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House File 2310 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1removing the requirement to obtain a permit for vehicles
2or combinations of vehicles of excessive size transporting
3divisible loads of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock
4bedding that meet certain width, height, and length
5requirements.
6BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.454, Code 2020, is amended to read
2as follows:
3321.454 Width of vehicles.
41. The total outside width of a vehicle or the load on
5the vehicle shall not exceed eight feet six inches. This
6limitation on the total outside width of a vehicle or the load
7on the vehicle does not include safety equipment on a vehicle
8or incidental appurtenances or retracted awnings on motor
9homes, motorsports recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or
10fifth-wheel travel trailers if the incidental appurtenance or
11retracted awning is less than six inches in width.
122. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the total outside width of
13a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a divisible
14load of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding shall
15not exceed twelve feet five inches.However, if hay, straw, or
16 stover, or bagged livestock bedding is moved on an implement
17of husbandry and the total width of load of the implement
18of husbandry exceeds eight feet six inches twelve feet five
19inches, the implement of husbandry is not subject to the
20permit requirements of chapter 321E. If a divisible load of
21 hay, straw, or stover, or bagged livestock bedding is moved
22on any other vehicle or combination of vehicles subject to
23registration, the moves are subject to the permit requirements
24for transporting loads exceeding eight feet six inches twelve
25feet five inches in width as required under chapter 321E.
263. The limitations on the total outside width of a vehicle,
27the load on the vehicle, or a combination of vehicles set forth
28in this section do not include safety equipment on a vehicle
29or incidental appurtenances or retracted awnings on motor
30homes, motorsports recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or
31fifth-wheel travel trailers if the incidental appurtenance or
32retracted awning is less than six inches in width.
33 Sec. 2. Section 321.456, Code 2020, is amended to read as
34follows:
35321.456 Height of vehicles.
-1- 11. A vehicle unladen or with load shall not exceed a height
2of thirteen feet, six inches, except that.
32. Notwithstanding subsection 1,a vehicle or combination
4of vehicles coupled together and used exclusively for the
5transportation of passenger vehicles, light delivery trucks,
6panel delivery trucks, pickup trucks, or recreational vehicle
7chassis may operate with a height not to exceed fourteen feet.
83. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a vehicle or combination
9of vehicles transporting a divisible load of hay, straw,
10stover, or bagged livestock bedding may operate with a height
11not to exceed fourteen feet six inches.
124. This section shall not be construed to require any
13railroad or public authorities to provide sufficient vertical
14clearance to permit the operation of such vehicle upon the
15highways of this state. Any damage to highways, highway or
16railroad structures, or underpasses caused by the height of
17any vehicle provided for by this section shall be borne by the
18operator or owner of the vehicle.
19 Sec. 3. Section 321.457, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended
20by adding the following new paragraph:
21 NEW PARAGRAPH. p. Notwithstanding any other provision of
22this chapter, and to the extent allowed under federal law, a
23vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a divisible
24load of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding shall
25not have an overall length in excess of seventy-five feet.
26 Sec. 4. Section 321E.29, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended
27by striking the subsection.
28EXPLANATION
29The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
30the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
31Current law provides that vehicles or combinations of
32vehicles transporting divisible loads in excess of the width,
33length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321 may only
34be moved on highways if there is a special or emergency
35situation that warrants the issuance of a special permit by
-2-1the department of transportation or permit-issuing authority.
2However, an annual permit is available for vehicles or
3combinations of vehicles transporting divisible loads of hay,
4straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding in excess of the
5width, length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321
6without a finding of a special or emergency situation if the
7vehicle or combination of vehicles meets certain width, length,
8and height requirements. Current law also provides that
9implements of husbandry transporting hay, straw, or stover are
10not subject to the permit requirements of Code chapter 321E due
11to the width of the vehicle.
12This bill eliminates the annual permit allowing a vehicle or
13combination of vehicles transporting a divisible load of hay,
14straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding in excess of the
15width, length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321 to be
16moved on highways without a finding of a special or emergency
17situation. Instead, the bill increases the width, length,
18and height restrictions of Code chapter 321 for vehicles or
19combinations of vehicles transporting divisible loads of hay,
20straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding. Under the bill,
21vehicles and combinations of vehicles transporting divisible
22loads of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding are
23allowed to be moved on highways so long as such vehicles do
24not have an overall width exceeding 12 feet 5 inches, an
25overall length not exceeding 75 feet, and an overall height
26not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches. A violation of the width,
27length, and height restrictions of Code chapter 321 is a simple
28misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $200.
