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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to state uniform traffic control; amending

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s. 316.515, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the

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movement of certain trucks, tractors, and other vehicles

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used in the production or transportation of agricultural

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products on certain roads in this state; increasing the

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width of vehicles permitted for such purposes; providing

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limitations on such use; providing for trip permits issued

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by the Department of Transportation; providing for permit

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fees; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Subsection (5) of section 316.515, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     (5) AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT AND IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY;

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AGRICULTURAL TRAILERS; FORESTRY EQUIPMENT; SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.--

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     (a)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, straight

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trucks, agricultural tractors, and cotton module movers, not

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exceeding 50 feet in length, or any combination of up to and

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including three implements of husbandry, including the towing

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power unit, and any single agricultural trailer with a load

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thereon or any agricultural implements attached to a towing power

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unit not exceeding 130 inches in width, or a self-propelled

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agricultural implement or an agricultural tractor not exceeding

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130 inches in width, is authorized for the purpose of

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transporting peanuts, grains, soybeans, cotton, hay, straw, or

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other perishable farm products from their point of production to

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the first point of change of custody or of long-term storage, and

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for the purpose of returning to such point of production, or for

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the purpose of moving such tractors, movers, and implements from

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one point of agricultural production to another, by a person

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engaged in the production of any such product or custom hauler,

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if such vehicle or combination of vehicles otherwise complies

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with this section. The Department of Transportation may issue

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overwidth permits for implements of husbandry greater than 130

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inches, but not more than 170 inches, in width. The Department of

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Transportation may issue overlength permits for cotton module

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movers greater than 50 feet but not more than 55 feet in overall

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length. Such vehicles shall be operated in accordance with all

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safety requirements prescribed by law and rules of the Department

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of Transportation.

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     (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,

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agricultural equipment and implements of husbandry not exceeding

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192 inches in width and used for agricultural purposes are

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authorized for the purpose of moving from one point of

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agricultural production to another, if such movement is performed

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during daylight hours within a radius of 50 miles from the point

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of origin thereof and no part of such movement is upon any

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highway designated as a part of the National System of Interstate

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and Defense Highways or any fully controlled access highway

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facility. The Department of Transportation may issue blanket

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multi-trip overwidth permits for agricultural equipment and

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implements of husbandry greater than 192 inches, but no more than

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264 inches in width. The annual blanket multi-trip permit fee

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shall be $25. The Department of Transportation may issue single-

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trip overwidth permits for agricultural equipment and implements

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of husbandry greater than 264 inches in width. The single-trip

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permit fee shall be $50 and the equipment must have flags,

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lights, signs, and an escort. Such vehicles shall be operated in

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accordance with all safety requirements prescribed by law and

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rules of the Department of Transportation.

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     (c)(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

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equipment not exceeding 136 inches in width and not capable of

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speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour which is used exclusively for

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harvesting forestry products is authorized for the purpose of

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transporting equipment from one point of harvest to another point

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of harvest, not to exceed 10 miles, by a person engaged in the

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harvesting of forestry products. Such vehicles must be operated

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during daylight hours only, in accordance with all safety

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requirements prescribed by s. 316.2295(5) and (6).

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.