The
“Implements of Husbandry” bill passed Senate approval last month. The bill
permits Wisconsin farmers to operate their heavy machinery on roads legally,
while ensuring public safety and making sure that roads and bridges are not
damaged.
Farm
machinery weight limits will be increased by 15%, allowing for the transport of
more implements on public roads. Maximum single axle weight will increase from
20,000 to 23,000 lbs, and maximum gross vehicle weight will increase from
80,000 to 92,000 lbs.
Free
permits will also be offered for machinery exceeding the larger limits. Denial
for transportation must come in the form of scientific reasoning. However, permit
officials will be able to designate a specific route for the machinery
transportation.
“We
believe it is imperative that farmers have the ability to operate their
equipment on our roadways legally and safely without fear of law enforcement
action. This bill gives us that,” explained Karen Gefvert, Governmental
Relations director for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.
Written
by Senator Jerry Petrowski and Representative Keith Ripp, of Marathon and Lodi,
Wisconsin, respectively, the bill passed with extensive support.
The
bill came into development in 2011, when custom manure haulers in Marathon
County were stopped by local law officials and informed that they could not
travel on the roads. Most farm equipment
has become larger, especially manure spreaders and feed wagons for the
so-called “factory farms,” often travelling long distances as well for manure
disposal.
A
couple of regulations aim to ensure public safety when sharing the roads with
large equipment. First, any machinery wider than 16 feet and traveling more
than half a mile must have reflectors, including tape. Furthermore, any
machinery wider than 20 feet will require an escort vehicle with flashing lights
to alert the public sharing the road.
Towns
and counties can opt out of enforcement and allow local machinery exceeding
limits to travel without a permit. Floatation tire equipped machinery would
still not be permitted on roads.
