I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1574 

To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, concerning length and 

weight limitations for vehicles operating on Federal-aid highways, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2011 

Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Mr. WOLF, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mrs. 

NAPOLITANO, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. NADLER, and Mr. CAPUANO) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, concerning 

length and weight limitations for vehicles operating on 

Federal-aid highways, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safe Highways and 

5 Infrastructure Preservation Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. OPERATION OF RESTRICTED PROPERTY-CARRYING 

2 UNITS ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM. 

3 (a) RESTRICTED PROPERTY-CARRYING UNIT DE4 FINED.—Section 31111(a) of title 49, United States Code, 

5 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(5) RESTRICTED PROPERTY-CARRYING

7 UNIT.—The term ‘restricted property-carrying unit’ 

8 means any trailer, semitrailer, container, or other 

9 property-carrying unit that is longer than 53 feet.’’. 

10 (b) PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OF RESTRICTED

11 PROPERTY-CARRYING UNITS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 31111(b)(1)(C) of 

13 title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as 

14 follows: 

15 ‘‘(C) allows operation on any segment of the 

16 National Highway System, including the Interstate 

17 System, of a restricted property-carrying unit unless 

18 the operation is specified on the list published under 

19 subsection (h);’’. 

20 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

21 by paragraph (1) shall take effect 270 days after the 

22 date of enactment of this Act. 

23 (c) LIMITATIONS.—Section 31111 of title 49, United 

24 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol25 lowing: 

26 ‘‘(h) RESTRICTED PROPERTY-CARRYING UNITS.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) APPLICABILITY OF PROHIBITION.— 

2 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sub3 section (b)(1)(C), a restricted property-carrying 

4 unit may continue to operate on a segment of 

5 the National Highway System if the operation 

6 of such unit is specified on the list published 

7 under paragraph (2). 

8 ‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY OF STATE LAWS AND

9 REGULATIONS.—All operations specified on the 

10 list published under paragraph (2) shall con11 tinue to be subject to all State statutes, regula12 tions, limitations, and conditions, including 

13 routing-specific, commodity-specific, and con14 figuration-specific designations and all other re15 strictions, in force on June 1, 2008. 

16 ‘‘(C) FIREFIGHTING UNITS.—Subsection 

17 (b)(1)(C) shall not apply to the operation of a 

18 restricted property-carrying unit that is used 

19 exclusively for firefighting. 

20 ‘‘(2) LISTING OF RESTRICTED PROPERTY-CAR21 RYING UNITS.— 

22 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 

23 days after the date of enactment of this sub24 section, the Secretary shall initiate a proceeding 

25 to determine and publish a list of restricted 


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1 property-carrying units that were authorized by 

2 State officials pursuant to State statute or reg3 ulation on June 1, 2008, and in actual and law4 ful operation on a regular or periodic basis (in5 cluding seasonal operations) on or before June 

6 1, 2008. 

7 ‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—A restricted property8 carrying unit may not be included on the list 

9 published under subparagraph (A) on the basis 

10 that a State law or regulation could have au11 thorized the operation of the unit at some prior 

12 date by permit or otherwise. 

13 ‘‘(C) PUBLICATION OF FINAL LIST.—Not 

14 later than 270 days after the date of enactment 

15 of this subsection, the Secretary shall publish a 

16 final list of restricted property-carrying units 

17 described in subparagraph (A). 

18 ‘‘(D) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall up19 date the list published under subparagraph (C) 

20 as necessary to reflect new designations made 

21 to the National Highway System. 

22 ‘‘(3) APPLICABILITY OF PROHIBITION.—The 

23 prohibition established by subsection (b)(1)(C) shall 

24 apply to any new designation made to the National 

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1 tions of the National Highway System that cease to 

2 be designated as part of the National Highway Sys3 tem. 

4 ‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUC5 TION.—This subsection does not prevent a State 

6 from further restricting in any manner or prohib7 iting the operation of a restricted property-carrying 

8 unit; except that such restrictions or prohibitions 

9 shall be consistent with the requirements of this sec10 tion and sections 31112 through 31114.’’. 

