MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2005 Regular Session

To: Transportation

By: Representative Warren

House Bill 205

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-19-81 AND 63-5-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF REPEAL ON THE PROVISIONS OF LAW THAT AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ISSUE HARVEST PERMITS TO OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF VEHICLES HAULING CERTAIN PRODUCTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 27-19-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

[Through June 30, 2006, this section shall read as follows:]

     27-19-81.  (1)  No vehicle shall be registered by the State Tax Commission or by a tax collector, and no license tag whatsoever shall be issued therefor, where the gross weight of such vehicle exceeds the limits provided by law.  In the event of an emergency requiring the hauling of a greater gross weight than permitted by law, the owner or operator of such vehicle shall obtain an excess weight authorization from the Mississippi Department of Transportation or local authority having jurisdiction of the particular road, street or highway before operating such vehicle on the highways of this state to haul such a gross weight over a route to be designated by the aforesaid department.  It shall then be necessary for the owner or operator of the vehicle to obtain a permit from the Transportation Department, which shall be issued by the department under the same provisions as are provided for the issuance of trip permits under Section 27-19-79, but which permit shall likewise be obtained prior to the operation of such vehicle on the highways.  No persons or agencies other than the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have authority to issue the permits provided for in this section.  The fee to be charged for such permits shall be computed in the same manner provided in Section 27-19-79 for each one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, of gross weight above the licensed capacity of the vehicle, up to the maximum legal weights provided by this article on the roads to be traveled.

     This subsection shall apply, but not be limited to, any tractor, road roller or road machinery used solely and specifically in road building or other highway construction or maintenance work.

     For each one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, in excess of the weight authorized by Sections 63-5-29 and 63-5-33 for any such vehicle or in excess of the limits set by the Transportation Department for specified roads and bridges, the fee shall be Five Cents (5¢) per one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, for each mile traveled upon the highways of the state, except that the fee for manufactured housing modular units, residential or commercial, shall be Two Cents (2¢) per one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, for each mile traveled upon the highways of the state.  Provided, however, no permit shall be issued for a fee of less than Ten Dollars ($10.00).

     The Transportation Department may provide for an annual permit which will allow pre-approved vehicles and loads to travel predesignated routes with self-issued permits.  Under such self-issuance authority, the owner of the vehicle shall complete the permit in a format designated by the department, electronically transmit a copy to the department prior to the move, and ensure that a copy is in the possession of the operator. Vehicles having a gross weight exceeding the limits provided by law that have a nondivisible gross vehicle weight of ninety-five thousand (95,000) pounds or less, which are otherwise legal, shall not be restricted as to the hours of the day such vehicles may be operated on predesignated routes.  The department shall bill the vehicle owner according to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.  The department is authorized to modify predesignated routes at any time for cause, such as highway construction or hazardous highway conditions.  The annual fee for the self-issuance permit authority obtained pursuant to this paragraph shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per owner, regardless of the number of vehicles which he will operate pursuant to such permit, in addition to any other fees required by this section. Any vehicle and load being operated pursuant to this paragraph for which the operator does not have the permit or a copy thereof in his possession, or for which a copy of the permit was not electronically transmitted to the department, shall be deemed not to have a permit and shall be penalized accordingly.

     It shall not be necessary for the owner or operator of a vehicle to obtain a permit pursuant to this subsection if such owner or operator has obtained for his vehicle an annual special permit for vehicles transporting heavy equipment pursuant to Section 63-5-52.

     (2)  Before operating a vehicle where the size of the load being hauled is in excess of that permitted by law, the owner or operator of such vehicle shall obtain excess size authorization from the Transportation Department or proper local authority and an excess size permit from the Transportation Department.  Such excess size permit shall be issued by the Mississippi Department of Transportation under the same provisions as are provided for the issuance of trip permits under Section 27-19-79, and it shall be obtained prior to the operation of such vehicle on the highways.  The fee to be charged for such excess size permit shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00) per trip.  Such permits may be issued for an extended period of time and must coincide with the expiration date and other provisions of the carrier's permit or authorization issued by the Transportation Department or local authority.  The fee for such extended permits shall be based upon an annual fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per carrier.  No permit shall be issued under this subsection if the issuance of the permit would violate federal law or would cause the State of Mississippi to lose federal aid funds.  This subsection shall not apply to any tractor, road roller or road machinery used solely and specifically in road building or other highway construction or maintenance work or to any machinery or equipment operated on the highways or transported thereon in the course of normal farming activities, including cotton module transporters.

