Section 169.86 Special Permit to Exceed Height, Width, or Load; Fees
169.86 SPECIAL PERMIT TO EXCEED HEIGHT, WIDTH, OR LOAD; FEES.
Subdivision 1.Permit authorities; restrictions.
(a) The commissioner, with respect to highways under the commissioner's jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, may, in their discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown therefor, issue a special permit, in writing, authorizing the applicant to move a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in this chapter, or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting such permit and for the maintenance of which such party is responsible.
(b) Permits relating to over-width, over-length manufactured homes shall not be issued to persons other than manufactured home dealers or manufacturers for movement of new units owned by the manufactured home dealer or manufacturer, until the person has presented a statement from the county auditor and treasurer where the unit is presently located, stating that all personal and real property taxes have been paid. Upon payment of the most recent single year delinquent personal property or current year taxes only, the county auditor or treasurer must issue a taxes paid statement to a manufactured home dealer or a financial institution desiring to relocate a manufactured home that has been repossessed. This statement must be dated within 30 days of the contemplated move. The statement from the county auditor and treasurer where the unit is presently located, stating that all personal and real property taxes have been paid, may be made by telephone. If the statement is obtained by telephone, the permit shall contain the date and time of the telephone call and the names of the persons in the auditor's office and treasurer's office who verified that all personal and real property taxes had been paid.
(c) The commissioner may not grant a permit authorizing the movement, in a three-vehicle combination, of a semitrailer or trailer that exceeds 28-1/2 feet, except that the commissioner (1) may renew a permit that was granted before April 16, 1984, for the movement of a semitrailer or trailer that exceeds the length limitation in section 169.81, subdivision 2, or (2) may grant a permit authorizing the transportation of empty trailers that exceed 28-1/2 feet when using a B-train hitching mechanism as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 23, section 658.5, paragraph (o), from a point of manufacture in the state to the state border.
(d) The state as to state trunk highways, a statutory or home rule charter city as to streets in the city, or a town as to roads in the town, may issue permits authorizing the transportation of combinations of vehicles exceeding the limitations in section 169.81, subdivisions 2a and 3, over highways, streets, or roads within its boundaries. Combinations of vehicles authorized by this paragraph may be restricted as to the use of state trunk highways by the commissioner, to the use of streets by the city road authority, and to the use of roads by the town road authority. Nothing in this paragraph or section 169.81, subdivisions 2a and 3, alters or changes the authority vested in local authorities under section 169.04.
Subd. 1a.Seasonal permits for certain haulers.
The commissioner of transportation, upon application in writing therefor, may issue special permits annually to any hauler authorizing the hauler to move vehicles or combinations of vehicles with weights exceeding by not more than ten percent the weight limitations contained in sections 169.823 to 169.829, on interstate highways during the times and within the zones specified in sections 169.823 to 169.829.
Subd. 1b.Permit for snowplowing vehicle.
The commissioner or a local authority may issue an annual permit to a person that authorizes the person to operate on any highway under the jurisdiction of the grantor of the permit, a motor vehicle bearing a snowplow blade that when deployed does not exceed ten feet in width. The permit authorizes operation of the vehicle between October 1 and April 1.
Subd. 2.Required information.
The application for a permit shall specifically describe in writing the vehicle or vehicles and loads to be moved and the particular highways and period of time for which a permit is requested.
Subd. 3.Authority to issue permit; conditions, financial responsibility.
The commissioner or local authority may issue or withhold such permit; or, if such permit is issued, limit or prescribe conditions of operation of such vehicle or vehicles, when necessary to assure against undue damage to the road foundations, surfaces or structures, and may require such undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to compensate for any injury or damage to any roadway or road structure, and in addition may require that the operator or owner of such vehicle or vehicles have in effect with respect to the operation of such vehicle or vehicles a policy of liability insurance or bond affording substantially the same coverage with respect to injury to persons and damage to property as is required for proof of financial responsibility under the No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act, sections 65B.14 and 65B.41 to 65B.71.
Subd. 3a.Denial of permit; manufactured home frames.
The commissioner or local authority may not deny a permit for the transport to a manufacturing plant of manufactured home frames not more than 15-1/2 feet in width during periods of seasonal weight restrictions unless the load exceeds the weight restrictions.
Subd. 3b.Escort vehicles.
The commissioner or local authority shall specify in the permit:
(1) the minimum number of escort vehicles required to escort the overdimensional load; and
(2) whether the operators of the escort vehicles must be certified licensed peace officers or may be overdimensional load escort drivers who hold a current certificate under section 299D.085.
Subd. 4.Display and inspection of permit.
Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer or authorized agent of any authority granting such permit, and no person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such special permit.
Subd. 5.Fees; proceeds deposited; appropriation.