11 (d) ENFORCEMENT.—The second sentence of section 

12 141(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 

13 striking ‘‘section 31112’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 31111 

14 and 31112’’. 

15 SEC. 3. OPERATION OF LONGER COMBINATION VEHICLES 

16 ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 31112 of title 49, United 

18 States Code, is amended— 

19 (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as 

20 subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and 

21 (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol22 lowing: 

23 ‘‘(f) NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM.— 

24 ‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE.—A State may not allow, 

25 on a segment of the National Highway System that 


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1 is not covered under subsection (b) or (c), the oper2 ation of a commercial motor vehicle combination (ex3 cept a vehicle or load that cannot be dismantled eas4 ily or divided easily and that has been issued a spe5 cial permit under applicable State law) with more 

6 than one property-carrying unit (not including the 

7 truck tractor) whose property-carrying units are 

8 more than— 

9 ‘‘(A) the maximum combination trailer, 

10 semitrailer, or other type of length limitation al11 lowed by law or regulation of that State on 

12 June 1, 2008; or 

13 ‘‘(B) the length of the property-carrying 

14 units of those commercial motor vehicle com15 binations, by specific configuration, in actual 

16 and lawful operation on a regular or periodic 

17 basis (including continuing seasonal operation) 

18 in that State on or before June 1, 2008. 

19 ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS.— 

20 ‘‘(A) APPLICABILITY OF STATE RESTRIC21 TIONS.—A commercial motor vehicle combina22 tion whose operation in a State is not prohib23 ited under paragraph (1) may continue to oper24 ate in the State on highways described in para25 graph (1) only in compliance with all State 


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1 laws, regulations, limitations, and conditions, 

2 including routing-specific and configuration-spe3 cific designations and all other restrictions in 

4 force in the State on June 1, 2008. However, 

5 subject to regulations prescribed by the Sec6 retary under subsection (h), the State may 

7 make minor adjustments of a temporary and 

8 emergency nature to route designations and ve9 hicle operating restrictions in effect on June 1, 

10 2008, for specific safety purposes and road con11 struction. 

12 ‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL STATE RESTRICTIONS.— 

13 This subsection does not prevent a State from 

14 further restricting in any manner or prohibiting 

15 the operation of a commercial motor vehicle 

16 combination subject to this section, except that 

17 such restrictions or prohibitions shall be con18 sistent with this section and sections 31113(a), 

19 31113(b), and 31114. 

20 ‘‘(C) MINOR ADJUSTMENTS.—A State 

21 making a minor adjustment of a temporary and 

22 emergency nature as authorized by subpara23 graph (A) or further restricting or prohibiting 

24 the operation of a commercial motor vehicle 

25 combination as authorized by subparagraph (B) 


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1 shall advise the Secretary not later than 30 

2 days after the action. The Secretary shall pub3 lish a notice of the action in the Federal Reg4 ister. 

5 ‘‘(3) LIST OF STATE LENGTH LIMITATIONS.— 

6 ‘‘(A) STATE SUBMISSIONS.—Not later than 

7 60 days after the date of enactment of this 

8 paragraph, each State shall submit to the Sec9 retary for publication a complete list of State 

10 length limitations applicable to commercial 

11 motor vehicle combinations operating in the 

12 State on the highways described in paragraph 

13 (1). The list shall indicate the applicable State 

14 laws and regulations associated with the length 

15 limitations. If a State does not submit the in16 formation as required, the Secretary shall com17 plete and file the information for the State. 

18 ‘‘(B) PUBLICATION OF INTERIM LIST.— 

19 Not later than 90 days after the date of enact20 ment of this subsection, the Secretary shall 

21 publish an interim list in the Federal Register 

22 consisting of all information submitted under 

23 subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall review 

24 for accuracy all information submitted by a 

25 State under subparagraph (A) and shall solicit 


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1 and consider public comment on the accuracy of 

2 the information. 

3 ‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—A law or regulation 

4 may not be included on the list submitted by a 

5 State or published by the Secretary merely be6 cause it authorized, or could have authorized, 

7 by permit or otherwise, the operation of com8 mercial motor vehicle combinations not in ac9 tual operation on a regular or periodic basis on 

10 or before June 1, 2008. 

