August 19, 2009, Introduced by Senator BARCIA and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 719a (MCL 257.719a), as amended by 2009 PA 32.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 719a. (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
act, a person shall not operate a towing vehicle to which a mobile
home or park model trailer is attached on a street or highway if
that mobile home or park model trailer is more than 45 feet in
length or more than 60 feet in length when combined with the towing
vehicle, is more than 12-1/2 feet in height, and has an actual body
width of more than 102 inches at base rail, unless that person
possesses either of the following:
(a) A permit issued by the jurisdictional authority under this
section.
(b) A special permit issued by the jurisdictional authority
under section 725.
(2) A jurisdictional authority may issue to a mobile home or
park model trailer transport company, a mobile home or park model
trailer manufacturer, or a mobile home or park model trailer dealer
an annual permit to move on a street or highway, in the ordinary
course of that company's, manufacturer's, or dealer's business, a
mobile home or park model trailer that conforms to each of the
following:
(a) The mobile home or park model trailer is not more than 12
feet wide.
(b) The actual body length of the mobile home or park model
trailer is not more than 80 feet and the combined length of the
mobile home or park model trailer and towing vehicle is not more
than 105 feet or the total length of a combination of mobile homes
or park model trailers is not more than 80 feet and the total
length of a combination of mobile homes or park model trailers and
towing vehicle is not more than 105 feet.
(3) A jurisdictional authority under section 725 may issue a
special permit for the movement of a mobile home or park model
trailer on a street or highway within its jurisdiction if the width
of that mobile home or park model trailer conforms to both of the
following:
(a) The mobile home or park model trailer is not more than 16
feet wide plus normal appurtenances or eaves that extend not more
than 6 inches from any side of the mobile home or park model
trailer.
(b) The length of the mobile home or park model trailer
complies with subsection (2)(b).
(4) A person operating a towing vehicle under subsection (3)
shall transport a mobile home or park model trailer only on the
lane farthest to the right of that person. A person shall not move
a mobile home or park model trailer that is 14 or more feet in
width including an eave of 2 feet when the wind velocity exceeds 25
miles per hour.
(5) A jurisdictional authority shall not issue a permit
described in subsection (2) or (3) for the transport of a mobile
home or park model trailer on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday,
from the noon before until the noon after a holiday, or during the
hours between sunset and sunrise.
(6) A jurisdictional authority shall provide and a person
operating a towing vehicle shall comply with all of the following
in a permit issued under this section:
(a) The date, day, and time period during which a mobile home
or park model trailer subject to the permit may be moved on a
highway.
(b) Notice that the permit is conditioned upon its holder's
compliance with the permit's terms and with the law.
(c) Notice that the operator of a towing vehicle transporting
the mobile home or park model trailer shall operate the towing
vehicle on a highway as follows:
(i) At a safe speed and in a safe manner that will not impede
motor traffic.
(ii) Only when the surface condition of the highway is not
slippery.
(iii) In compliance with seasonal load restrictions.
(d) For a mobile home or park model trailer and towing vehicle
that, when combined, are more than 80 feet in length or more than
12 feet wide, all of the following:
(i) Notice that the mobile home or park model trailer shall be
equipped with 2 flashing amber lights on the rear of the mobile
home or park model trailer and 1 flashing amber light on the top of
the towing vehicle.
(ii) Notice that the mobile home or park model trailer shall be
equipped with stop lights and directional lights on the rear of the
mobile home or park model trailer.
(iii) Notice that signs with the words "oversize load" shall be
displayed on the front bumper of the towing vehicle and the back of
the mobile home or park model trailer or, in the case of mobile
homes or park model trailers that are 16 feet wide, notice that
signs with the words "16-ft wide load" shall be displayed on the
front bumper of the towing vehicle and the back of the mobile home
or park model trailer.
(iv) Notice that the signs identified in subparagraph (iii) shall
be of durable material, in good condition, with black lettering on
interstate yellow background, and that each letter shall be of
block lettering not less than 12 inches high at the front and not
less than 16 inches high at the rear of the unit.
(v) Notice that a vehicle escort is required on those roads
where the state police consider escort vehicles necessary for
highway safety.
(7) Signs and other special identification for escort vehicles
shall
conform to state transportation department requirements for
all
escort vehicles for oversized loads not be required, but each
escort vehicle shall be equipped with and use a flashing, rotating,
or oscillating amber light when escorting a vehicle under this
section.
(8) For a mobile home or park model trailer being moved
pursuant to this section or section 725, the distance between
mobile home or park model trailer axle centers shall not be less
than 34 inches. The axles and tires shall meet standards
established by the state transportation department.
(9) This section does not grant or give authority to the state
transportation department that did not exist on May 1, 1982, in
accordance with 23 USC 127.
(10) A person that violates this section is responsible for a
civil infraction and may be assessed a civil fine of not more than
$500.00. The owner of the towing vehicle may be charged with a
violation of this section.
(11) The state transportation commission may order the state
transportation department to immediately cease issuing all special
permits to move on the highways of the lower peninsula of this
state a mobile home or park model trailer that is more than 14-1/3
feet wide plus normal appurtenances that extend no more than 6
inches, and an eave that extends no more than 2 feet from the width
of that mobile home or park model trailer if the state
transportation commission makes a determination that those permits
create an unreasonable safety hazard or hazards. The state
transportation commission shall notify all other jurisdictional
authorities of a determination made under this subsection. The
order shall not prohibit the issuance of a special permit for the
movement of a mobile home or park model trailer if a binding
contract for the movement of that mobile home or park model trailer
was executed before the commission determination of an unreasonable
safety hazard or hazards.
(12) As used in this section:
(a) "Jurisdictional authority" means the state transportation
department, a county road commission, or a local authority that has
jurisdiction over a street or highway on which a mobile home is
proposed to be moved.
(b) "Mobile home" means any of the following:
(i) A prebuilt housing module.
(ii) That term as defined in section 2 of the mobile home
commission act, 1987 PA 96, MCL 125.2302.
(iii) A section of a mobile home as that term is defined in
subparagraph (ii).