     (3)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation may authorize certain carriers of property to issue overweight and/or oversize permits for vehicles owned or operated by such carriers, provided such carriers have blanket authorization from the Transportation Commission and also meet other requirements established by the Transportation Commission.

     (4)  The owner or operator of a vehicle hauling sand, gravel, wood chips, wood shavings, sawdust, fill dirt, agricultural products or unprocessed forestry products may apply to the Mississippi Department of Transportation for a harvest permit for the purpose of authorizing any such vehicles to operate on the highways in this state (other than the federal interstate system or those highways designated by the Mississippi Department of Transportation as not capable of carrying more than fifty-seven thousand six hundred fifty (57,650) pounds at the maximum gross weight specified in Section 63-5-33).  Harvest permits may be issued and are valid to permit any such vehicle to be operated on a highway in this state that has been designated by the Mississippi Department of Transportation as not capable of carrying more than fifty-seven thousand six hundred fifty (57,650) pounds only if such vehicle operates in compliance with the provisions of Section 63-5-29(3)(b).  A fee of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) shall be charged for each permit issued.  The permit shall be in the form of a decal which shall be affixed to each permitted vehicle on the upper left corner of the windshield on the driver's side.  Each permit shall expire one (1) year from its date of issue.  The fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited into a special fund that is created in the State Treasury.  Monies in the fund shall be allocated and distributed quarterly, beginning September 30, 1994, to each of the counties of the state on an equal basis.  Monies distributed to the counties under this subsection shall be deposited in each county's road and bridge fund and may be expended, upon approval of the board of supervisors, for any purpose for which county road and bridge fund monies lawfully may be expended.  This subsection (4) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2009.

     (5)  Any owner or operator who has met the requirements set by the Mississippi Transportation Commission may defer payment of permits issued by the department until the end of the current month.  If full payment is not received by the twentieth of the following month, there may be added as damages to the total amount of the delinquency or deficiency the following percentages:  ten percent (10%) for the first offense; fifteen percent (15%) for the second offense and twenty-five percent (25%) for the third and any subsequent offense.  Upon the third offense, the department may suspend the privilege to defer payment.  The balance due shall become payable upon notice and demand by the department.

     (6)  The permit fee monies collected under this section, except as provided for in subsection (4) of this section, shall be deposited into the State Highway Fund for the construction, maintenance and reconstruction of highways and roads of the State of Mississippi or the payment of interest and principal on bonds authorized by the Legislature for construction and reconstruction of highways.

     (7)  The department may waive the permits, taxes and fees set forth in this section whenever a motor vehicle is operated upon the public highways in this state in response to an emergency, a major disaster or the threat of a major disaster.

     [From and after July 1, 2006, this section shall read as follows:]

     27-19-81.  (1)  No vehicle shall be registered by the State Tax Commission or by a tax collector, and no license tag whatsoever shall be issued therefor, where the gross weight of such vehicle exceeds the limits provided by law.  In the event of an emergency requiring the hauling of a greater gross weight than permitted by law, the owner or operator of such vehicle shall obtain an excess weight authorization from the Mississippi Department of Transportation or local authority having jurisdiction of the particular road, street or highway before operating such vehicle on the highways of this state to haul such a gross weight over a route to be designated by the aforesaid department.  It shall then be necessary for the owner or operator of the vehicle to obtain a permit from the Transportation Department, which shall be issued by the department under the same provisions as are provided for the issuance of trip permits under Section 27-19-79, but which permit shall likewise be obtained prior to the operation of such vehicle on the highways.  No persons or agencies other than the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have authority to issue the permits provided for in this section.  The fee to be charged for such permits shall be computed in the same manner provided in Section 27-19-79 for each one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, of gross weight above the licensed capacity of the vehicle, up to the maximum legal weights provided by this article on the roads to be traveled.

     This subsection shall apply, but not be limited to, any tractor, road roller or road machinery used solely and specifically in road building or other highway construction or maintenance work.

     For each one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, in excess of the weight authorized by Sections 63-5-29 and 63-5-33 for any such vehicle or in excess of the limits set by the Transportation Department for specified roads and bridges, the fee shall be Five Cents (5¢) per one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, for each mile traveled upon the highways of the state, except that the fee for manufactured housing modular units, residential or commercial, shall be Two Cents (2¢) per one thousand (1,000) pounds, or fractional part thereof, for each mile traveled upon the highways of the state.  Provided, however, no permit shall be issued for a fee of less than Ten Dollars ($10.00).

