BILL NUMBER: SB 1848	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 12, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 27, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Perata

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2000

   An act to amend Section 35551 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1848, as amended, Perata.  Vehicle weights.
   Existing provisions of the Vehicle Code specify the maximum gross
weight that may be imposed upon the highway by, among other things,
any group of 2 or more consecutive axles of a vehicle.
   This bill would authorize a truck and trailer combination vehicle
consisting of a truck with cargo tank and pull trailer that is used
to carry petroleum products to have a maximum gross vehicle weight of
86,000 pounds, if that maximum weight limit is  not
prohibited   authorized  under federal law. 
   The bill would provide that this vehicle combination shall comply
with applicable equipment requirements, as prescribed. 
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 35551 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   35551.  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or
Section 35551.5, the total gross weight in pounds imposed on the
highway by any group of two or more consecutive axles may not exceed
that given for the respective distance in the following table:


Distance in feet
between the extremes
of any group of 2 or
more consecutive
_________________________________________________
axles                 2 axles   3 axles   4 axles   5 axles   6 axles


  4 ................   34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000

  5 ................   34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000

  6 ................   34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000

  7 ................   34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000

  8 ................   34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000    34,000

  9 ................   39,000    42,500    42,500    42,500    42,500

10 ................   40,000    43,500    43,500    43,500    43,500

11 ................   40,000    44,000    44,000    44,000    44,000

12 ................   40,000    45,000    50,000    50,000    50,000

13 ................   40,000    45,500    50,500    50,500    50,500

14 ................   40,000    46,500    51,500    51,500    51,500

15 ................   40,000    47,000    52,000    52,000    52,000

16 ................   40,000    48,000    52,500    52,500    52,500

17 ................   40,000    48,500    53,500    53,500    53,500

18 ................   40,000    49,500    54,000    54,000    54,000

19 ................   40,000    50,000    54,500    54,500    54,500

20 ................   40,000    51,000    55,500    55,500    55,500

21 ................   40,000    51,500    56,000    56,000    56,000

22 ................   40,000    52,500    56,500    56,500    56,500

23 ................   40,000    53,000    57,500    57,500    57,500

24 ................   40,000    54,000    58,000    58,000    58,000

25 ................   40,000    54,500    58,500    58,500    58,500

26 ................   40,000    55,500    59,500    59,500    59,500

27 ................   40,000    56,000    60,000    60,000    60,000

28 ................   40,000    57,000    60,500    60,500    60,500

29 ................   40,000    57,500    61,500    61,500    61,500

30 ................   40,000    58,500    62,000    62,000    62,000

31 ................   40,000    59,000    62,500    62,500    62,500

32 ................   40,000    60,000    63,500    63,500    63,500

33 ................   40,000    60,000    64,000    64,000    64,000

34 ................   40,000    60,000    64,500    64,500    64,500

35 ................   40,000    60,000    65,500    65,500    65,500

36 ................   40,000    60,000    66,000    66,000    66,000

37 ................   40,000    60,000    66,500    66,500    66,500

38 ................   40,000    60,000    67,500    67,500    67,500

39 ................   40,000    60,000    68,000    68,000    68,000

40 ................   40,000    60,000    68,500    70,000    70,000

41 ................   40,000    60,000    69,500    72,000    72,000

42 ................   40,000    60,000    70,000    73,280    73,280

43 ................   40,000    60,000    70,500    73,280    73,280

44 ................   40,000    60,000    71,500    73,280    73,280

45 ................   40,000    60,000    72,000    76,000    80,000

46 ................   40,000    60,000    72,500    76,500    80,000

47 ................   40,000    60,000    73,500    77,500    80,000

48 ................   40,000    60,000    74,000    78,000    80,000

49 ................   40,000    60,000    74,500    78,500    80,000

50 ................   40,000    60,000    75,500    79,000    80,000

51 ................   40,000    60,000    76,000    80,000    80,000

52 ................   40,000    60,000    76,500    80,000    80,000

53 ................   40,000    60,000    77,500    80,000    80,000

54 ................   40,000    60,000    78,000    80,000    80,000

55 ................   40,000    60,000    78,500    80,000    80,000

56 ................   40,000    60,000    79,500    80,000    80,000

57 ................   40,000    60,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

58 ................   40,000    60,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

59 ................   40,000    60,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

60 ................   40,000    60,000    80,000    80,000    80,000


   (b) In addition to the weights specified in subdivision (a), two
consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000
pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles
of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.  The
gross weight of each set of tandem axles may not exceed 34,000 pounds
and the gross weight of the two consecutive sets of tandem axles may
not exceed 68,000 pounds.  
   (c) For a truck and trailer combination vehicle consisting of a
truck with cargo tank and pull trailer that is used to carry
petroleum products, the maximum gross vehicle weight may not exceed
86,000 pounds, if that maximum weight limit is not prohibited under
federal law.  
   (c) (1) For a truck and trailer vehicle combination consisting of
a truck with a mounted cargo tank and a cargo tank pull trailer that
is used to carry petroleum products, the maximum gross vehicle weight
may not exceed 86,000 pounds, if that weight is authorized under
federal law.
   (2) A vehicle combination described in paragraph (1) is required
to meet all applicable equipment requirements set forth in Division
12 (commencing with Section 24000). 
   (d) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot.  When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
   (e) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the right to
prohibit the use of any highway or any bridge or other structure
thereon in the manner and to the extent specified in Article 4
(commencing with Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with
Section 35750) of this chapter.
   (f) The gross weight limits expressed by this section and Section
35550 shall include all enforcement tolerances.