BILL NUMBER: SB 964 CHAPTERED 10/04/01 CHAPTER 497 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 4, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 4, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 30, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 16, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 3, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 25, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Senator Costa FEBRUARY 23, 2001 An act to amend Section 35555 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 964, Costa. Vehicles. (1) Existing law exempts from vehicle weight limits any cotton module mover or any truck tractor pulling a semitrailer that is a cotton module mover when operated during the period of September 15 of each year and ending March 15 of the following year and, among other things, when operating laterally across a state highway at grade of the state highway or upon any county highway within certain specified counties except when limited by the county board of supervisors. This bill would allow the described vehicles to operate on any state highway within the specified counties during the described period, if the operator is in possession of a driver's license of the class required for operation of the mover, the mover is in compliance with certain lighting and equipment statutes, the mover does not exceed specified weight limits, and, in certain cases, the operator possesses a commercial driver's license. The bill would provide that the above provisions do not apply to those highways designated as national network routes. Because a violation of these prohibitions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating new crimes. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. (3) The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 35555 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 35555. (a) During the period commencing September 15 of each year and ending March 15 of the following year, the weight limitations of Section 35551 do not apply to any cotton module mover or any truck tractor pulling a semitrailer that is a cotton module mover, when operated as follows: (1) Laterally across a state highway at grade of the state highway. (2) Upon any county highway within the Counties of Butte, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba, except as prohibited or limited on county highways or portions thereof by resolution of the county board of supervisors having jurisdiction. (b) A cotton module mover may be operated upon a state highway within the counties and during the period set forth in subdivision (a) if all of the following are met: (1) The operator is in possession of a driver's license of the class required for operation of the mover. (2) The mover is operated in compliance with Sections 24002 and 24012; Article 1 (commencing with Section 24250) of, Article 3 (commencing with Section 24600) of, Article 4 (commencing with Section 24800) of, Article 5 (commencing with Section 24950) of, Article 6 (commencing with 25100) of, Article 9 (commencing with 25350) of, Article 11 (commencing with 25450) of, Chapter 2 of Division 12; and Article 2 (commencing with 26450) and Article 3 (commencing with 26502) of Chapter 3 of Division 12. (3) The mover does not exceed the maximum allowable gross axle weight for tandem axles set forth in Section 35551 by more than 6,000 pounds. (4) The operator of a mover that exceeds the maximum allowable gross axle weight for tandem axle vehicles as set forth in Section 35551 shall possess a commercial driver's license as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 15210. (c) This section does not apply to those highways designated by the United States Department of Transportation as national network routes. SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. SEC. 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order that the provisions of this act, allowing the operation of cotton module movers upon state highways, may apply during the 2001 fall harvest season, it is essential that this act take effect immediately.