permits, and $100 for multiple trip/annual-basis permits.

With respect to vehicles that exceed standard size limits only, but not standard weight/load limits, Section 725 currently authorizes MDOT to charge a permit fee of $15 for single trips permits, and $30 for multiple-trip or annual-basis permits.

House Bill 4644 would retain MDOT single trip fees of $50 for vehicles exceeding standard weight/load limits and $15 for vehicles exceeding standard size limits only.  However, the bill would increase MDOT fees for multiple trip/annual basis permits: for vehicles exceeding standard weight/load limits the bill would increase the multiple- trip/annual-basis permit fee from $100 to $264; for vehicles exceeding standard size limits only, the bill would increase the multiple-trip/annual-basis permit fee from $30 to $264.

The bill would not change current provisions establishing maximum permit fees for local road agencies.  See the chart on the following page.



Oversize/Overweight Permit Fees (1)

Section 725, Michigan Vehicle Code

MDOT (2)

Current Law

House Bill  4644

Oversize/Overweight (3) Single Trip

$50

No change

Oversize/Overweight   Multiple/Annual

$100

$264

Oversize Only  Single Trip

$15

No change

Oversize Only  Multiple/Annual

$30

$264

Local Road Agencies (4)

Current Law

House Bill  4644

Oversize/Overweight  Single Trip

$50.00

No change

Oversize/Overweight  Multiple/Annual

$100.00

No change

Oversize Only  Single Trip

Limited to

 Admin. cost (5)

No change

Oversize Only Multiple/Annual

(1). For purposes of this table, "Oversize" means vehicles in excess of standard size limit of the Michigan Vehicle Code; "Overweight" means vehicles in excess of standard weight or load limits of the Michigan Vehicle Code.

(2) For permits issued by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Section 725 prescribes the permit fee amounts: "The fee charged … shall be…." 

Section 725 allows the department to increase "oversize only" permit fees once a year, by no more than the percentage increase in the urban consumer price index.

(3) "Oversize/Overweight" means vehicles that exceed standard weight/load limits or both standard weight/load limits and standard size limits.

(4) For permits issued by local road agencies, Section 725 establishes permit fee maximums: "the fee charged … shall be not more than…."  Section 725 does not provide for fee increases by local road agencies.

(5) Fees for permits related to movement of certain types of farm machinery are also limited to administrative cost.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Fiscal analysis in progress.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   William E. Hamilton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.