-3-mo/ns
2or combinations of vehicles of excessive size transporting
3divisible loads of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock
4bedding that meet certain width, height, and length
5requirements.
6BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.454, Code 2020, is amended to read
2as follows:
3321.454 Width of vehicles.
41. The total outside width of a vehicle or the load on
5the vehicle shall not exceed eight feet six inches. This
6limitation on the total outside width of a vehicle or the load
7on the vehicle does not include safety equipment on a vehicle
8or incidental appurtenances or retracted awnings on motor
9homes, motorsports recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or
10fifth-wheel travel trailers if the incidental appurtenance or
11retracted awning is less than six inches in width.
122. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the total outside width of
13a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a divisible
14load of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding shall
15not exceed twelve feet five inches.However, if hay, straw, or
16 stover, or bagged livestock bedding is moved on an implement
17of husbandry and the total width of load of the implement
18of husbandry exceeds eight feet six inches twelve feet five
19inches, the implement of husbandry is not subject to the
20permit requirements of chapter 321E. If a divisible load of
21 hay, straw, or stover, or bagged livestock bedding is moved
22on any other vehicle or combination of vehicles subject to
23registration, the moves are subject to the permit requirements
24for transporting loads exceeding eight feet six inches twelve
25feet five inches in width as required under chapter 321E.
263. The limitations on the total outside width of a vehicle,
27the load on the vehicle, or a combination of vehicles set forth
28in this section do not include safety equipment on a vehicle
29or incidental appurtenances or retracted awnings on motor
30homes, motorsports recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or
31fifth-wheel travel trailers if the incidental appurtenance or
32retracted awning is less than six inches in width.
33 Sec. 2. Section 321.456, Code 2020, is amended to read as
34follows:
35321.456 Height of vehicles.
-1- 11. A vehicle unladen or with load shall not exceed a height
2of thirteen feet, six inches, except that.
32. Notwithstanding subsection 1,a vehicle or combination
4of vehicles coupled together and used exclusively for the
5transportation of passenger vehicles, light delivery trucks,
6panel delivery trucks, pickup trucks, or recreational vehicle
7chassis may operate with a height not to exceed fourteen feet.
83. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a vehicle or combination
9of vehicles transporting a divisible load of hay, straw,
10stover, or bagged livestock bedding may operate with a height
11not to exceed fourteen feet six inches.
124. This section shall not be construed to require any
13railroad or public authorities to provide sufficient vertical
14clearance to permit the operation of such vehicle upon the
15highways of this state. Any damage to highways, highway or
16railroad structures, or underpasses caused by the height of
17any vehicle provided for by this section shall be borne by the
18operator or owner of the vehicle.
19 Sec. 3. Section 321.457, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended
20by adding the following new paragraph:
21 NEW PARAGRAPH. p. Notwithstanding any other provision of
22this chapter, and to the extent allowed under federal law, a
23vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a divisible
24load of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding shall
25not have an overall length in excess of seventy-five feet.
26 Sec. 4. Section 321E.29, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended
27by striking the subsection.
28EXPLANATION
29The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
30the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
31Current law provides that vehicles or combinations of
32vehicles transporting divisible loads in excess of the width,
33length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321 may only
34be moved on highways if there is a special or emergency
35situation that warrants the issuance of a special permit by
-2-1the department of transportation or permit-issuing authority.
2However, an annual permit is available for vehicles or
3combinations of vehicles transporting divisible loads of hay,
4straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding in excess of the
5width, length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321
6without a finding of a special or emergency situation if the
7vehicle or combination of vehicles meets certain width, length,
8and height requirements. Current law also provides that
9implements of husbandry transporting hay, straw, or stover are
10not subject to the permit requirements of Code chapter 321E due
11to the width of the vehicle.
12This bill eliminates the annual permit allowing a vehicle or
13combination of vehicles transporting a divisible load of hay,
14straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding in excess of the
15width, length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321 to be
16moved on highways without a finding of a special or emergency
17situation. Instead, the bill increases the width, length,
18and height restrictions of Code chapter 321 for vehicles or
19combinations of vehicles transporting divisible loads of hay,
20straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding. Under the bill,
21vehicles and combinations of vehicles transporting divisible
22loads of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding are
23allowed to be moved on highways so long as such vehicles do
24not have an overall width exceeding 12 feet 5 inches, an
25overall length not exceeding 75 feet, and an overall height
26not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches. A violation of the width,
27length, and height restrictions of Code chapter 321 is a simple
28misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $200.
-3-mo/ns