CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

House Bill 0675

Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 By Representative Fuller 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to transportation 3 administration; amending s. 316.302, F.S., 4 relating to commercial motor vehicle safety 5 regulations; updating reference to federal 6 regulations; providing exception to specified 7 provisions for public utility and authorized 8 emergency vehicles; amending s. 316.515, F.S.; 9 providing exception to length limitations for 10 certain utility vehicles under specified 11 conditions; providing an exception to load 12 extension limitation; amending s. 316.516, 13 F.S.; providing statutory penalties for 14 violation of maximum width, height, and length 15 limitations; amending s. 322.53, F.S.; deleting 16 an exemption to the requirement of having a 17 commercial driver's license; amending s. 18 334.27, F.S.; revising language with respect to 19 governmental transportation entities; amending 20 s. 337.25, F.S.; authorizing the department to 21 use projected maintenance costs over a period 22 of time to offset the market value of certain 23 property to establish a value for the disposal 24 of the property; creating s. 338.161, F.S.; 25 authorizing the Department of Transportation to 26 advertise and promote electronic toll 27 collection; amending s. 339.12, F.S.; revising 28 language with respect to aid and contributions 29 by governmental entities for department 30 projects; amending s. 479.16, F.S.; allowing 31 certain unpermitted signs in rural areas; 1 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 prohibiting the implementation of this 2 provision in certain circumstances; amending s. 3 479.261, F.S.; revising language with respect 4 to the logo sign program; revising requirements 5 for placement of such signs; repealing s. 6 339.121, F.S., relating to aid and contribution 7 by local governmental entities for public 8 transportation projects; providing an effective 9 date. 10 11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12 13 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and 14 paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 316.302, Florida 15 Statutes, 1996 Supplement, are amended to read: 16 316.302 Commercial motor vehicles; safety regulations; 17 transporters and shippers of hazardous materials; 18 enforcement.-- 19 (1) 20 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all 21 owners or drivers of commercial motor vehicles that are 22 engaged in intrastate commerce are subject to the rules and 23 regulations contained in 49 C.F.R. parts 382, 385, and 24 390-397, with the exception of 49 C.F.R. s. 390.5 as it 25 relates to the definition of bus, as such rules and 26 regulations existed on March 1, 1997 1995. 27 (2) 28 (b) A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle 29 solely in intrastate commerce not transporting any hazardous 30 material is exempt from 49 C.F.R. s. 395.3(a) and (b) and may, 31 after 8 hours' rest, and following the required initial motor 2 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 vehicle inspection, be permitted to drive any part of the 2 first 15 on-duty hours in any 24-hour period, but may not be 3 permitted to operate a commercial motor vehicle after that 4 until the requirement of another 8 hours' rest has been 5 fulfilled. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to 6 drivers of public utility vehicles or authorized emergency 7 vehicles during periods of severe weather or other 8 emergencies. 9 Section 2. Subsections (3) and (4) and paragraph (b) 10 of subsection (7) of section 316.515, Florida Statutes, are 11 amended to read: 12 316.515 Maximum width, height, length.-- 13 (3) LENGTH LIMITATION.--Except as otherwise provided 14 in this section, length limitations apply solely to a 15 semitrailer or trailer, and not to a truck tractor or to the 16 overall length of a combination of vehicles. No combination 17 of commercial motor vehicles coupled together and operating on 18 the public roads may consist of more than one truck tractor 19 and two trailing units. Unless otherwise specifically provided 20 for in this section, a combination of vehicles not qualifying 21 as commercial motor vehicles may consist of no more than two 22 units coupled together; such nonqualifying combination of 23 vehicles may not exceed a total length of 65 feet, inclusive 24 of the load carried thereon, but exclusive of safety and 25 energy conservation devices approved by the department for use 26 on vehicles using public roads. Notwithstanding any other 27 provision of this section, a truck tractor-semitrailer 28 combination engaged in the transportation of automobiles or 29 boats may transport motor vehicles or boats on part of the 30 power unit; and, except as may otherwise be mandated under 31 federal law, an automobile or boat transporter semitrailer may 3 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 not exceed 50 feet in length, exclusive of the load; however, 2 the load may extend up to an additional 6 4 feet beyond the 3 rear of the trailer. The 50-feet length limitation does not 4 apply to non-stinger-steered automobile or boat transporters 5 that are 65 feet or less in overall length, exclusive of the 6 load carried thereon, or to stinger-steered automobile or boat 7 transporters that are 75 feet or less in overall length, 8 exclusive of the load carried thereon. For purposes of this 9 subsection, a "stinger-steered automobile or boat transporter" 10 is an automobile or boat transporter configured as a 11 semitrailer combination wherein the fifth wheel is located on 12 a drop frame located behind and below the rearmost axle of the 13 power unit. