FARM VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS; EASE RESTRICTIONS
House Bill 4583
Sponsor: Rep. Ron Jelinek
Committee: Agriculture and Resource Management
Complete to 4-20-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4583 AS INTRODUCED 4-17-01
House Bill 4583 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to ease the weight limits for farm vehicles under certain conditions. Currently a police officer, or a duly authorized agent of the state transportation department or a county road commission may stop a vehicle suspected of being overweight, and have its driver submit to weighing the vehicle (by either portable or stationery scales, or at the nearest weighing station). If the vehicle is overweight, a driving penalty and fine (based on the amount of excess weight) is assessed. House Bill 4583 would retain these provisions, but the bill specifies that if the vehicle being subjected to weighing was determined to contain a farm product that had been loaded onto the vehicle directly from a farm field or from a farm storage facility, then the police officer or authorized agent would be prohibited from issuing a citation to the driver or the owner unless the weight limit applicable to that vehicle had been exceeded by more than 10 percent.
MCL 257.724
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.