Signed by Governor Michael Easley

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases the weight and length limitations on state highways for certain motor vehicles.

Highlights:

-Allows all license holders over 18 years old to operate a noncommercial motor vehicle that is between 10,000 and 26,001 pounds (Sec. 1). -Allows motor vehicles that are at most 53 feet long to operate on all primary state highways (Sec.4). -Allows the North Carolina Department of Transportation to prohibit motor vehicle combinations on portions of any route on the State highway system and requires it to submit a written report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee within six months of such a prohibition documenting through traffic engineering studies that a motor vehicle combination cannot be safely accommodated on that route (Sec. 4). -Allows farm equipment of up to 25 feet in width to operate on any highway except on fully controlled access highways or highways that are part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (Sec. 6). -Allows motor vehicles with a self-loading bed to transport cotton with a maximum tandem-axle weight of 50,000 pounds on all highways except interstate highways between September 1 and March 1 of each year (Sec. 8). -Allows motor vehicles that carry wood residuals, including wood chips and logs, to operate on primary highway routes other than interstates as long as they do not exceed a maximum gross weight of 4,000 pounds, a single-axle weight of more than 22,000 pounds, and a tandem-axle weight of more than 42,000 pounds (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases the weight and length limitations on state highways for certain motor vehicles.

Highlights:

-Allows all license holders over 18 years old to operate a noncommercial motor vehicle that is between 10,000 and 26,001 pounds (Sec. 1). -Allows motor vehicles that are at most 53 feet long to operate on all primary state highways (Sec.4). -Allows the North Carolina Department of Transportation to prohibit motor vehicle combinations on portions of any route on the State highway system and requires it to submit a written report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee within six months of such a prohibition documenting through traffic engineering studies that a motor vehicle combination cannot be safely accommodated on that route (Sec. 4). -Allows farm equipment of up to 25 feet in width to operate on any highway except on fully controlled access highways or highways that are part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (Sec. 6). -Allows motor vehicles with a self-loading bed to transport cotton with a maximum tandem-axle weight of 50,000 pounds on all highways except interstate highways between September 1 and March 1 of each year (Sec. 8). -Allows motor vehicles that carry wood residuals, including wood chips and logs, to operate on primary highway routes other than interstates as long as they do not exceed a maximum gross weight of 4,000 pounds, a single-axle weight of more than 22,000 pounds, and a tandem-axle weight of more than 42,000 pounds (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text