SEMITRAILER WHEELBASE LENGTH LIMITS                                               H.B. 4956 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4956 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Triston Cole

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to delete a wheelbase length requirement for certain semitrailers.

The Code prohibits certain vehicles and combinations of vehicles from operating on a designated highway in Michigan in excess of specified vehicle length limits.

For truck tractor and semitrailer combinations, the semitrailer may not exceed 53 feet. All semitrailers longer than 50 feet must have a wheelbase of 37.5 to 40.5 feet plus or minus 0.5 foot, measured from the kingpin coupling to the center of the rear axle or the center of the rear axle assembly. The bill would remove the wheelbase requirement.

Under the Code, truck tractor and lowboy semitrailer combinations have no maximum length, if the lowboy semitrailer does not exceed 59 feet, except as otherwise provided. A lowboy semitrailer wheelbase must not exceed 55 feet as measured from the kingpin coupling to the center of the rear axle. The bill also would remove this wheelbase requirement.

MCL 257.719                                                           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. The bill could reduce the number of civil infractions for violations of the wheelbase length requirements, although there is no way to know if that would be the case. A reduction in civil infraction revenue would reduce revenue dedicated to public libraries.

Date Completed:  12-12-17                                                  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.