HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2592

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to oversize and overweight vehicles and loads.

Brief Description:  Harmonizing oversize vehicle permit laws.

Sponsors:  Representatives R. Fisher, Schmidt, Wood and Springer; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, January 31, 1994, DP;

  Passed House, February 14, 1994, 96-0;

  Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; Orr; Quall; Romero; Sheldon; Shin and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  The Department of Transportation (DOT) may issue a special overweight permit for the operation of a log truck on a public highway.  If a log truck is licensed to its maximum legal gross weight of 68,000 pounds, a special permit for an additional 6,800 pounds may be issued for an annual fee of $50, if the axle loading and spacing requirements are met.

In 1990 the transfer or replacement fee for other overweight special permits was increased from $5 to $14.  The transfer and replacement fees for log truck special permits were inadvertently excluded from the fee increase.

The DOT issues a special overdimensional permit for the movement of a 14-foot wide by 85-foot long, non-reducible load for an annual fee of $150.  The category was intended for the movement of manufactured housing, although the term "manufactured housing" was not included in the legislation.  This has caused some confusion because the dimensions of the non-reducible load do not always coincide with the specifications of the permit.

New language was added during the 1993 session which allows the department to sell any of its overdimensional permits for periods up to one year.  Prior to this change, overdimensional permits were valid for 30 days.  Operators currently using the 14-foot by 85-foot, annual manufactured housing permit to move non-related loads can now purchase other overdimensional permits for periods up to one year.

Summary of Bill:  The transfer or replacement fee for a log truck special overweight permit is increased from $5 to $14, thereby making the log truck permit fee consistent with other overweight permit transfer fees.

Language is added to clarify that the annual 85-foot long (bumper to bumper) by 14-foot wide overdimensional special permit is intended for the movement of mobile homes and manufactured housing.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 20, 1994.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  By correcting a legislative oversight, log truck special permit transfer fees will be the same as all other DOT special permit transfer and replacement fees.  Confusion over the intended use of the 85-foot by 14-foot special overdimensional permit will be eliminated by specifying that the permit is intended for the movement of manufactured housing.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Barry Diseth, Department of Transportation.