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), any 14 straight truck or truck tractor-semitrailer combination 15 engaged in the transportation of horticultural trees may allow 16 the load to extend up to an additional 10 feet beyond the rear 17 of the vehicle, provided said trees are resting against a 18 retaining bar mounted above the truck bed so that the root 19 balls of the trees rest on the floor and to the front of the 20 truck bed and the tops of the trees extend up over and to the 21 rear of the truck bed, and provided the overhanging portion of 22 the load is covered with protective fabric. 23 (a) Straight trucks.--No straight truck may exceed a 24 length of 40 feet in extreme overall dimension, exclusive of 25 safety and energy conservation devices approved by the 26 department for use on vehicles using public roads. Any 27 straight truck, excluding recreational vehicles, in excess of 28 35 feet in length may have no fewer than three load-bearing 29 axles. A straight truck may tow no more than one trailer, and 30 such trailer may not exceed a length of 28 feet. However, such 31 trailer limitation does not apply if the overall length of the 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 truck-trailer combination is 65 feet or less, including the 2 load thereon. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this 3 section, a truck-trailer combination engaged in the 4 transportation of boats shall not exceed the length 5 limitations of this paragraph exclusive of the load; however, 6 the load may extend up to an additional 6 4 feet beyond the 7 rear of the trailer. 8 (b) Semitrailers.-- 9 1. A semitrailer operating in a truck 10 tractor-semitrailer combination may not exceed 48 feet in 11 extreme overall outside dimension, measured from the front of 12 the unit to the rear of the unit and the load carried thereon, 13 exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved 14 by the department for use on vehicles using public roads, 15 unless it complies with subparagraph 2. A semitrailer which 16 exceeds 48 feet in length and is used to transport divisible 17 loads may operate in this state only if issued a permit under 18 s. 316.550 and if such trailer meets the requirements of this 19 chapter relating to vehicle equipment and safety. Except for 20 highways on the tandem trailer truck highway network, public 21 roads deemed unsafe for longer semitrailer vehicles or those 22 roads on which such longer vehicles are determined not to be 23 in the interest of public convenience shall, in conformance 24 with s. 316.006, be restricted by the Department of 25 Transportation or by the local authority to use by 26 semitrailers not exceeding a length of 48 feet, inclusive of 27 the load carried thereon but exclusive of safety and energy 28 conservation devices approved by the department for use on 29 vehicles using public roads. Truck tractor-semitrailer 30 combinations shall be afforded reasonable access to terminals; 31 5 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest; and points of 2 loading and unloading. 3 2. A semitrailer which is more than 48 feet but not 4 more than 53 feet in extreme overall outside dimension, as 5 measured pursuant to subparagraph 1., may operate on public 6 roads, except roads on the State Highway System which are 7 restricted by the Department of Transportation or other roads 8 restricted by local authorities, if: 9 a. The distance between the kingpin or other peg which 10 locks into the fifth wheel of a truck tractor and the center 11 of the rear axle or rear group of axles does not exceed 41 12 feet; and 13 b. It is equipped with a substantial rear-end 14 underride protection device meeting the requirements of 49 15 C.F.R. s. 393.86, "Rear End Protection." 16 (c) Tandem trailer trucks.-- 17 1. Except for semitrailers and trailers of up to 28 18 1/2 feet in length which existed on December 1, 1982, and 19 which were actually and lawfully operating on that date, no 20 semitrailer or trailer operating in a truck 21 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination may exceed a length of 22 28 feet in extreme overall outside dimension, measured from 23 the front of the unit to the rear of the unit and the load 24 carried thereon, exclusive of safety and energy conservation 25 devices approved by the Department of Transportation for use 26 on vehicles using public roads. 27 2. Tandem trailer trucks conforming to the weight and 28 size limitations of this chapter and in immediate transit to 29 or from a terminal facility as defined in this chapter may 30 operate on the public roads of this state except for 31 residential neighborhood streets restricted by the Department 6 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 of Transportation or local jurisdictions. In addition, the 2 Department of Transportation or local jurisdictions may 3 restrict these vehicles from using streets and roads under 4 their maintenance responsibility on the basis of safety and 5 engineering analyses, provided that the restrictions are 6 consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The 7 Department of Transportation shall develop safety and 8 engineering standards to be used by all jurisdictions when 9 identifying public roads and streets to be restricted from 10 tandem trailer truck operations. 