     The Transportation Department may provide for an annual permit which will allow pre-approved vehicles and loads to travel predesignated routes with self-issued permits.  Under such self-issuance authority, the owner of the vehicle shall complete the permit in a format designated by the department, electronically transmit a copy to the department prior to the move, and ensure that a copy is in the possession of the operator. Vehicles having a gross weight exceeding the limits provided by law that have a nondivisible gross vehicle weight of ninety-five thousand (95,000) pounds or less, which are otherwise legal, shall not be restricted as to the hours of the day such vehicles may be operated on predesignated routes.  The department shall bill the vehicle owner according to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.  The department is authorized to modify predesignated routes at any time for cause, such as highway construction or hazardous highway conditions.  The annual fee for the self-issuance permit authority obtained pursuant to this paragraph shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per owner, regardless of the number of vehicles which he will operate pursuant to such permit, in addition to any other fees required by this section. Any vehicle and load being operated pursuant to this paragraph for which the operator does not have the permit or a copy thereof in his possession, or for which a copy of the permit was not electronically transmitted to the department, shall be deemed not to have a permit and shall be penalized accordingly. 

     (2)  Before operating a vehicle where the size of the load being hauled is in excess of that permitted by law, the owner or operator of such vehicle shall obtain excess size authorization from the Transportation Department or proper local authority and an excess size permit from the Transportation Department.  Such excess size permit shall be issued by the Mississippi Department of Transportation under the same provisions as are provided for the issuance of trip permits under Section 27-19-79, and it shall be obtained prior to the operation of such vehicle on the highways.  The fee to be charged for such excess size permit shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00) per trip.  Such permits may be issued for an extended period of time and must coincide with the expiration date and other provisions of the carrier's permit or authorization issued by the Transportation Department or local authority.  The fee for such extended permits shall be based upon an annual fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per carrier.  No permit shall be issued under this subsection if the issuance of the permit would violate federal law or would cause the State of Mississippi to lose federal aid funds.  This subsection shall not apply to any tractor, road roller or road machinery used solely and specifically in road building or other highway construction or maintenance work or to any machinery or equipment operated on the highways or transported thereon in the course of normal farming activities, including cotton module transporters.

     (3)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation may authorize certain carriers of property to issue overweight and/or oversize permits for vehicles owned or operated by such carriers, provided such carriers have blanket authorization from the Transportation Commission and also meet other requirements established by the Transportation Commission.

     (4)  The owner or operator of a vehicle hauling sand, gravel, wood chips, wood shavings, sawdust, fill dirt, agricultural products or unprocessed forestry products may apply to the Mississippi Department of Transportation for a harvest permit for the purpose of authorizing any such vehicles to operate on the highways in this state (other than the federal interstate system or those highways designated by the Mississippi Department of Transportation as not capable of carrying more than fifty-seven thousand six hundred fifty (57,650) pounds at the maximum gross weight specified in Section 63-5-33).  Harvest permits may be issued and are valid to permit any such vehicle to be operated on a highway in this state that has been designated by the Mississippi Department of Transportation as not capable of carrying more than fifty-seven thousand six hundred fifty (57,650) pounds only if such vehicle operates in compliance with the provisions of Section 63-5-29(3)(b).  A fee of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) shall be charged for each permit issued.  The permit shall be in the form of a decal which shall be affixed to each permitted vehicle on the upper left corner of the windshield on the driver's side.  Each permit shall expire one (1) year from its date of issue.  The fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited into a special fund that is created in the State Treasury.  Monies in the fund shall be allocated and distributed quarterly, beginning September 30, 1994, to each of the counties of the state on an equal basis.  Monies distributed to the counties under this subsection shall be deposited in each county's road and bridge fund and may be expended, upon approval of the board of supervisors, for any purpose for which county road and bridge fund monies lawfully may be expended.  This subsection (4) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2009.

     (5)  Any owner or operator who has met the requirements set by the Mississippi Transportation Commission may defer payment of permits issued by the department until the end of the current month.  If full payment is not received by the twentieth of the following month, there may be added as damages to the total amount of the delinquency or deficiency the following percentages:  ten percent (10%) for the first offense; fifteen percent (15%) for the second offense and twenty-five percent (25%) for the third and any subsequent offense.  Upon the third offense, the department may suspend the privilege to defer payment.  The balance due shall become payable upon notice and demand by the department.

     (6)  The permit fee monies collected under this section, except as provided for in subsection (4) of this section, shall be deposited into the State Highway Fund for the construction, maintenance and reconstruction of highways and roads of the State of Mississippi or the payment of interest and principal on bonds authorized by the Legislature for construction and reconstruction of highways.