The commissioner, with respect to highways under the commissioner's jurisdiction, may charge a fee for each permit issued. All such fees for permits issued by the commissioner of transportation shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the trunk highway fund. Except for those annual permits for which the permit fees are specified elsewhere in this chapter, the fees shall be:
(a) $15 for each single trip permit.
(b) $36 for each job permit. A job permit may be issued for like loads carried on a specific route for a period not to exceed two months. "Like loads" means loads of the same product, weight, and dimension.
(c) $60 for an annual permit to be issued for a period not to exceed 12 consecutive months. Annual permits may be issued for:
(1) motor vehicles used to alleviate a temporary crisis adversely affecting the safety or well-being of the public;
(2) motor vehicles which travel on interstate highways and carry loads authorized under subdivision 1a;
(3) motor vehicles operating with gross weights authorized under section 169.826, subdivision 1a;
(4) special pulpwood vehicles described in section 169.863;
(5) motor vehicles bearing snowplow blades not exceeding ten feet in width;
(6) noncommercial transportation of a boat by the owner or user of the boat;
(7) motor vehicles carrying bales of agricultural products authorized under section 169.862; and
(8) special milk-hauling vehicles authorized under section 169.867.
(d) $120 for an oversize annual permit to be issued for a period not to exceed 12 consecutive months. Annual permits may be issued for:
(1) mobile cranes;
(2) construction equipment, machinery, and supplies;
(3) manufactured homes and manufactured storage buildings;
(4) implements of husbandry;
(5) double-deck buses;
(6) commercial boat hauling;
(7) three-vehicle combinations consisting of two empty, newly manufactured trailers for cargo, horses, or livestock, not to exceed 28-1/2 feet per trailer; provided, however, the permit allows the vehicles to be moved from a trailer manufacturer to a trailer dealer only while operating on twin-trailer routes designated under section 169.81, subdivision 3, paragraph (c); and
(8) vehicles operating on that portion of marked Trunk Highway 36 described in section 169.81, subdivision 3, paragraph (e).
(e) For vehicles which have axle weights exceeding the weight limitations of sections 169.823 to 169.829, an additional cost added to the fees listed above. However, this paragraph applies to any vehicle described in section 168.013, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), but only when the vehicle exceeds its gross weight allowance set forth in that paragraph, and then the additional cost is for all weight, including the allowance weight, in excess of the permitted maximum axle weight. The additional cost is equal to the product of the distance traveled times the sum of the overweight axle group cost factors shown in the following chart:
| Overweight Axle Group Cost Factors | ||||||
| Weight (pounds) | Cost Per Mile For Each Group Of: | |||||
| exceeding weight limitations on axles | Two consecutive axles spaced within 8 feet or less | Three consecutive axles spaced within 9 feet or less | Four consecutive axles spaced within 14 feet or less | |||
| 0-2,000 | .12 | .05 | .04 | |||
| 2,001-4,000 | .14 | .06 | .05 | |||
| 4,001-6,000 | .18 | .07 | .06 | |||
| 6,001-8,000 | .21 | .09 | .07 | |||
| 8,001-10,000 | .26 | .10 | .08 | |||
| 10,001-12,000 | .30 | .12 | .09 | |||
| 12,001-14,000 | Not permitted | .14 | .11 | |||
| 14,001-16,000 | Not permitted | .17 | .12 | |||
| 16,001-18,000 | Not permitted | .19 | .15 | |||
| 18,001-20,000 | Not permitted | Not permitted | .16 | |||
| 20,001-22,000 | Not permitted | Not permitted | .20 |
The amounts added are rounded to the nearest cent for each axle or axle group. The additional cost does not apply to paragraph (c), clauses (1) and (3).
For a vehicle found to exceed the appropriate maximum permitted weight, a cost-per-mile fee of 22 cents per ton, or fraction of a ton, over the permitted maximum weight is imposed in addition to the normal permit fee. Miles must be calculated based on the distance already traveled in the state plus the distance from the point of detection to a transportation loading site or unloading site within the state or to the point of exit from the state.
(f) As an alternative to paragraph (e), an annual permit may be issued for overweight, or oversize and overweight, mobile cranes; construction equipment, machinery, and supplies; implements of husbandry; and commercial boat hauling. The fees for the permit are as follows:
| Gross Weight (pounds) of Vehicle | Annual Permit Fee | |
| 90,000 | or less | $200 |
| 90,001 | - 100,000 | $300 |
| 100,001 | - 110,000 | $400 |
| 110,001 | - 120,000 | $500 |
| 120,001 | - 130,000 | $600 |
| 130,001 | - 140,000 | $700 |
| 140,001 | - 145,000 | $800 |
If the gross weight of the vehicle is more than 145,000 pounds the permit fee is determined under paragraph (e).
