TANDEM AXLE ASSEMBLIES; WEIGHT LIMITS S.B. 836 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
ON THIRD READING
Senate Bill 836 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Tom Casperson
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to revise a provision allowing a legal combination of vehicles that has one tandem axle at the gross permissible weight of 16,000 pounds per axle to operate on designated highways only if no other tandem axle assembly in the combination exceeds a gross weight of 13,000 pounds per axle.
The Code prescribes maximum axle loads and gross vehicle weights for various configurations of vehicles. Except as otherwise provided, the maximum axle load may not exceed a designated number of pounds (known as the normal loading maximum) based on the distance between axles. When normal loading is in effect, the Michigan Department of Transportation, or a local authority with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may designate certain highways, or sections of highways, where bridges and road surfaces are adequate for heavier loading, on which the maximum tandem axle assembly loading may not exceed 16,000 pounds for any axle of the assembly, if there is no other axle within nine feet of any axle of the assembly.
On a legal combination of vehicles, only one tandem axle assembly is permitted on the designated highways at the gross permissible weight of 16,000 pounds per axle if both of the following are met:
-- There is no other axle within nine feet of any axle of the assembly.
-- No other tandem axle assembly in the combination of vehicles exceeds a gross weight of 13,000 pounds per axle.
Under the bill, a combination of vehicles could operate on designated highways with not more than one tandem axle assembly having a gross weight of 16,000 pounds per axle if there were no other axle within nine feet of the assembly.
MCL 257.722 Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State and could have a minimal negative fiscal impact on local government. A violation of the weight limits in Section 722 is a civil infraction. Under the Michigan Vehicle Code, civil infraction revenue is allocated to public libraries. If the bill reduced the amount of civil fines imposed for violations of Section 722, public libraries would experience a revenue loss.
Date Completed: 5-22-18 Fiscal Analyst: Ryan Bergan
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.