BILL NUMBER:  S6950A

 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 automatically be deemed
to authorize the operation of such vehicle in conjunction with other
vehicles or any combination of other vehicles so authorized.

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 government 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. By eliminating 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 :

New bill.

 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.