HB 1255

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to motor vehicles; amending s. 316.515,
3	F.S.; revising restrictions on use of certain agriculture-
4	related vehicles; providing conditions for use of
5	agricultural equipment and implements of husbandry;
6	authorizing the Department of Transportation to issue
7	blanket multitrip, overwidth permits for agricultural
8	equipment and implements of husbandry up to a certain size
9	and single-trip, overwidth permits for larger agricultural
10	equipment and implements of husbandry; providing for fees;
11	providing conditions for such use; providing an effective
12	date.
13
14	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16	Section 1.  Subsection (5) of section 316.515, Florida
17	Statutes, is amended to read:
18	316.515  Maximum width, height, length.--
19	(5)  IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY; AGRICULTURAL TRAILERS;
20	FORESTRY EQUIPMENT; SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.--
21	(a)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, straight
22	trucks, agricultural tractors, and cotton module movers, not
23	exceeding 50 feet in length, or any combination of up to and
24	including three implements of husbandry, including the towing
25	power unit, and any single agricultural trailer with a load
26	thereon are or any agricultural implements attached to a towing
27	power unit not exceeding 130 inches in width, or a self-
28	propelled agricultural implement or an agricultural tractor not
29	exceeding 130 inches in width, is authorized for the purpose of
30	transporting peanuts, grains, soybeans, cotton, hay, straw, or
31	other perishable farm products from their point of production to
32	the first point of change of custody or of long-term storage,
33	and for the purpose of returning to such point of production, or
34	for the purpose of moving such tractors, movers, and implements
35	from one point of agricultural production to another, by a
36	person engaged in the production of any such product or custom
37	hauler, if such vehicle or combination of vehicles otherwise
38	complies with this section. The Department of Transportation may
39	issue overwidth permits for implements of husbandry greater than
40	130 inches, but not more than 170 inches, in width. The
41	Department of Transportation may issue overlength permits for
42	cotton module movers greater than 50 feet but not more than 55
43	feet in overall length. Such vehicles shall be operated in
44	accordance with all safety requirements prescribed by law and
45	rules of the Department of Transportation.
46	(b)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,
47	agricultural equipment and implements of husbandry not exceeding
48	192 inches in width used for agricultural purposes are
49	authorized for the purpose of moving from one point of
50	agricultural production to another, if such movement is
51	performed during daylight hours within a radius of 50 miles of
52	the point of origin and no part of such movement is upon any
53	highway designated as a part of the national system of
54	interstate and defense highways or any fully controlled access
55	highway facility. The Department of Transportation may issue
56	blanket multitrip, overwidth permits for agricultural equipment
57	and implements of husbandry greater than 192 inches but no more
58	than 264 inches in width. The annual fee for the blanket
59	multitrip, overwidth permit shall be $25. The Department of
60	Transportation may issue single-trip, overwidth permits for
61	agricultural equipment and implements of husbandry greater than
62	264 inches in width. The fee for a single-trip, overwidth permit
63	shall be $50 and the equipment must have flags, lights, signs,
64	and an escort. Such vehicles shall be operated in accordance
65	with all safety requirements prescribed by law and rules of the
66	Department of Transportation.
67	(c)(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
68	equipment not exceeding 136 inches in width and not capable of
69	speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour which is used exclusively for
70	harvesting forestry products is authorized for the purpose of
71	transporting equipment from one point of harvest to another
72	point of harvest, not to exceed 10 miles, by a person engaged in
73	the harvesting of forestry products. Such vehicles must be
74	operated during daylight hours only, in accordance with all
75	safety requirements prescribed by s. 316.2295(5) and (6).
76	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

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