Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1608 Compare Versions

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1	1	By: Creighton S.B. No. 1608
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to the operation of vehicles transporting mobile cranes.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Section 621.102(d), Transportation Code, is
9	9	amended to read as follows:
10	10	(d) A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section
11	11	623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192,
12	12	623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.
13	13	2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may
14	14	operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road
15	15	for which the executive director of the Texas Department of
16	16	Transportation has set a maximum weight under this section.
17	17	SECTION 2. Section 621.301(e), Transportation Code, is
18	18	amended to read as follows:
19	19	(e) A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section
20	20	623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192,
21	21	623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.
22	22	2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may
23	23	operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road
24	24	for which the commissioners court has set a maximum weight under
25	25	this section.
26	26	SECTION 3. Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by
27	27	adding Subchapter U to read as follows:
28	28	SUBCHAPTER U. MOBILE CRANES
29	29	Sec. 623.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mobile
30	30	crane" means a self-propelled vehicle that is:
31	31	(1) used solely to raise, shift, or lower heavy
32	32	weights by means of a projecting, swinging mast with an engine for
33	33	power on a chassis permanently constructed or assembled for that
34	34	purpose; and
35	35	(2) designed to be moved between operating locations
36	36	by transport over a roadway.
37	37	Sec. 623.402. PERMIT FOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTING MOBILE CRANE.
38	38	(a) The department shall issue a permit that authorizes the
39	39	operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting
40	40	mobile crane at a gross weight that is not heavier than 100,000
41	41	pounds.
42	42	(b) A permit issued under this subchapter:
43	43	(1) is valid for one year, except as provided by
44	44	Subsection(d); and
45	45	(2) must be carried in the vehicle for which it is
46	46	issued.
47	47	(c) A vehicle issued a permit under this subchapter may
48	48	operate on a state, county, or municipal road, including a
49	49	load-zoned county road or a frontage road adjacent to a federal
50	50	interstate highway, if the vehicle displays a sticker required by
51	51	Section 623.403 and does not exceed the maximum gross weight
52	52	authorized under Subsection(a).
53	53	(d) The department may issue a permit under this subchapter
54	54	that is valid for a period of less than one year. The department
55	55	shall prorate any applicable fee required for a permit issued under
56	56	this subsection as necessary to reflect the term of the permit.
57	57	Sec. 623.403. PERMIT STICKER. (a) When the department
58	58	issues a permit under this subchapter, the department shall issue a
59	59	sticker to be placed on the front windshield of the vehicle. The
60	60	department shall design the form of the sticker to aid in the
61	61	enforcement of weight limits for vehicles.
62	62	(b) The sticker must:
63	63	(1) indicate the expiration date of the permit; and
64	64	(2) be removed from the vehicle when:
65	65	(A) the permit for operation of the vehicle
66	66	expires;
67	67	(B) a lease of the vehicle expires; or
68	68	(C) the vehicle is sold.
69	69	Sec. 623.404. COUNTY DESIGNATION. The department by rule
70	70	shall require an applicant under this subchapter to designate in
71	71	the permit application the counties in which the applicant intends
72	72	to operate.
73	73	Sec. 623.405. CERTAIN COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ACTIONS
74	74	PROHIBITED. Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a
75	75	county or municipality may not require a permit, fee, or license for
76	76	the operation of a vehicle described by Section 623.402(a) in
77	77	addition to a permit, fee, or license required by state law.
78	78	Sec. 623.406. TIMES AND DAYS OF MOVEMENT. (a) Movement
79	79	authorized by a permit issued under this subchapter may be made on
80	80	any day, provided that in a county with a population of more than
81	81	300,000, movement may not be made between:
82	82	(1) 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.; and
83	83	(2) 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
84	84	(b) For counties with a population less than 300,000, the
85	85	Texas Department of Transportation, in coordination with local
86	86	units of government, may limit the hours for travel on certain
87	87	routes because of heavy or dangerous traffic conditions.
88	88	(c) The Texas Department of Transportation shall publish
89	89	the limitation on movements prescribed by this section and the
90	90	limitations adopted under Subsection (b) and shall make the
91	91	publications available to the public. Each limitation adopted by
92	92	the Texas Department of Transportation must be made available to
93	93	the public before it takes effect.
94	94	Sec. 623.407. INTERSTATE AND DEFENSE HIGHWAYS. (a) This
95	95	subchapter does not authorize the operation on the national system
96	96	of interstate and defense highways in this state of a vehicle of a
97	97	size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section
98	98	127.
99	99	(b) If the United States authorizes the operation on the
100	100	national system of interstate and defense highways of a vehicle of a
101	101	size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section
102	102	127 on September 1, 2017, the new limit automatically takes effect
103	103	on the national system of interstate and defense highways in this
104	104	state.
105	105	SECTION 4. STUDY OF ISSUES RELATING TO TRUCK TRAFFIC ON
106	106	TOLLROADS OF THIS STATE. The 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
107	107	hereby requests that the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
108	108	house of representatives to create a joint interim committee to
109	109	study the issue of overweight truck access to toll roads and the
110	110	cost and benefits thereof, and that the committee's proceedings and
111	111	operations be governed by such general rules and policies for joint
112	112	interim committees as the 85th Legislature may adopt.
113	113	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.