11 3. Except as otherwise provided in this section, 12 within 5 miles of the Federal National Network for large 13 trucks, tandem trailer trucks shall be afforded access to 14 terminals; facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest; and 15 points of loading and unloading. 16 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or 17 special law to the contrary, all local system tandem trailer 18 truck route review procedures must be consistent with those 19 adopted by the Department of Transportation. 20 5. Tandem trailer trucks employed as household goods 21 carriers and conforming to the weight and size limitations of 22 this chapter shall be afforded access to points of loading and 23 unloading on the public streets and roads of this state, 24 except for streets and roads that have been restricted from 25 use by such vehicles on the basis of safety and engineering 26 analyses by the jurisdiction responsible for maintenance of 27 the streets and roads. 28 (d) Maxi-cube vehicles.--Maxi-cube vehicles shall be 29 allowed to operate on routes open to tandem trailer trucks 30 under the same conditions applicable to tandem trailer trucks 31 as specified by this section. 7 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 (4) LOAD EXTENSION LIMITATION.--The load upon any 2 vehicle operated alone, or the load upon the front vehicle of 3 a combination of vehicles, may not extend more than 3 feet 4 beyond the front wheels of the vehicle or the front bumper of 5 the vehicle if it is equipped with a bumper. The limitations 6 of this subsection do not apply to bicycle racks carrying 7 bicycles on public sector transit vehicles. 8 (7) FIRE OR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, UTILITY VEHICLES, AND 9 OTHER VEHICLES TRANSPORTING NONDIVISIBLE LOADS.--The length 10 limitations imposed by this section do not apply to: 11 (b) Utility vehicles owned or operated by governmental 12 entities or public utility corporations, or operated under 13 contract with such entities or corporations: 14 1. When transporting poles during daytime, except on 15 weekends and holidays, as defined in the rules of the 16 Department of Transportation, and when the vehicle and load do 17 not exceed 120 feet in overall length, provided proper flags 18 are located at the rearmost end of the load. However, such 19 movements with an overall length in excess of 75 feet: 20 a. Shall be equipped with a working warning light 21 device. 22 b. Shall be accompanied by a company-provided 23 flasher-equipped escort vehicle when making turns within 24 corporate city limits. 25 2. When transporting poles during nighttime and when 26 the vehicle and load do not exceed 120 feet in overall length. 27 Such movements shall be equipped with a working warning light 28 device and shall be accompanied by one leading and one 29 trailing company-provided flasher-equipped escort vehicle. 30 3. When transporting poles during emergencies or 31 required maintenance. Such movements may be made on all days 8 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 and at all hours, provided the respective daytime or nighttime 2 requirements are otherwise met. 3 4. When operating flasher-equipped straight truck 4 utility vehicles that have permanently mounted equipment that 5 extends up to 9 feet beyond the front bumper, provided: 6 a. Such equipment, when in the travel position, is 7 supported in such a manner that it has a minimum of 80 inches 8 clearance above the roadway; 9 b. Such equipment is illuminated on the forward most 10 sides with high visibility reflective tape; 11 c. The respective daytime and nighttime requirements 12 for operation are otherwise met; 13 d. Nighttime emergency or required maintenance 14 operation of such utility vehicles with overall lengths in 15 excess of 50 feet are led by a company-provided 16 flasher-equipped escort vehicle; and 17 e. Trailers are not pulled by utility vehicles over 50 18 feet in length. 19 20 A flasher-equipped escort vehicle is defined as an automobile 21 or truck that closely accompanies an over dimensional vehicle 22 or load carried thereon to alert approaching traffic of that 23 vehicle or load. Such escort vehicles shall be equipped with 24 a working warning light device, as defined in this subsection, 25 except that such device shall be located on top of the escort 26 vehicle. Warning light devices required in this subsection 27 shall be consistent with size, color, type, intensity, and 28 mounting requirements developed by the Department of 29 Transportation. 30 Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 316.516, Florida 31 Statutes, 1996 Supplement, is amended to read: 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 316.516 Width, height, and length; inspection; 2 penalties.-- 3 (4) Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, 4 penalties for violation of the maximum limits for width, 5 height, and length provided for in s. 316.515 are as follows: 6 (a) Two hundred and fifty dollars per foot of 7 violation or any portion thereof for width and height limit 8 violations. 9 (b)1. Forty dollars for length limit violations not 10 exceeding 2 feet over the length limit; 11 2. One hundred dollars for length limit violations of 12 greater than 2 feet but not exceeding 10 feet over the length 13 limit; or 14 3. Two hundred and fifty dollars for length limit 15 violations of greater than 10 feet, plus $250 for every 16 additional foot or any portion thereof that exceeds 11 feet 17 over the length limit. 