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Committee hears bills to ease axle-weight limits and driver-hour rules during declared emergencies
Summary
The House Transportation Infrastructure Committee heard testimony on bills to exempt emergency-response vehicles from Michigan’s seasonal axle-weight restrictions and to suspend drive-time limits for drivers responding to declared emergencies, with witnesses saying the changes would speed deliveries of fuel, equipment and recovery services.
LANSING — The House Transportation Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday heard testimony on two bills that would relax road and driver restrictions during declared states of emergency to speed emergency response and deliveries.
Representative Borton introduced House Bill 4343 to exempt vehicles assisting with disaster response from Michigan’s seasonal axle-weight restrictions known as the “frost laws” during a declared state of emergency. Representative Preston presented House Bill 4344 to allow commercial drivers responding to emergency operations to exceed normal allowable hours behind the wheel.
The bills follow a major March ice storm in which propane suppliers and other responders said seasonal limits hindered relief operations. Wayne Coley of the…
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