1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to highways; allowing ten-ton vehicle loading
1.3 	under certain circumstances; allowing seven-ton
1.4 	vehicle loading during spring weight restrictions
1.5 	under certain circumstances; amending Minnesota
1.6 	Statutes 2004, sections 169.823, subdivision 1;
1.7 	169.87, subdivision 2.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.823,
1.10 	subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.11 		Subdivision 1.Pneumatic-tired vehicle.  No vehicle or
1.12 	combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires shall be
1.13 	operated upon the highways of this state:
1.14 	(1) where the gross weight on any wheel exceeds 9,000
1.15 	pounds, except that on designated local routes and state trunk
1.16 	highways the gross weight on any single wheel shall not exceed 
1.17 	10,000 pounds;
1.18 	(2) where the gross weight on any single axle exceeds
1.19 	18,000 pounds, except that on designated local routes and state
1.20 	trunk highways the gross weight on any single axle shall not
1.21 	exceed 20,000 pounds;
1.22 	(3) where the maximum wheel load:
1.23 	(i) on the foremost and rearmost steering axles, exceeds
1.24 	600 pounds per inch of tire width or the manufacturer's
1.25 	recommended load, whichever is less; or
1.26 	(ii) on other axles, exceeds 500 pounds per inch of tire
2.1 	width or the manufacturer's recommended load, whichever is less.
2.2 	This item applies to new vehicles manufactured after August 1,
2.3 	1991.  For vehicles manufactured before August 2, 1991, the
2.4 	maximum weight per inch of tire width is 600 pounds per inch or
2.5 	the manufacturer's recommended load, whichever is less, until
2.6 	August 1, 1996.  After July 31, 1996, this item applies to all
2.7 	vehicles regardless of date of manufacture;
2.8 	(4) where the gross weight on any axle of a tridem exceeds
2.9 	15,000 pounds, except that for vehicles to which an additional
2.10 	axle has been added prior to June 1, 1981, the maximum gross
2.11 	weight on any axle of a tridem may be up to 16,000 pounds
2.12 	provided the gross weight of the tridem combination does not
2.13 	exceed 39,900 pounds where the first and third axles of the
2.14 	tridem are spaced nine feet apart;
2.15 	(5) where the gross weight on any group of axles exceeds
2.16 	the weights permitted under sections 169.822 to 169.829 with any
2.17 	or all of the interior axles disregarded, and with an exterior
2.18 	axle disregarded if the exterior axle is a variable load axle
2.19 	that is not carrying its intended weight, and their gross
2.20 	weights subtracted from the gross weight of all axles of the
2.21 	group under consideration.

2.22 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.87,
2.23 	subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.24 		Subd. 2.Seasonal load restriction.  Except for portland
2.25 	cement concrete roads, between the dates set by the commissioner
2.26 	of transportation each year, the weight on any single axle shall
2.27 	not exceed five tons during the first four weeks and seven tons
2.28 	thereafter on a county highway, town road, or city street that
2.29 	has not been restricted as provided in subdivision 1.  The gross
2.30 	weight on consecutive axles shall not exceed the gross weight
2.31 	allowed in sections 169.822 to 169.829 multiplied by a factor of
2.32 	five divided by nine.  This reduction shall not apply to the
2.33 	gross vehicle weight.

2.34 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.35 	Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final
2.36 	enactment.