18 (c) No individual penalty issued under the provisions 19 of this subsection shall exceed $1,000 for each width, height, 20 or length violation. Penalties for violation of the width, 21 height, and length limits contained in this chapter shall be 22 as provided in the rules of the Department of Transportation, 23 except that no such individual penalty shall exceed $1,000 per 24 width, height, or length violation. 25 Section 4. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) and 26 subsection (5) of section 322.53, Florida Statutes, 1996 27 Supplement, are amended to read: 28 322.53 License required; exemptions.-- 29 (2) The following persons are exempt from the 30 requirement to obtain a commercial driver's license: 31 10 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 (g) A driver operating any bus owned and operated by a 2 church, when the driver does not receive any form of 3 compensation for operating the bus, and when the bus is used 4 to transport people to or from church-related activities at no 5 charge. 6 (5) A resident who is exempt from obtaining a 7 commercial driver's license pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), 8 paragraph (2)(d), paragraph (2)(e), or paragraph (2)(f), or 9 paragraph (2)(g) may drive a commercial motor vehicle pursuant 10 to the exemption granted in paragraph (2)(b), paragraph 11 (2)(d), paragraph (2)(e), or paragraph (2)(f), or paragraph 12 (2)(g) if he or she possesses a valid Class D or Class E 13 driver's license or a military license. 14 Section 5. Section 334.27, Florida Statutes, 1996 15 Supplement, is amended to read: 16 334.27 Governmental transportation entities; property 17 acquired for transportation purposes; limitation on soil or 18 groundwater contamination liability.-- 19 (1) For the purposes of this section, the term 20 "governmental transportation entity" means the department; an 21 authority created pursuant to chapter 343, chapter 348, or 22 chapter 349; a port enumerated in s. 311.09(1); a county; or a 23 municipality. 24 (2) When a governmental transportation entity acquires 25 property for a transportation facility or in a transportation 26 corridor through the exercise of eminent domain authority, or 27 by purchase or donation, it is not subject to any liability 28 imposed by chapter 376 or chapter 403 for preexisting soil or 29 groundwater contamination due solely to its ownership. This 30 section does not affect the rights or liabilities of any past 31 or future owners of the acquired property nor does it affect 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 the liability of any governmental entity for the results of 2 its actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source. A 3 governmental transportation entity and the Department of 4 Environmental Protection may enter into interagency agreements 5 for the performance, funding, and reimbursement of the 6 investigative and remedial acts necessary for property 7 acquired by the governmental transportation entity department. 8 Section 6. Paragraph (j) is added to subsection (4) of 9 section 337.25, Florida Statutes, 1996 Supplement, to read: 10 337.25 Acquisition, lease, and disposal of real and 11 personal property.-- 12 (4) The department may sell, in the name of the state, 13 any land, building, or other property, real or personal, which 14 was acquired under the provisions of subsection (1) and which 15 the department has determined is not needed for the 16 construction, operation, and maintenance of a transportation 17 facility. With the exception of any parcel governed by 18 paragraph (c), paragraph (d), paragraph (f), paragraph (g), or 19 paragraph (i), the department shall afford first right of 20 refusal to the local government in the jurisdiction of which 21 the parcel is situated. When such a determination has been 22 made, property may be disposed of in the following manner: 23 (j) If the department determines that the property 24 will require significant costs to be incurred or that 25 continued ownership of the property exposes the department to 26 significant liability risks, the department may use the 27 projected maintenance costs over the next 5 years to offset 28 the market value in establishing a value for disposal of the 29 property, even if that value is zero. 30 Section 7. Section 338.161, Florida Statutes, is 31 created to read: 12 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 338.161 Authority of department to advertise and 2 promote electronic toll collection.-- 3 (1) The department is authorized to incur expenses for 4 paid advertising, marketing, and promotion of electronic toll 5 collection products and services. Promotions may include 6 discounts and free products. 7 (2) The department is authorized to receive funds from 8 advertising placed on electronic toll collection products and 9 promotional materials to defray the costs of products and 10 services. 11 Section 8. Section 339.12, Florida Statutes, 1996 12 Supplement, is amended to read: 13 339.12 Aid and contributions by governmental entities 14 for department projects rights-of-way, construction, or 15 maintenance of roads in State Highway System; federal aid.-- 16 (1) Any governmental entity may aid in any project or 17 project phase included in the adopted work program, including, 18 but not limited to, preliminary engineering, design, 19 acquisition of rights-of-way, construction, or maintenance of 20 any road on the State Highway System, by contributions to the 21 department of cash, bond proceeds, time warrants, or other 22 goods or services of value. 