     (7)  The department may waive the permits, taxes and fees set forth in this section whenever a motor vehicle is operated upon the public highways in this state in response to an emergency, a major disaster or the threat of a major disaster.

     SECTION 2.  Section 63-5-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted and amended as follows:

     63-5-33.  (1)  Subject to the limitations imposed on wheel and axle loads by Section 63-5-27, and to the further limitations hereinafter specified, the total combined weight (vehicles plus load) on any group of axles of a vehicle or a combination of vehicles shall not exceed the value given in the following table (Table III) corresponding to the distance in feet between the extreme axles of the group, measured longitudinally to the nearest foot, on those highways or parts of highways designated by the Mississippi Transportation Commission as being capable of carrying the maximum load limits and, in addition thereto, such other highways or parts of highways found by the commission to be suitable to carry the maximum load limits from an engineering standpoint, and so designated as such by order of the commission entered upon its minutes and published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a daily newspaper published in this state and having a general circulation therein.  The maximum total combined weight carried on any group of two (2) or more consecutive axles shall be determined by the formula contained in the Federal Weight Law enacted January 4, 1975, as follows:  W=500 (LN/N-1+12N+36) where W=maximum weight in pounds carried on any group of two (2) or more axles computed to the nearest five hundred (500) pounds, L=distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two (2) or more consecutive axles, and N=number of axles in any group under consideration.

                           TABLE III

 DISTANCE

 IN FEET

 BETWEEN THE

 EXTREMES OF

 ANY GROUP

 OF 2 OR MORE

 CONSECUTIVE       MAXIMUM LOAD IN POUNDS CARRIED ON ANY

 AXLES               GROUP OF 2 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE AXLES

        2 axles   3 axles   4 axles   5 axles   6 axles   7 axles

  4     34,000

  5     34,000

  6     34,000             Axle groups in

  7    34,000

  8 and

   less 34,000    34,000    these spacings

  More

   than

  8     38,000    42,000

  9     39,000    42,500

 10     40,000    43,500   impractical

 11              44,000

 12              45,000    50,000

 13              45,500    50,500

 14              46,500    51,500

 15              47,000    52,000

 16              48,000    52,500    58,000

 17              48,500    53,500    58,500

 18              49,500    54,000    59,000

 19              50,000    54,500    60,000

 20              51,000    55,500    60,500    66,000

 21              51,500    56,000    61,000    66,500

 22              52,500    56,500    61,500    67,000

 23              53,000    57,500    62,500    68,000

 24              54,000    58,000    63,000    68,500    74,000

 25              54,500    58,500    63,500    69,000    74,500

 26              55,500    59,500    64,000    69,500    75,000

 27              56,000    60,000    65,000    70,000    75,500

 28              57,000    60,500    65,500    71,000    76,500

 29              57,500    61,500    66,000    71,500    77,000

 30              58,500    62,000    66,500    72,000    77,500

 31              59,000    62,500    67,500    72,500    78,000

 32              60,000    63,500    68,000    73,000    78,500

 33                        64,000    68,500    74,000    79,000

 34                        64,500    69,000    74,500    80,000

 35                        65,500    70,000    75,000    80,000

 36                        66,000    70,500    75,500    80,000

 37                        66,500    71,000    76,000    80,000

 38                        67,500    71,500    77,000    80,000

 39                        68,000    72,500    77,500    80,000

 40                        68,500    73,000    78,000    80,000

 41                        69,500    73,500    78,500    80,000

 42                        70,000    74,000    79,000    80,000

 43                        70,500    75,000    80,000    80,000

 44                        71,500    75,500    80,000    80,000

 45                        72,000    76,000    80,000    80,000

 46                        72,500    76,500    80,000    80,000

 47                        73,500    77,500    80,000    80,000

 48                        74,000    78,000    80,000    80,000

 49                        74,500    78,500    80,000    80,000

 50                        75,500    79,000    80,000    80,000

 51                        76,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

 52                        76,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 53                        77,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 54                        78,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

 55                        78,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 56                        79,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 57                        80,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

     (2)  Moreover, in addition to the per axle weight limitations specified by Section 63-5-27, two (2) consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds each, providing that the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six (36) feet or more, except that, until September 1, 1989, the axle distance for tank trailers, dump trailers and ocean transport container haulers may be thirty (30) feet or more.  Such overall gross weight may not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds, except as provided by this section.

