Wisconsin Legislature: Ch. Trans 261 TOC

Trans 261.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures for the issuance of multiple trip mobile home and modular building section permits, pursuant to s. 348.27 (7), Stats.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.02 Definitions.

(1) Unless otherwise stated, the definitions of words and phrases in ss. 340.01 and 348.01 (2), Stats., and s. Trans 250.02 apply to this chapter.

(2) As used in this chapter:

(a) “Issuing authority” means the department of transportation.

(b) “Permit” means multiple trip mobile home and modular building section permits authorized under s. 348.27 (7), Stats.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.03 Permit application.

(1) An application for a permit shall be submitted to an issuing authority on a form approved by the department, and in accordance with s. 348.27, Stats.

(2) An application for a permit for the use of a state trunk highway shall be made to the department in any of the following ways:

(a) In person, at the department’s central or region offices.

(b) By mail, addressed to the department’s central office.

Note: Permit application procedures are in s. Trans 250.025.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; correction in (2) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register February 2013 No. 686.

Trans 261.04 Permit amendments.

(1) An application for an amendment to a permit shall be made to the authority which issued the original permit.

(2) An application for an amendment may be made in the same manner as an application for an original permit.

(3) The request shall specify the permit number of the permit to be amended.

Note: Limitations on the amendment of permits are in s. Trans 250.10.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.05 Eligibility.

(1) Any vehicle or vehicle and load to be considered as operating under a permit shall satisfy the requirements for a permit under s. 348.25, Stats.

(2) A permit is not a guarantee of the sufficiency of any highway or structure for the transporting of the vehicle, load, or vehicle and load.

(3) A permit may not authorize the operation of more than 2 vehicles in combination.

(4) A permit for a power unit used to transport an oversize mobile home may be issued only to mobile home transportation companies, licensed mobile home manufacturers and licensed dealers over highways in the ordinary course of their business.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.06 Validity.

(1) A permit is valid only for the vehicle described in the application and permit.

(2) An issuing authority may suspend a permit, or any of its conditions, because of seasonal highway conditions.

Note: Examples of seasonal highway conditions include spring thaw, flooding, and traffic congestion.

(3) No condition of a permit may modify any law or regulation limiting loads because of local conditions, including load limits on bridges and highways, seasonal weight restrictions, or load limits imposed because of construction.

(4) A permit is not valid during periods when adverse weather or road conditions, such as fog, smoke, heavy rain, snow or ice, or wind velocity, impair the safety of a movement under the permit.

(5) Operation under a permit includes the movement of an empty vehicle to and from the place of pickup or delivery of the permitted load.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.07 Registration requirements.

(1) A vehicle operating under a permit shall be registered as required by Wisconsin statutes, and shall be registered at not less than the permit weight or at the maximum available registration weight, whichever is less.

(2) All other operational permits required by the department, the office of the commissioner of transportation or other agencies having jurisdiction shall be obtained.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, August, 1996, No. 488.

Trans 261.08 Driver and operating requirements.

(1) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall carry the approved permit in the vehicle to which it applies and shall have the permit available for inspection by any police officer, representative of the issuing authority, or person in charge of maintenance of the highway being used.

(2) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall, whenever reasonable and practicable, maintain a distance of not less than 1,000 feet between the vehicle with the permit and any vehicle the driver is following, unless actually engaged in overtaking and passing another vehicle.

(3) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall allow traffic approaching or overtaking the permitted vehicle to pass, where it is safe to do so.

(4) Unless a lower speed is specified in the permit, a vehicle operating under a permit may be operated at the posted speed limit.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.