Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.719a — MI Code / Chapter 257 / Act Act-300-of-1949 / Section 257.719a
Operation of towing vehicle to which mobile home or park model trailer attached.
Status: in_force

Sec. 719a.

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this act, a person shall not operate a towing vehicle to which a mobile home or park model trailer is attached on a street or highway if that mobile home or park model trailer is more than 45 feet in length or more than 60 feet in length when combined with the towing vehicle, is more than 12-1/2 feet in height, and has an actual body width of more than 102 inches at base rail, unless that person possesses either of the following:

(a) A permit issued by the jurisdictional authority under this section.

(b) A special permit issued by the jurisdictional authority under section 725.

(2) A jurisdictional authority may issue to a mobile home or park model trailer transport company, a mobile home or park model trailer manufacturer, or a mobile home or park model trailer dealer an annual permit to move on a street or highway, in the ordinary course of that company's, manufacturer's, or dealer's business, a mobile home or park model trailer that conforms to each of the following:

(a) The mobile home or park model trailer is not more than 12 feet wide.

(b) The actual body length of the mobile home or park model trailer is not more than 80 feet and the combined length of the mobile home or park model trailer and towing vehicle is not more than 105 feet or the total length of a combination of mobile homes or park model trailers is not more than 80 feet and the total length of a combination of mobile homes or park model trailers and towing vehicle is not more than 105 feet.

(3) A jurisdictional authority under section 725 may issue a special permit for the movement of a mobile home or park model trailer on a street or highway within its jurisdiction if the width of that mobile home or park model trailer conforms to both of the following:

(a) The mobile home or park model trailer is not more than 16 feet wide plus normal appurtenances or eaves that extend not more than 6 inches from any side of the mobile home or park model trailer.

(b) The length of the mobile home or park model trailer complies with subsection (2)(b).

(4) A person operating a towing vehicle under subsection (3) shall transport a mobile home or park model trailer only on the lane farthest to the right of that person. A person shall not move a mobile home or park model trailer that is 14 or more feet in width including an eave of 2 feet when the wind velocity exceeds 25 miles per hour.

(5) A jurisdictional authority shall not issue a permit described in subsection (2) or (3) for the transport of a mobile home or park model trailer on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, from the noon before until the noon after a holiday, or during the hours between sunset and sunrise.

(6) A jurisdictional authority shall provide and a person operating a towing vehicle shall comply with all of the following in a permit issued under this section:

(a) The date, day, and time period during which a mobile home or park model trailer subject to the permit may be moved on a highway.

(b) Notice that the permit is conditioned upon its holder's compliance with the permit's terms and with the law.

(c) Notice that the operator of a towing vehicle transporting the mobile home or park model trailer shall operate the towing vehicle on a highway as follows:

( i ) At a safe speed and in a safe manner that will not impede motor traffic.

( ii ) Only when the surface condition of the highway is not slippery.

( iii ) In compliance with seasonal load restrictions.

(d) For a mobile home or park model trailer and towing vehicle that, when combined, are more than 80 feet in length or more than 12 feet wide, all of the following:

( i ) Notice that the mobile home or park model trailer shall be equipped with 2 flashing amber lights on the rear of the mobile home or park model trailer and 1 flashing amber light on the top of the towing vehicle.

( ii ) Notice that the mobile home or park model trailer shall be equipped with stop lights and directional lights on the rear of the mobile home or park model trailer.

( iii ) Notice that signs with the words "oversize load" shall be displayed on the front bumper of the towing vehicle and the back of the mobile home or park model trailer or, in the case of mobile homes or park model trailers that are 16 feet wide, notice that signs with the words "16-ft wide load" shall be displayed on the front bumper of the towing vehicle and the back of the mobile home or park model trailer.

( iv ) Notice that the signs identified in subparagraph ( iii ) shall be of durable material, in good condition, with black lettering on interstate yellow background, and that each letter shall be of block lettering not less than 12 inches high at the front and not less than 16 inches high at the rear of the unit.

( v ) Notice that a vehicle escort is required on those roads where the state police consider escort vehicles necessary for highway safety.

(7) Signs and other special identification for escort vehicles shall conform to state transportation department requirements for all escort vehicles for oversized loads.

(8) For a mobile home or park model trailer being moved pursuant to this section or section 725, the distance between mobile home or park model trailer axle centers shall not be less than 34 inches. The axles and tires shall meet standards established by the state transportation department.

(9) This section does not grant or give authority to the state transportation department that did not exist on May 1, 1982, in accordance with 23 USC 127.

(10) A person that violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and may be assessed a civil fine of not more than $500.00. The owner of the towing vehicle may be charged with a violation of this section.

(11) The state transportation commission may order the state transportation department to immediately cease issuing all special permits to move on the highways of the lower peninsula of this state a mobile home or park model trailer that is more than 14-1/3 feet wide plus normal appurtenances that extend no more than 6 inches, and an eave that extends no more than 2 feet from the width of that mobile home or park model trailer if the state transportation commission makes a determination that those permits create an unreasonable safety hazard or hazards. The state transportation commission shall notify all other jurisdictional authorities of a determination made under this subsection. The order shall not prohibit the issuance of a special permit for the movement of a mobile home or park model trailer if a binding contract for the movement of that mobile home or park model trailer was executed before the commission determination of an unreasonable safety hazard or hazards.

(12) As used in this section:

(a) "Jurisdictional authority" means the state transportation department, a county road commission, or a local authority that has jurisdiction over a street or highway on which a mobile home is proposed to be moved.

(b) "Mobile home" means any of the following:

( i ) A prebuilt housing module.

( ii ) That term as defined in section 2 of the mobile home commission act, 1987 PA 96, MCL 125.2302.

( iii ) A section of a mobile home as that term is defined in subparagraph ( ii ).

History: Add. 1954, Act 111, Imd. Eff. Apr. 15, 1954; Am. 1963, Act 84, Imd. Eff. May 8, 1963; Am. 1969, Act 156, Eff. Mar. 20, 1970; Am. 1971, Act 58, Imd. Eff. July 20, 1971; Am. 1972, Act 163, Imd. Eff. June 13, 1972; Am. 1973, Act 207, Imd. Eff. Jan. 11, 1974; Am. 1975, Act 336, Imd. Eff. Jan. 12, 1976; Am. 1980, Act 175, Imd. Eff. June 26, 1980; Am. 1982, Act 533, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983; Am. 1983, Act 224, Imd. Eff. Nov. 28, 1983; Am. 1986, Act 284, Imd. Eff. Dec. 22, 1986; Am. 1991, Act 19, Imd. Eff. May 8, 1991; Am. 1992, Act 128, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1992; Am. 1992, Act 257, Imd. Eff. Dec. 7, 1992; Am. 1993, Act 243, Imd. Eff. Nov. 22, 1993; Am. 1996, Act 136, Imd. Eff. Mar. 21, 1996; Am. 2009, Act 32, Eff. Dec. 1, 2009