Act No. 156

Public Acts of 2011

Approved by the Governor

September 27, 2011

Filed with the Secretary of State

September 27, 2011

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 27, 2011

STATE OF MICHIGAN

96TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2011

Introduced by Rep. Haines

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4360

AN ACT to amend 1963 PA 181, entitled “An act to promote safety upon highways open to the public by regulating the operation of certain vehicles; to provide consistent regulation of these areas by state agencies and local units of government; to establish the qualifications of persons necessary for the safe operation of such vehicles; to establish certain violations of shippers offering certain materials for transportation; to limit the hours of service of persons engaged in operating such vehicles; to require the keeping of records of such operations; to provide penalties for the violation of this act; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending section 5 (MCL 480.15), as amended by 2006 PA 595.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 5. (1) In the case of intrastate transportation, the provisions of 49 CFR 391.21 relating to application for employment, 49 CFR 391.23 relating to investigations and inquiries, 49 CFR 391.31 relating to road tests, 49 CFR part 395 relating to hours of service, 49 CFR 391.41 to 391.45 to the extent that they require a driver to be medically qualified or examined and to have a medical examiner’s certificate on his or her person and the provisions of this act relating to files and records do not apply to a farm vehicle driver as defined in 49 CFR 390.5.

(2) For intrastate transportation, the provisions of this act do not apply to a self-propelled implement of husbandry or an implement of husbandry being drawn by a farm tractor or another implement of husbandry.

(3) The provisions of this act related to driver qualifications do not apply to public utility, telephone, and cable television company service employees if those employees are not otherwise being used as a regularly employed driver and are not operating a vehicle that meets the definition of a commercial motor vehicle in 49 CFR part 383.

(4) The requirements of 49 CFR part 395 do not apply to any driver of a public utility service vehicle when being used in cases of emergency. As used in this subsection, “emergency” means any instance of loss of public utility service due to an unforeseen circumstance, a natural disaster, or an act of God. A declaration of emergency by a public official is not required to constitute an emergency under this subsection.

(5) This act and the rules promulgated under this act do not apply to a commercial motor vehicle owned and operated by a unit of government or its employees, except as otherwise provided by this act, and except for all of the following parts of 49 CFR:

(a) Part 382.

(b) Part 391.

(c) Part 392.

(d) Part 393.

(6) A combination of vehicles with an actual combination gross vehicle weight or a gross combination weight rating of 26,000 pounds or less, provided the trailer or semitrailer has an actual gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of 15,000 pounds or less, may be equipped with surge brakes for intrastate operation as allowed by section 705(1)(c) of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.705. Vehicles of any size that are transporting hazardous materials in an amount that requires placarding or vehicles that are designed to transport more than 8 passengers, including the driver, are prohibited from being equipped with surge brakes for intrastate operation.

(7) Except for the purpose of granting a waiver in accordance with section 53 of the pupil transportation act, 1990 PA 187, MCL 257.1853, this act and the rules promulgated under this act do not apply to a school bus as defined in the pupil transportation act, 1990 PA 187, MCL 257.1801 to 257.1877, or a bus defined and certificated under the motor bus transportation act, 1982 PA 432, MCL 474.101 to 474.141.

(8) A motor carrier operating entirely in intrastate commerce solely within Michigan shall not permit or require a driver of a commercial motor vehicle engaged in seasonal construction-related activities, regardless of the number of motor carriers using the driver’s services, to do either of the following:

(a) Drive for any period after having been on duty 70 hours in any 7 consecutive days or having been on duty 80 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days.

(b) Drive more than 12 hours or be on duty more than 16 hours in any day.

(9) As used in subsections (3) and (4), “public utility” means a person or corporation operating equipment or facilities for producing, generating, transmitting, delivering, or furnishing gas or electricity for the production of light, heat, or power for the public for compensation.

(10) As used in this section:

(a) “Implement of husbandry” means that term as defined in section 21 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.21.

(b) “Farm tractor” means that term as defined in section 16 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.16.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved

Governor