The bill amends Section 31-25-21 of the General Laws regarding the issuance of permits for vehicles exceeding size and weight limits on highways under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. It introduces a new provision for an annual self-propelled crane blanket permit, which allows operators of self-propelled cranes to move their cranes without the need for additional single trip permits, provided they adhere to posted bridge limits. The fee for this annual permit is set at four hundred dollars ($400), and it permits movement of cranes twenty-four hours a day, Monday through Sunday, without the need for an escort.

The bill also specifies that the annual blanket permit holder is responsible for obtaining current travel restrictions prior to movement and that payment of the annual fee does not exempt the holder from compliance with existing rules and regulations regarding overweight and oversized vehicle permits. Additionally, the bill maintains existing provisions related to the issuance of special permits for oversized loads, including stipulations that permits for divisible loads exceeding certain limits cannot be approved. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the permitting process for self-propelled cranes while ensuring safety and compliance with transportation regulations.

Statutes affected:
2411: 31-25-21