23 (2) The department may accept and receive any such aid 24 and contributions and dispose of and use the same for any 25 project or project phase included in the adopted work program, 26 including, but not limited to, preliminary engineering, 27 design, acquisition of rights-of-way, construction, or 28 maintenance of such state roads. The Executive Office of the 29 Governor is authorized to amend the department's budget and 30 adopted work program in the appropriate categories to utilize 31 contributions received. 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 (3) In case any such aid or contribution is given or 2 made by any governmental entity, such aid or contribution 3 shall be used by the department only for the project or 4 project phase included in the adopted work program or 5 maintenance of such state roads as are designated and agreed 6 upon by the department and the governing body of the 7 governmental entity. 8 (4)(a) Prior to accepting the contribution of road 9 bond proceeds, time warrants, or cash for which reimbursement 10 is sought, the department shall enter into agreements with the 11 governing body of the governmental entity for the project or 12 project phases of the roads and bridges in accordance with 13 specifications agreed upon between the department and the 14 governing body of the governmental entity. The department in 15 no instance is to receive from such governmental entity an 16 amount in excess of the actual cost of the project or project 17 phase of such state roads. By specific provision in the 18 written agreement between the department and the governing 19 body of the governmental entity, the department may agree to 20 reimburse the governmental entity for the actual amount of the 21 bond proceeds, time warrants, or cash used on a highway 22 project or project phases in the State Highway System that are 23 not revenue producing and are contained in the department's 24 adopted work program, or any public transportation project 25 contained in the adopted work program. Subject to 26 appropriation of funds by the Legislature, the department may 27 commit state funds for reimbursement of such projects or 28 project phases in the State Highway System. Reimbursement to 29 the governmental entity for such a project or project phase 30 must be made from funds appropriated by the Legislature, and 31 reimbursement for the cost of the project or project phase is 14 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 to begin in the year the project or project phase is scheduled 2 in the work program as of the date of the agreement. Funds 3 advanced pursuant to this section, which were originally 4 designated for transportation purposes and so reimbursed to a 5 county or municipality, shall be used by the county or 6 municipality for any transportation expenditure authorized 7 under s. 336.025(7). Also, cities and counties may receive 8 funds from persons, and reimburse those persons, for the 9 purposes of this section. Such persons may include, but are 10 not limited to, those persons defined in s. 607.01402(18) s. 11 607.108(1)(l). 12 (b) Prior to entering an agreement to advance a 13 project or project phase pursuant to this subsection and 14 subsection (5), the department shall first update the 15 estimated cost of the project or project phase and certify 16 that the estimate is accurate and consistent with the amount 17 estimated in the adopted work program. If the original 18 estimate and the updated estimate vary, the department shall 19 amend the adopted work program according to the amendatory 20 procedures for the work program set forth in s. 339.135(7). 21 The amendment shall reflect all corresponding increases and 22 decreases to the affected projects within the adopted work 23 program. 24 (c) The department is authorized to enter into 25 agreements under this subsection for a project or project 26 phase not included in the adopted work program. For purposes 27 of this paragraph, "project phase" is defined as acquisition 28 of rights-of-way, construction, construction inspection, and 29 related support phases. The project or project phase must be 30 a high priority of the governmental entity. Reimbursement for 31 a project or project phase must be made from funds 15 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 appropriated by the Legislature pursuant to s. 339.135(5). All 2 other provisions of this subsection apply to agreements 3 entered into under this paragraph. At no time shall the total 4 amount of project agreements for projects or project phases 5 not included in the adopted work program exceed $50 million. 6 (5) The department and the governing body of a 7 governmental entity may enter into an agreement by which the 8 governmental entity agrees to perform a highway project or 9 project phase in the department's adopted work program for a 10 road in the State Highway System that is not revenue producing 11 or any public transportation project in the adopted work 12 program. By specific provision in the written agreement 13 between the department and the governing body of the 14 governmental entity, the department may agree to reimburse the 15 governmental entity the actual cost of preliminary 16 engineering, project design, acquisition of the right-of-way 17 necessary for the project, construction engineering 18 inspection, or the construction contract for the project or 19 project phase contained in the adopted work program. 20 Reimbursement to the governmental entity for such project or 21 project phases must be made from funds appropriated by the 22 Legislature, and reimbursement for the cost of the project or 23 project phase is to begin in the year the project or project 24 phase is scheduled in the work program as of the date of the 25 agreement. 