Bill Text - HB1195 (2010)

Relative to height, length, width, and weight limits for trucks.


Revision: Feb. 4, 2010, midnight

HB 1195 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

03Feb2010… 0307h

2010 SESSION

10-2238

06/05

HOUSE BILL 1195

AN ACT relative to height, length, width, and weight limits for trucks.

SPONSORS: Rep. Quandt, Rock 13; Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4

COMMITTEE: Transportation

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Establishes size restrictions for tow trucks and towed vehicles.

II. Exempts from height, length, width, and weight limits damaged, disabled, or abandoned vehicles while being towed by a tow truck.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03Feb2010… 0307h

10-2238

06/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten

AN ACT relative to height, length, width, and weight limits for trucks.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Exception for Vehicles Being Towed. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section 13-b the following new section:

266:13-c Exception for Vehicles Being Towed. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, the following size restrictions shall apply to tow trucks and towed vehicles:

I. When any portion of the weight of a disabled unit rests upon a tow truck, such weight shall not exceed 600 pounds per square inch of tire up to 25,000 pounds per single axle, or 50,000 pounds per tandem axle set, or the weight allowed for axle groups under RSA 266:18 or RSA 266:18-a. The tow truck steering axle shall carry sufficient weight to maintain safe operation.

II. No disabled unit, including load, shall exceed 14 feet in height and 102 inches in width unless being towed under a special permit allowing a greater height or width or where an accident or collision has caused a disfigurement of the disabled unit resulting in a width greater than 102 inches but not exceeding 120 inches. During daylight hours the disabled unit shall carry warning flags indicating its maximum width. During the hours of darkness the maximum width shall be indicated by lighted clearance lamps that comply with 49 C.F.R. section 393.17. Rear view mirrors may extend to a point not in excess of that which affords the driver of the tow truck a view of the rear along both sides of the vehicle in conformance with 49 C.F.R. section 571.111. The combined overall length of the tow truck and disabled, damaged, or abandoned vehicles in tow shall not exceed 120 feet.

III. No single unit tow truck shall exceed 43 feet in overall length. No disabled unit shall exceed the maximum length for such unit under this subdivision or by special permit.

IV. A tractor truck and semi-trailer or full trailer, or a straight truck and full trailer combination shall only be towed in an emergency situation when a law enforcement officer or the department of transportation directs the disabled combination to be moved to the nearest safe location off the highway.

V. Exceptions to the limits of this section shall be considered on an individual basis by special permit, after the disabled unit has been moved to the nearest safe location.

VI. When towing occurs during the hours of darkness the towing vehicle and towed vehicles shall be subject to the lighting and reflector requirements in this chapter.

2 New Section; Exception for Vehicles Being Towed. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section 21 the following new section:

266:21-a Exception for Vehicles Being Towed. The total weight of a tow truck and the towed vehicle is exempt from the maximum total gross weight loads allowed under this subdivision if a damaged, disabled, or abandoned vehicle is being towed.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.