(g) For vehicles which exceed the width limitations set forth in section 169.80 by more than 72 inches, an additional cost equal to $120 added to the amount in paragraph (a) when the permit is issued while seasonal load restrictions pursuant to section 169.87 are in effect.
(h) $85 for an annual permit to be issued for a period not to exceed 12 months, for refuse-compactor vehicles that carry a gross weight of not more than: 22,000 pounds on a single rear axle; 38,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle; or, subject to section 169.828, subdivision 2, 46,000 pounds on a tridem rear axle. A permit issued for up to 46,000 pounds on a tridem rear axle must limit the gross vehicle weight to not more than 62,000 pounds.
(i) $300 for a motor vehicle described in section 169.8261. The fee under this paragraph must be deposited as follows:
(1) in fiscal years 2005 through 2010:
(i) the first $50,000 in each fiscal year must be deposited in the trunk highway fund for costs related to administering the permit program and inspecting and posting bridges;
(ii) all remaining money in each fiscal year must be deposited in a bridge inspection and signing account in the special revenue fund. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner for:
(A) inspection of local bridges and identification of local bridges to be posted, including contracting with a consultant for some or all of these functions; and
(B) erection of weight-posting signs on local bridges; and
(2) in fiscal year 2011 and subsequent years must be deposited in the trunk highway fund.
(j) Beginning August 1, 2006, $200 for an annual permit for a vehicle operating under authority of section 169.824, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (2).
Subd. 6.Articulated bus.
Articulated buses operated by public transit operators may exceed the length and weight limitations of this chapter, subject only to an annual permit from the commissioner for such operation, and shall not be subject to any city ordinance or to any permit from any local road authority. The application for a permit shall contain such information as may be required by the commissioner.
Subd. 7.Agreement with other state.
(a) On behalf of the state of Minnesota, the commissioner may enter into agreements with authorized representatives of other states for the reciprocal administration and granting of permits to allow the movement of vehicles of sizes and weights that do not conform to Minnesota law. The agreement may authorize representatives of other states to issue permits to allow vehicles that do not conform to the size and weight provisions of this chapter to travel on highways under the jurisdiction of the commissioner.
(b) An agreement entered into under paragraph (a), and all amendments to it, must be in writing and may provide for exchanging information for audit and enforcement activities, collecting fees established under this chapter, and distributing fees collected under the agreement. It must state that no permit issued under the agreement excuses a vehicle operator from compliance with a law of this state other than the laws governing size and weight of vehicles.
(c) For purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b), "state" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, a foreign country, and a state or province of a foreign country.
(d) Fees collected under authority of the agreement must be deposited in the Minnesota state treasury and credited to the trunk highway fund.
Subd. 8.Tow truck permit.
The commissioner may issue permits to an applicant who pays a single $300 annual fee to cover all tow trucks and towing vehicles owned by the applicant and meets any other conditions prescribed by the commissioner. The permit authorizes the tow truck or towing vehicle, when towing a disabled or damaged vehicle to a place of repair or to a place of safekeeping, to exceed the length and weight limitations of this chapter.
History:
(2720-278) 1937 c 464 s 128; 1943 c 226 s 4; 1953 c 307 s 1; 1967 c 262 s 1; 1973 c 549 s 3; 1974 c 110 s 1; 1974 c 408 s 32 subd 4; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1976 c 343 s 1; 1977 c 248 s 10; 1977 c 454 s 17; 1981 c 321 s 8; 1981 c 348 s 2; 1981 c 365 s 9; 1982 c 617 s 14; 1983 c 198 s 6; 1983 c 293 s 67; 1984 c 523 s 1; 1985 c 132 s 1; 1986 c 398 art 13 s 11,12; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 544 s 3; 1989 c 250 s 3; 1989 c 299 s 1; 1990 c 604 art 3 s 6; 1991 c 333 s 20; 1992 c 578 s 11; 1993 c 182 s 2; 1993 c 187 s 19; 1996 c 289 s 7; 1997 c 114 s 1,2; 1998 c 254 art 1 s 61; 2002 c 364 s 17; 2002 c 371 art 3 s 8; 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 37; 2004 c 225 s 1; 2004 c 295 art 1 s 12; 1Sp2005 c 6 art 3 s 52; 2008 c 287 art 1 s 57,58; 2008 c 350 art 1 s 49; 2010 c 311 s 2; 2010 c 320 art 1 s 7; art 2 s 8
NOTE: Subdivision 3b, as added by Laws 2010, chapter 311, section 2, is effective one year after publication in the State Register of rules adopted under Minnesota Statutes, section 299D.085, subdivision 5. Laws 2010, chapter 311, section 4.