     (3)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-5-27 and/or Section 63-5-29 to the contrary, vehicles hauling products in the manner set forth in this subsection, whether or not such vehicles are operating with a harvest permit, shall be allowed a gross weight of not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) pounds on any tandem.  Vehicles operating without a harvest permit shall be allowed a tolerance not to exceed five percent (5%) above their authorized gross vehicle weight, tandem or axle weight; except that the maximum gross vehicle weight of any such vehicle shall not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds plus a tolerance thereon of not more than two percent (2%).  Vehicles operating with a harvest permit shall be allowed a tolerance not to exceed five percent (5%) above their authorized tandem or axle weight, but the maximum gross vehicle weight of any such vehicle shall not exceed eighty-four thousand (84,000) pounds.  However, neither the increased weights in this subsection nor any tolerance shall be allowed on federal interstate highways or on other highways where a tolerance is specifically prohibited by the Transportation Commission, the county board of supervisors or the municipal governing authorities as provided for in Section 63-5-27.  The tolerance allowed by this subsection shall only apply to the operation of vehicles from the point of loading to the point of unloading for processing, and to the operation of vehicles hauling sand, gravel, wood chips, wood shavings, sawdust, fill dirt and agricultural products, and products for recycling or materials for the construction or repair of highways.  The range of such operation shall not exceed a radius of one hundred (100) miles except where the products are being transported for processing within this state.  The tolerance shall not be allowed for vehicles loading at a point of origin having scales available for weighing each individual axle of the vehicle; provided, however, that vehicles loading at a point of origin having scales available for weighing the vehicle shall not be eligible for any tolerance over the gross weight limit of eighty thousand (80,000) pounds.

     (4)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-5-27 and/or Section 63-5-29 to the contrary, vehicles hauling prepackaged products, unloaded at a state port or to be loaded at a state port, which are containerized in such a manner as to make subdivision thereof impractical shall be allowed a gross weight of not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) pounds on any tandem, and a tolerance not to exceed five percent (5%) above their authorized gross weight, tandem or axle weight; except that the maximum weight of any vehicle shall not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds plus a tolerance thereon of not more than two percent (2%); however, neither the increased weights in this subsection nor any tolerance shall be allowed on federal interstate highways or on other highways where a tolerance is specifically prohibited by the Transportation Commission, the county board of supervisors or the municipal governing authorities as provided for in Section 63-5-27.

     (5)  (a)  Vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued pursuant to Section 27-19-81(4) shall be allowed a gross vehicle weight not to exceed eighty-four thousand (84,000) pounds.   However, the board of supervisors of any county and the governing authorities of any municipality may designate the roads, streets and highways under their respective jurisdiction on and along which vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued may travel.  This subsection shall not apply to the federal interstate system.

          (b)  Any owner or operator who has been issued a harvest permit and who wishes to operate a vehicle on the roads, streets or highways under the jurisdiction of a county or municipality at a gross vehicle weight greater than the weight allowed by law or greater than the maximum weight established for such roads, streets or highways by the board of supervisors or municipal governing authorities, shall notify, in writing, the board of supervisors or the governing authorities, as the case may be, before operating such vehicle on the roads, streets or highways of such county or municipality.  In his notice, the permit holder shall identify the routes over which he intends to operate vehicles for which the permit has been issued and the dates or time period during which he will be operating such vehicles.  The board of supervisors or the governing authorities, as the case may be, shall have two (2) working days to respond in writing to the permit holder to notify the permit holder of the routes on and along which the permit holder may operate vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued.  Failure of the board of supervisors or the governing authorities timely to notify the permit holder and to designate the routes on and along which the permit holder may operate shall be considered as authorizing the permit holder to operate on any of the roads, streets or highways of the county or municipality in accordance with the authority granted to the permit holder by the harvest permit.

          (c)  Anytime a timber deed is filed with the chancery clerk, the grantee, at that time, may make a written request of the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authorities of the municipality, as the case may be, for the purpose of providing to the grantee, within three (3) working days of the filing of the request, a designated and approved route over the roads, streets or highways under the jurisdiction of the county or city, as the case may be, that the grantee may travel for the purpose of transporting harvested timber.  Upon providing such route designation, the county or city, as the case may be, shall also provide to the grantee a map designating the approved route.  An approved route designation provided to a grantee under the provisions of this paragraph shall be valid for a period of six (6) months from its date of issue.  The permit authorized to be issued under paragraph (b) of this section shall not be required for any person who obtains a permit issued under this paragraph.

          (d)  This subsection (5) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2009.

     (6)  Nothing in this section or subsections (1) through (4) of Section 63-5-27 shall be construed to deny the operation of any vehicle or combination of vehicles that could be lawfully operated upon the interstate highway system of this state on January 4, 1975.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.