11 ‘‘(D) PUBLICATION OF FINAL LIST.—Ex12 cept as revised under this subparagraph or sub13 paragraph (E), the list shall be published as 

14 final in the Federal Register not later than 270 

15 days after the date of enactment of this sub16 section. In publishing the final list, the Sec17 retary shall make any revisions necessary to 

18 correct inaccuracies identified under subpara19 graph (B). After publication of the final list, 

20 commercial motor vehicle combinations prohib21 ited under paragraph (1) may not operate on a 

22 highway described in paragraph (1) except as 

23 published on the list. 

24 ‘‘(E) INACCURACIES.—On the Secretary’s 

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1 cluding a State), the Secretary shall review the 

2 list published under subparagraph (D). If the 

3 Secretary decides there is reason to believe a 

4 mistake was made in the accuracy of the list, 

5 the Secretary shall begin a proceeding to decide 

6 whether a mistake was made. If the Secretary 

7 decides there was a mistake, the Secretary shall 

8 publish the correction.’’. 

9 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 31112 of 

10 title 49, United States Code, is amended— 

11 (1) in subsection (g)(1) (as redesignated by 

12 subsection (a) of this section) by inserting ‘‘or 

13 127a(e)’’ after ‘‘127(d)’’; 

14 (2) in subsection (g)(3) (as redesignated by 

15 subsection (a) of this section) by inserting ‘‘(or June 

16 1, 2008, with respect to highways described in sub17 section (f)(1))’’ after ‘‘June 2, 1991’’; and 

18 (3) in paragraph (h)(2) (as redesignated by 

19 subsection (a) of this section)— 

20 (A) by striking ‘‘Not later than June 15, 

21 1992, the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘The Sec22 retary’’; and 

23 (B) by inserting ‘‘or (f)’’ after ‘‘subsection 

24 (d)’’. 


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1 SEC. 4. TERMINATION OF DETERMINATIONS OF GRAND2 FATHER RIGHTS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 127 of title 23, United 

4 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol5 lowing: 

6 ‘‘(i) GRANDFATHER RIGHTS.— 

7 ‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE.—After the 270th day fol8 lowing the date of enactment of this subsection, a 

9 State may not allow, on a segment of the Interstate 

10 System, the operation of a vehicle or combination 

11 (other than a longer combination vehicle) exceeding 

12 an Interstate weight limit unless the operation is 

13 specified on the list published under paragraph (2). 

14 ‘‘(2) LIST OF VEHICLES AND COMBINATIONS.— 

15 ‘‘(A) PROCEEDING.—Not later than 60 

16 days after the date of enactment of this sub17 section, the Secretary shall initiate a proceeding 

18 to determine and publish a list of vehicles and 

19 combinations (other than longer combination 

20 vehicles), otherwise exceeding an Interstate 

21 weight limit, that the Department of Transpor22 tation, any other Federal agency, or a State has 

23 determined on or before June 1, 2008, could be 

24 lawfully operated within such State— 

25 ‘‘(i) on July 1, 1956; 


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1 ‘‘(ii) in the case of the overall gross 

2 weight of any group of 2 or more consecu3 tive axles, on the date of enactment of the 

4 Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 

5 1974; or 

6 ‘‘(iii) under a special rule applicable 

7 to a State under subsection (a). 

8 ‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS.— 

9 ‘‘(i) ACTUAL AND LAWFUL OPER10 ATIONS REQUIRED.—An operation of a ve11 hicle or combination may be included on 

12 the list published under subparagraph (A) 

13 only if the vehicle or combination was in 

14 actual and lawful operation in the State on 

15 a regular or periodic basis on or before 

16 June 1, 2008. 

17 ‘‘(ii) STATE AUTHORITY NOT SUFFI18 CIENT.—An operation of a vehicle or com19 bination may not be included on the list 

20 published under subparagraph (A) on the 

21 basis that a State law or regulation could 

22 have authorized the operation of the vehi23 cle or combination at some prior date by 

24 permit or otherwise. 


