An Act To Provide Equity for Commercial Vehicles on Roads and Bridges in Maine
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §504, sub-§1, ¶DD, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 580, §2 and affected by §14, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2352, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 580, §4 and affected by §14, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §2353, sub-§1, ¶E, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 580, §6, is amended to read:
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §2354, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 267, §1 and affected by §16, is further amended to read:
(1) Tandem axle does not exceed 41,000 pounds; and
(2) Tri-axle does not exceed 50,000 pounds.
Nothing contained in this subsection applies to vehicles using the Interstate Highway System as defined in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956.
Except as provided in section 2360, subsections 4 and 5, for vehicles operating under this subsection, gross vehicle weight violations are fined in accordance with the following schedule:
| Percent over 100,000 108,900 | Fine for |
| pounds | each percent |
| 1-10% | $100 + $20 |
| for each | |
| percent over 1% | |
| 11-20% | $280 + $125 |
| for each | |
| percent over 10% | |
| 21-30% | $1,530 + $135 |
| for each | |
| percent over 20% | |
| 31-40% | $2,880 + $150 |
| for each | |
| percent over 30% | |
| 41% or more | $4,380 + |
| $175 for each | |
| percent over 40% |
For all vehicles manufactured, modified or retrofitted with liftable or variable load suspension axles after October 30, 1991, liftable or variable load suspension axles are permitted only under the following conditions: only one liftable or variable load axle may be present on the truck tractor and only one liftable or variable load axle may be present on the semitrailer; liftable or variable load axles must be located on the vehicle so that they are legally part of the tandem axle group or tri-axle group as appropriate; and the axle weight rating of liftable or variable load axles must conform to the expected loading of the suspension and must be 20,000 pounds or more.
Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §2354-C, as amended by PL 2015, c. 119, §§1 and 2 and corrected by RR 2015, c. 1, §34, is repealed.
Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §2354-F is enacted to read:
§ 2354-F. Eight-axle limits
The overall length limit for a B-train double is 82.02 feet.
| Percent over 137,700 | Fine for |
| pounds | each percent |
| 1-10% | $100 + $20 |
| for each | |
| percent over 1% | |
| 11-20% | $280 + $125 |
| for each | |
| percent over 10% | |
| 21-30% | $1,530 + $135 |
| for each | |
| percent over 20% | |
| 31-40% | $2,880 + $150 |
| for each | |
| percent over 30% | |
| 41% or more | $4,380 + |
| $175 for each | |
| percent over 40% |
Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §2355-A, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 469, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter to the contrary, for as long as the provisions of 23 United States Code, Section 127 (a) (11) affording an exemption from the federal vehicle weight limitations for vehicles operating on all portions of the interstate system are in effect, a 6-axle combination vehicle consisting of a 3-axle truck tractor with a tri-axle semitrailer having a maximum gross vehicle weight of 100,000 108,900 pounds may be operated on any portion of the interstate system consistent with this subchapter as it applies to the Maine Turnpike.
Sec. 8. 29-A MRSA §2357, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 166, §12, is further amended to read:
Sec. 9. 29-A MRSA §2357, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2005, c. 426, §1 and affected by PL 2007, c. 453, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. 10. 29-A MRSA §2357, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 426, §2 and affected by PL 2007, c. 453, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 11. 29-A MRSA §2360, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 267, §6 and affected by §16, is further amended to read:
This schedule is cumulative:
| Percent over allowed basic weight | Fine for each percent |
| 1-10% | $10 for each percent |
| 11-20% | $100 + $65 for each percent over 10% |
| 21-30% | $750 + $75 for each percent over 20% |
| 31-40% | $1,500 + $105 for each percent over 30% |
| 41-50% | $2,550 + $140 for each percent over 40% |
| more than 50% | $3,950 + $180 for each percent over 50% |
summary
Current law allows certain commercial vehicles at Canadian weight limits that are higher than those in this State to travel from the United States-Canada border to certain points in this State.
This bill repeals that law and allows certain commercial vehicles to be operated in this State at those higher weight limits. A combination vehicle consisting of a 3-axle truck tractor with a tri-axle semitrailer may be operated with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 108,900 pounds. A combination vehicle consisting of a 3-axle truck tractor with a semitrailer-semitrailer combination configured as a B-train double with 8 axles total may be operated with a gross vehicle weight of 137,700 pounds.