What's happening
This bill allows municipal special hauling permits for vehicles to remain valid until the vehicle is removed from operation, rather than expiring annually.
Why it matters
Reduces administrative burden. for municipalities by eliminating the need to reapply for special hauling permits annually, streamlining operations and saving time for local government staff.
Potential cost savings. for municipal fleets, as longer-lasting permits mean fewer application fees, less paperwork, and more predictable budgeting for vehicle operations.
Maintains regulatory oversight. by allowing the commissioner to approve amendments to permits and to revoke permits if necessary, ensuring safety and compliance are not compromised despite longer permit durations.
Could improve municipal service reliability. , as vehicles remain permitted for their operational lifespan, minimizing the risk of lapses in authorization that might otherwise disrupt public works or emergency services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
No-Expire Permits for Municipal Vehicles
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A6926A
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.759
- Referred to transportation
- Print number 2904a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
No-Expiry Permits for City Vehicles
Signed by Governor · Sponsor William Magnarelli
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2904--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to special hauling permits for vehicle combinations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 15 of section 385 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1 of part C of chapter 59 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The commissioner of transportation is hereby authorized to continue to grant permits, and to charge fees therefor, for the operation or movement of a vehicle or combination of vehicles having weights or dimensions which exceed the limitations provided for in this section upon any highway under his or her jurisdiction except that such permit shall not be valid for the operation or movement of such vehicles on any state or other highway within any city not wholly included within one county. Such permits shall be issued in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in rules and regulations governing special hauling permits which have been or shall be promulgated by the commissioner of transportation and which may include, but not be limited to, a requirement that a vehicle or combination of vehicles being issued a permit shall be accompanied by one or more escort vehicles which is being operated by an individual having a valid escort certificate issued by the commissioner. The commissioner of transportation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the operation, use and equipment of escort vehicles and the duties and responsibilities of the operator of an escort vehicle. Any finding by the commissioner of transportation that an individual has violated such rules and regulations shall be grounds for the cancellation of an individual's escort certificate
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08236-03-7
S. 2904--A 2
and a penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars per occurrence for the first violation and not to exceed one thousand dollars per occurrence for each subsequent violation. Prior to issuing such a finding, the commissioner of transportation shall afford an individual the right to a hearing pursuant to section one hundred forty-five of the transportation law. Such rules and regulations shall take into consideration, but shall not be limited to, the safety of the traveling public and the protection of the highways and the environment. Such rules and regulations shall also contain a schedule of fees to be charged for the issuance of such permits which fees shall cover, but shall not be limited to, the costs to the department of transportation for the administration of the permit program, and shall permit the commissioner of transportation to levy a surcharge of up to twenty dollars for the issuance and distribution of special hauling permits at regional offices of the department of transportation. The annual vehicle fee for a permit issued pursuant to subparagraphs (i), (ii), (ii-a) and (iii) of paragraph (f) of this subdivision shall be three hundred sixty dollars for vehicles with less than five axles, seven hundred fifty dollars for vehicles with five or six axles and nine hundred dollars for vehicles with seven or more axles. The annual vehicle fee for a permit issued pursuant to subparagraphs (iv), (v), and (vi) of paragraph (f) of this subdivision shall be four hundred eighty dollars for vehicles with less than five axles and one thousand dollars for vehicles with five or more axles. Additionally, the commissioner shall establish a fee schedule for the permitting of extra non-power combination units that may not exceed twenty-five dollars per vehicle and may offer discounts for multi-trailer registrations. Such fees shall not be charged to municipalities in this state. A permit issued by the commissioner to a municipality pursuant to this subdivision, that would otherwise be annual, shall not expire until such municipality removes such permitted vehicle from operation; provided, however, that any amendment to such permit shall remain subject to the commissioner's approval and nothing contained in this paragraph shall be deemed to alter the authority of the commissioner to revoke any such permit as authorized by this chapter. If the permit has routing requirements, such rules and regulations shall provide that if the routing anticipates the use of highways not under the jurisdiction of the commissioner of transportation, then he or she shall immediately notify the municipality or municipalities, having jurisdiction over such highway that an application for a permit has been received and request comment thereon. Said municipality or municipalities shall not have less than fifteen days to comment. Such rules and regulations shall also contain any other requirements deemed necessary by the commissioner of transportation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to special hauling permits for vehicle combinations
Purpose
To authorize a vehicle to operate in combination with other vehicles so authorized
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends § 385 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new subdivision providing, notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to contrary, any permit issued pursuant to subdivision 15 of this section for the operation or movement of a vehicle owned and identified as being owned by a political subdivision shall remain in effect for the life of the vehicle. Any amendment shall remain subject to the Commissioner's approval, and the Commissioner retains the authority to revoke any permit.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Existing law
Section 385 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides the restrictions on the dimensions and weights of vehicles. Subdivision 15 of this section provides the requirements of special hauling permits for vehicles and combinations of vehicles, including those requirements for governmental subdivisions.
Justification
New York State government includes 62 counties, 62 cities, 932 towns, 555 villages and 733 school districts, many of which own and operate vehicles and trailers, for a variety of purposes ranging from street repairs to hauling materials and/or equipment. While these subdivisions of government are not required to pay fees to New York State to register vehicles, trailers and other equipment, Department of Transportation regulations mandate that each local agency file separate paperwork, known as "hauling permits," for each vehicle and trailer and keep documents available for inspection.
Agencies often own a variety of trailers used to haul equipment like cranes, bulldozers and other machinery that needs to be transported to construction sites. In cases where a municipality owns a fleet of trucks and a fleet of trailers, separate hauling permits detailing each possible combination of vehicle and trailer must be filed with the New York State Department of Transportation. For agencies with large fleets, for example, a county highway department that owns 12 trucks and 25 trailers, the regulations require local officials to fill out 300 separate forms detailing every possible combination of truck and trailer (or other piece of equipment) that they might use on a project.
The staff effort to fill out so many different forms can be costly and time consuming since it must also be updated as new vehicles are purchased and older ones are taken off the road. The mandated paperwork must also be duplicated and filed so it is available for review by both local and state officials. The time spent by over 2,300 local governments and school districts assigning employees to fill out and maintain such nonessential paperwork could be better used providing useful services to the people of New York State. State DOT
employees would also benefit from the time now spent collecting, filing, reviewing and storing nonessential documents.
This legislation alleviates the requirement that each local agency file the multiplicity of hauling permits for each vehicle and trailer in their fleet annually. By reducing this mandate, local governments are made more efficient and are able to devote more time and resources to improving the lives of New York's hard pressed taxpayers rather than filing duplicative paperwork.
Legislative history
2016: S.6950-A
Fiscal implications
None. Governmental subdivisions are not required to pay fees to New York State to register vehicles, trailer, or other equipment.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
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