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1 ‘‘(C) PUBLICATION OF FINAL LIST.—Not 

2 later than 270 days after the date of enactment 

3 of this subsection, the Secretary shall publish a 

4 final list of vehicles and combinations described 

5 in subparagraph (A). 

6 ‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUC7 TION.—This subsection does not prevent a State 

8 from reducing the gross vehicle weight limitation, 

9 the single and tandem axle weight limitations, or the 

10 overall maximum gross weight on a group of 2 or 

11 more consecutive axles applicable to portions of the 

12 Interstate System in the State for operations on the 

13 list published under paragraph (2)(C) but in no 

14 event may any such reduction result in a limitation 

15 that is less than an Interstate weight limit. 

16 ‘‘(4) APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING REQUIRE17 MENTS.—All vehicles and combinations included on 

18 the list published under paragraph (2) shall be sub19 ject to all routing-specific, commodity-specific, and 

20 weight-specific designations in force in a State on 

21 June 1, 2008. 

22 ‘‘(5) INTERSTATE WEIGHT LIMIT DEFINED.—In 

23 this subsection, the term ‘Interstate weight limit’ 

24 means the 80,000 pound gross vehicle weight limita25 tion, the 20,000 pound single axle weight limitation 


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1 (including enforcement tolerances), the 34,000 

2 pound tandem axle weight limitation (including en3 forcement tolerances), and the overall maximum 

4 gross weight (including enforcement tolerances) on a 

5 group of 2 or more consecutive axles produced by 

6 application of the formula in subsection (a).’’. 

7 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The fourth sen8 tence of section 127(a) of title 23, United States Code, 

9 is amended by striking ‘‘the State determines’’. 

10 SEC. 5. NONDIVISIBLE LOAD PROCEEDING. 

11 Section 127 of title 23, United States Code, is further 

12 amended by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘(j) NONDIVISIBLE LOADS.— 

14 ‘‘(1) PROCEEDING.—Not later than 60 days 

15 after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 

16 Secretary shall initiate a proceeding to define the 

17 term ‘vehicles and loads which cannot be easily dis18 mantled or divided’ as used in subsection (a) and 

19 section 31112 of title 49. 

20 ‘‘(2) LIST OF COMMODITIES.— 

21 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The definition devel22 oped under paragraph (1) shall include a list of 

23 commodities (or classes or types of commod24 ities) that do not qualify as nondivisible loads. 


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1 ‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The list of commod2 ities developed under paragraph (1) shall not be 

3 interpreted to be a comprehensive list of com4 modities that do not qualify as nondivisible 

5 loads. 

6 ‘‘(3) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 270 days 

7 after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 

8 Secretary shall issue final regulations setting forth 

9 the determination of the Secretary made under para10 graph (1). The Secretary shall update the regula11 tions as necessary. 

12 ‘‘(4) APPLICABILITY.—Regulations issued 

13 under paragraph (2) shall apply to all vehicles and 

14 loads operating on the National Highway System. 

15 ‘‘(5) STATE REQUIREMENTS.—A State may es16 tablish any requirement that is not inconsistent with 

17 regulations issued under paragraph (2). 

18 ‘‘(6) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—The purpose of 

19 this subsection is to promote conformity with Inter20 state weight limits to preserve publicly funded infra21 structure and protect motorists by limiting max22 imum vehicle weight on key portions of the Federal23 aid highway system.’’. 


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1 SEC. 6. WAIVERS OF WEIGHT LIMITATIONS DURING PERI2 ODS OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY. 

3 Section 127 of title 23, United States Code, is further 

4 amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(k) WAIVERS DURING PERIODS OF NATIONAL

6 EMERGENCY.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

8 provision of this section or section 127a, the Sec9 retary, in consultation with the Secretary of De10 fense, may waive or limit the application of any vehi11 cle weight limit established under this section or sec12 tion 127a with respect to a highway route during a 

13 period of national emergency in order to respond to 

14 the effects of the national emergency. 

15 ‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY.—Emergency limits estab16 lished under paragraph (1) shall preempt any incon17 sistent State vehicle weight limits.’’. 

