HF 2230 (LSB 5100HV (1) 85)

HOUSE FILE 2230

BY  COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2059)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to vehicle permit requirements for equipment used primarily for construction of permanent conservation practices on agricultural land.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.453, Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   321.453  Exceptions.

   The provisions of this chapter governing size, weight, and load, and the permit requirements of chapter 321E do not apply to fire apparatus; road maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the performance of a contract with any state or local authority; or to implements of husbandry when moved or moving upon a highway, except for those implements of husbandry moved or moving on any that is not a portion of the interstate; and or equipment used primarily for construction of permanent conservation practices on agricultural land when moved or moving upon a highway that is not a portion of the interstate, except as provided in sections 321.463, 321.471, and 321.474. A vehicle, that is carrying an implement of husbandry, which or equipment used primarily for construction of permanent conservation practices and is exempted from the permit requirements under this section shall be equipped with an amber flashing light visible from the rear. If the amber flashing light is obstructed by the loaded implement or equipment, the loaded implement or equipment shall also be equipped with and display an amber flashing light. The vehicle shall also be equipped with warning flags on that portion of the vehicle which protrudes into oncoming traffic, and shall only operate from thirty minutes prior to sunrise to thirty minutes following sunset.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, Code provisions governing the size, weight, and load of vehicles and the permit requirements for oversize and overweight vehicles do not apply to certain equipment, including implements of husbandry moved or moving upon the highway. The exemption does not apply to vehicles on an interstate highway, and the exemption is subject to certain restrictions that may be imposed by state or local authorities in specific situations. This bill allows the same exemption for equipment used primarily for construction of permanent conservation practices on agricultural land. A vehicle carrying such equipment must be equipped with an amber flashing light visible from the rear, and if the amber flashing light is obstructed by the loaded equipment, the equipment must also display an amber flashing light. Warning flags are required on the portion of the vehicle that protrudes into oncoming traffic, and the vehicle may only be operated from 30 minutes prior to sunrise to 30 minutes following sunset.
   The bill does not limit the ability of state or local authorities to impose restrictions on the movement of equipment used primarily for construction of permanent conservation practices for limited periods of time when special circumstances exist.