1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to traffic regulations; requiring certain
1.3 	vehicles up to 80,000 pounds to have access to
1.4 	terminals and facilities; requiring training and
1.5 	certification for peace officers who engage in vehicle
1.6 	weight enforcement; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
1.7 	sections 169.824, subdivision 2; 169.85, subdivisions
1.8 	1, 6.
1.9 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.10 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.824,
1.11 	subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.12 		Subd. 2.Gross vehicle weight of all axles.  (a)
1.13 	Notwithstanding the provisions of section 169.85, the gross
1.14 	vehicle weight of all axles of a vehicle or combination of
1.15 	vehicles shall not exceed:
1.16 	(1) 80,000 pounds for any vehicle or combination of
1.17 	vehicles on all state trunk highways as defined in section
1.18 	160.02, subdivision 29, and for all routes designated under
1.19 	section 169.832, subdivision 11;
1.20 	(2) 73,280 pounds for any vehicle or combination of
1.21 	vehicles with five axles or less on all routes, other than state
1.22 	trunk highways and routes that are designated under section
1.23 	169.832, subdivision 11, except that a vehicle needing
1.24 	reasonable access to a terminal or facilities for food, fuel,
1.25 	repairs, and rest, located within three miles of a ten-ton
1.26 	route, may not exceed 80,000 pounds.  "Terminal" means any
1.27 	location where freight either originates, terminates, or is
2.1 	handled in the transportation process, or where commercial motor
2.2 	carriers maintain operating facilities; and
2.3 	(3) 80,000 pounds for any vehicle or combination of
2.4 	vehicles with six or more axles on all routes, other than state
2.5 	trunk highways and routes that are designated under section
2.6 	169.832, subdivision 11.
2.7 	(b) The maximum weights specified in this section for five
2.8 	consecutive axles shall not apply to a four-axle ready-mix
2.9 	concrete truck which was equipped with a fifth axle prior to
2.10 	June 1, 1981.  The maximum gross weight on four or fewer
2.11 	consecutive axles of vehicles excepted by this clause shall not
2.12 	exceed any maximum weight specified for four or fewer
2.13 	consecutive axles in this section.

2.14 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.85,
2.15 	subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.16 		Subdivision 1.Driver to stop for weighing.  (a) The
2.17 	driver of a vehicle that has been lawfully stopped may be
2.18 	required by an officer to submit the vehicle and load to a
2.19 	weighing by means of portable or stationary scales.
2.20 	(b) In addition, the officer may require that the vehicle
2.21 	be driven to the nearest available scales, but only if:
2.22 	(1) the distance to the scales is no further than five
2.23 	miles, or if the distance from the point where the vehicle is
2.24 	stopped to the vehicle's destination is not increased by more
2.25 	than ten miles as a result of proceeding to the nearest
2.26 	available scales; and
2.27 	(2) if the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle, no more
2.28 	than two other commercial motor vehicles are waiting to be
2.29 	inspected at the scale.
2.30 	(c) Official traffic control devices as authorized by
2.31 	section 169.06 may be used to direct the driver to the nearest
2.32 	scale.
2.33 	(d) When a truck weight enforcement operation is conducted
2.34 	by means of portable or stationary scales ~~and~~ ,signs giving
2.35 	notice of the operation ~~are~~ must be posted within the highway
2.36 	right-of-way and adjacent to the roadway within two miles of the
3.1 	operation~~,~~.The driver of a truck or combination of vehicles
3.2 	registered for or weighing in excess of 12,000 pounds shall
3.3 	proceed to the scale site and submit the vehicle to weighing and
3.4 	inspection.

3.5 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.85,
3.6 	subdivision 6, is amended to read:
3.7 		Subd. 6.Officer defined.  When used in this section, the
3.8 	word "officer" means a ~~peace officer or~~ member of the State
3.9 	Patrol,an employee of the Department of Public Safety described
3.10 	in section 299D.06, or a peace officer employed by a local unit
3.11 	of government who is trained and certified in weight enforcement
3.12 	by the Department of Public Safety.  No person who is not an
3.13 	employee of the Department of Public Safety or a peace officer
3.14 	trained and certified as provided in this subdivision is
3.15 	authorized to stop vehicles for weight enforcement.