18 SEC. 7. VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITATIONS—NATIONAL HIGH19 WAY SYSTEM. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title 23, United States Code, is 

21 amended by inserting after section 127 the following: 

22 ‘‘§ 127a. Vehicle weight limitations—National High23 way System 

24 ‘‘(a) NON-INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS ON NHS.— 

25 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—After the 270th day fol26 lowing the date of enactment of this section, any 


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1 Interstate weight limit that applies to vehicles and 

2 combinations (other than longer combination vehi3 cles) operating on the Interstate System in a State 

4 under section 127 shall also apply to vehicles and 

5 combinations (other than longer combination vehi6 cles) operating on non-Interstate segments of the 

7 National Highway System in such State unless such 

8 segments are subject to lower State weight limits as 

9 provided for in subsection (d). 

10 ‘‘(2) EXISTING HIGHWAYS.— 

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding para12 graph (1), in the case of a non-Interstate seg13 ment of the National Highway System that is 

14 open to traffic on June 1, 2008, a State may 

15 allow the operation of any vehicle or combina16 tion (other than a longer combination vehicle) 

17 on such segment that the Secretary determines 

18 under subsection (b) could be lawfully operated 

19 on such segment on June 1, 2008. 

20 ‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY OF STATE LAWS AND

21 REGULATIONS.—All operations described in 

22 subparagraph (A) shall continue to be subject 

23 to all State statutes, regulations, limitations 

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1 ignations and all other restrictions, in force on 

2 June 1, 2008. 

3 ‘‘(3) NEW HIGHWAYS.—Subject to subsection 

4 (d)(1), the gross vehicle weight limitations and axle 

5 loading limitations applicable to all vehicles and 

6 combinations (other than longer combination vehi7 cles) on a non-Interstate segment of the National 

8 Highway System that is not open to traffic on June 

9 1, 2008, shall be the Interstate weight limit. 

10 ‘‘(b) LISTING OF VEHICLES AND COMBINATIONS.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall initiate 

12 a proceeding to determine and publish a list of vehi13 cles and combinations (other than longer combina14 tion vehicles), otherwise exceeding an Interstate 

15 weight limit, that could be lawfully operated on a 

16 non-Interstate segment of the National Highway 

17 System on June 1, 2008. 

18 ‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In publishing a list of 

19 vehicles and combinations under paragraph (1), the 

20 Secretary shall identify— 

21 ‘‘(A) the gross vehicle weight limitations 

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1 cles) on non-Interstate segments of the Na2 tional Highway System; and 

3 ‘‘(B) operations of vehicles and combina4 tions (other than longer combination vehicles), 

5 exceeding State gross vehicle weight limitations 

6 and axle loading limitations identified under 

7 subparagraph (A), which were in actual and 

8 lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis 

9 (including seasonal operations) on June 1, 

10 2008. 

11 ‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—An operation of a vehicle or 

12 combination may not be included on the list pub13 lished under paragraph (1) on the basis that a State 

14 law or regulation could have authorized such oper15 ation at some prior date by permit or otherwise. 

16 ‘‘(4) PUBLICATION OF FINAL LIST.—Not later 

17 than 270 days after the date of enactment of this 

18 section, the Secretary shall publish a final list of ve19 hicles and combinations described in paragraph (1). 

20 ‘‘(5) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall update 

21 the list published under paragraph (1) as necessary 

22 to reflect new designations made to the National 

23 Highway System. 

24 ‘‘(c) APPLICABILITY OF LIMITATIONS.—The limita25 tions established by subsection (a) shall apply to any new 


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1 designation made to the National Highway System and 

2 remain in effect on those non-Interstate highways that 

3 cease to be designated as part of the National Highway 

4 System. 

5 ‘‘(d) LIMITATIONS ON STATUTORY CONSTRUC6 TION.— 

7 ‘‘(1) STATE ENFORCEMENT OF MORE RESTRIC8 TIVE WEIGHT LIMITS.—This section does not pre9 vent a State from maintaining or imposing a weight 

10 limitation that is more restrictive than the Interstate 

11 weight limit on vehicles or combinations (other than 

12 longer combination vehicles) operating on a non13 Interstate segment of the National Highway System. 