26 (6) The department may propose and obtain the 27 designation of any project or project phase of the roads and 28 bridges to be constructed as a federal-aid project and obtain 29 reimbursement from the United States in accordance with 30 existing regulations. If federal-aid funds are used, 31 governmental entities other than the department are prohibited 16 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 from performing projects or project phases authorized in 2 subsection (5), unless the entity is qualified and authorized 3 by the Federal Highway Administration to perform the 4 appropriate project phase. 5 (7) The federal-aid money obtained under subsection 6 (6) shall first be applied to the completion of the project or 7 project phase roads for which the bonds have been voted, if 8 the money from the bonds is not sufficient therefor; and any 9 residue shall be expended in the acquisition of rights-of-way 10 or the construction of any project or project phase state road 11 that the department and the governing body of the governmental 12 entity may agree upon. 13 (8) The financial provisions of any agreement that are 14 made in accordance with the provisions of this section shall 15 be approved by the department comptroller. 16 (9) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, prior 17 to commencement of the project or project phase, governmental 18 entities are authorized to release control of such 19 contributions to the department, pursuant to a written 20 agreement between the governmental entity and the department. 21 Section 9. Subsection (15) of section 479.16, Florida 22 Statutes, is amended to read: 23 479.16 Signs for which permits are not required.--The 24 following signs are exempt from the requirement that a permit 25 for a sign be obtained under the provisions of this chapter 26 but are required to comply with the provisions of s. 27 479.11(4)-(8): 28 (15) Signs not in excess of 8 square feet placed at a 29 road junction with the State Highway System denoting only the 30 distance or direction of a residence or farm operation, or, in 31 a rural area where a hardship is created because a small 17 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 business is not visible from the road junction with the State 2 Highway System, one sign not in excess of 8 square feet, 3 denoting only the name of the business and the distance and 4 direction to the business. The small business sign provision 5 of this subsection may not be implemented if the Federal 6 Government notifies the department that implementation will 7 adversely affect the allocation of federal funds to the 8 department. 9 Section 10. Subsection (7) of section 479.261, Florida 10 Statutes, 1996 Supplement, is amended to read: 11 479.261 Logo sign program.-- 12 (7) The department may adopt rules to establish 13 requirements for qualification and location of logo sign 14 sites, qualification and distance of businesses, permit 15 application and processing, and other criteria necessary to 16 implement this program and to provide for variances when 17 necessary to serve the interest of the traveling public or 18 when required to ensure equitable treatment of program 19 participants. However, the department or its agent may erect 20 logo signs only where spacing requirements allow at least one 21 three logo sign structure structures on the main road, one 22 three logo sign structure structures on the ramp, and all 23 necessary traffic control signs for each direction of travel. 24 Section 11. Section 339.121, Florida Statutes, is 25 hereby repealed. 26 Section 12. This act shall take effect upon becoming a 27 law. 28 29 30 31 18 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 675 198-272A-97 1 ***************************************** 2 HOUSE SUMMARY 3 Provides exceptions to certain safety regulations for 4 public utility vehicles and authorized emergency vehicles during periods of severe weather or other emergencies. 5 Provides exception to length limitations for straight truck utility vehicles under described circumstances. 6 Provides statutory penalties for violation of maximum width, height, and length limitations. Authorized the 7 Department of Transportation to incur expenses for paid advertising, marketing, and promotion of electronic toll 8 collection products and services. Authorizes the department, if it determines that a property owned by the 9 department will require significant costs to be incurred or that the continued ownership of the property exposes 10 the department to significant liability risks, to use the projected maintenance costs over the next 5 years to 11 offset the market value in establishing a value for the disposal of the property, even if that value is zero. 12 Revises language with respect to aid and contributions by governmental entities for department projects. Revises 13 the provision of law dealing with logo signs to provide that the department may erect logo signs only where 14 spacing requirements allow at least one logo sign structure on the main road, one logo sign structure on 15 the ramp, and all necessary control signs for each direction of travel. Exempts described signs in rural 16 areas from permit requirements. Repeals a provision of law relating to aid and contribution by governmental 17 entities for public transportation projects. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 19