Bill Text: MS SB2716 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Forestry permits; allow MDOT to issue for transporting of forestry-related equipment.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2020-06-25 - Approved by Governor [SB2716 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2020-SB2716-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Highways and Transportation
By: Senator(s) Jackson (32nd), Branning, Whaley
Senate Bill 2716
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-5-52, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ISSUE FORESTRY PERMITS TO VEHICLES OF A CERTAIN SIZE FOR THE TRANSPORTING OF FORESTRY-RELATED EQUIPMENT; TO SET AN ANNUAL FEE OF $200.00 PER PULLING UNIT FOR THE PERMIT; TO DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH THE PERMIT IS AVAILABLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-5-52, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-5-52. (1) In addition to other permits authorized to be issued for overweight loads, the Department of Transportation is authorized to issue annual special permits for vehicles transporting heavy equipment with a nondivisible load having a gross vehicle weight of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) pounds or less. The permit shall be issued for the pulling unit. The department may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and transference of the permit from one pulling unit to another. The fee for such permit shall be Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500.00) and the permit shall expire one (1) year from the beginning movement date. Movements under such permit shall be made under such safety and equipment restrictions as the department may establish. The department shall specify the routes over which such movements may be conducted.
(2) In addition to other permits to be used for overweight and oversized loads, the Department of Transportation is authorized to issue annual special permits for the transporting of forestry-related equipment to vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of not more than one hundred thousand (100,000) pounds and dimensions of not more than fourteen (14) feet wide and fourteen (14) feet high. The permit, to be referred to as the "Forestry Permit," shall be issued for each vehicle that serves as a pulling unit, at a fee of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per unit annually. The Forestry Permit shall be available for the hauling of equipment or machinery customary and necessary for timber-harvesting activities, including, but not limited to, bulldozers, knuckleboom loaders, cutters, skidders, track machines of the same kind, mulchers and other machines used for silvicultural activities. The Forestry Permit shall be available to those hauling the subject equipment to and from timber harvest operations, as well as those hauling the equipment to and from a truck repair shop or equipment service center.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.