14 ‘‘(2) STATE ACTIONS TO REDUCE WEIGHT LIM15 ITS.—This section does not prevent a State from re16 ducing the State’s gross vehicle weight limitation, 

17 single or tandem axle weight limitations, or the over18 all maximum gross weight on 2 or more consecutive 

19 axles on any non-Interstate segment of the National 

20 Highway System. 

21 ‘‘(e) LONGER COMBINATION VEHICLES.— 

22 ‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.— 

23 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—After the 270th day 

24 following the date of enactment of this section, 

25 a longer combination vehicle may continue to 


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1 operate on a non-Interstate segment of the Na2 tional Highway System only if the operation of 

3 the longer combination vehicle configuration 

4 type was authorized by State officials pursuant 

5 to State statute or regulation on June 1, 2008, 

6 and in actual and lawful operation on a regular 

7 or periodic basis (including seasonal operations) 

8 on or before June 1, 2008. 

9 ‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY OF STATE LAWS AND

10 REGULATIONS.—All operations described in 

11 subparagraph (A) shall continue to be subject 

12 to all State statutes, regulations, limitations 

13 and conditions, including routing-specific, com14 modity-specific, and configuration-specific des15 ignations and all other restrictions, in force on 

16 June 1, 2008. 

17 ‘‘(2) LISTING OF VEHICLES AND COMBINA18 TIONS.— 

19 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 

20 days after the date of enactment of this section, 

21 the Secretary shall initiate a proceeding to de22 termine and publish a list of longer combination 

23 vehicles that could be lawfully operated on non24 Interstate segments of the National Highway 

25 System on June 1, 2008. 


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1 ‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—A longer combination 

2 vehicle may not be included on the list pub3 lished under subparagraph (A) on the basis 

4 that a State law or regulation could have au5 thorized the operation of such vehicle at some 

6 prior date by permit or otherwise. 

7 ‘‘(C) PUBLICATION OF FINAL LIST.—Not 

8 later than 270 days after the date of enactment 

9 of this section, the Secretary shall publish a 

10 final list of longer combination vehicles de11 scribed in subparagraph (A). 

12 ‘‘(D) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall up13 date the list published under subparagraph (A) 

14 as necessary to reflect new designations made 

15 to the National Highway System. 

16 ‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUC17 TION.—This subsection does not prevent a State 

18 from further restricting in any manner or prohib19 iting the operation of a longer combination vehicle; 

20 except that such restrictions or prohibitions shall be 

21 consistent with the requirements of section 127 of 

22 this title and sections 31112 through 31114 of title 

23 49, United States Code. 

24 ‘‘(f) MODEL SCHEDULE OF FINES.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta2 tion with the States, shall establish a model schedule 

3 of fines to be assessed for violations of this section. 

4 ‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the schedule of 

5 fines shall be to ensure that fines are sufficient to 

6 deter violations of the requirements of this section 

7 and to permit States to recover costs associated with 

8 damages caused to the National Highway System by 

9 the operation of such vehicles. 

10 ‘‘(3) ADOPTION BY STATES.—The Secretary 

11 shall encourage but not require States to adopt the 

12 schedule of fines. 

13 ‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 

14 definitions apply: 

15 ‘‘(1) INTERSTATE WEIGHT LIMIT.—The term 

16 ‘Interstate weight limit’ has the meaning given such 

17 term in section 127(i). 

18 ‘‘(2) LONGER COMBINATION VEHICLE.—The 

19 term ‘longer combination vehicle’ has the meaning 

20 given such term in section 127(d).’’. 

21 (b) ENFORCEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS.—Section 

22 141(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— 

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1 tem’’ and inserting ‘‘the National Highway System, 

2 including the Interstate System,’’; and 

3 (2) by striking ‘‘section 127’’ and inserting 

4 ‘‘sections 127 and 127a’’. 

5 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

6 title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

7 the item relating to section 127 the following: 

‘‘127a. Vehicle weight limitations—National Highway System.’’. 

Æ 


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