§ 169.8296 — Weight Limits; Towing and Recovery Vehicle
Plain-Language Summary
Towing and recovery vehicles responding to emergencies may exceed normal weight limits when towing disabled vehicles.
169.8296 WEIGHT LIMITS; TOWING AND RECOVERY VEHICLE.
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Subdivision 1.Annual permit.
The commissioner may issue permits to an applicant who pays a single $300 annual fee to cover all tow trucks and towing vehicles owned by the applicant and who meets any other conditions prescribed by the commissioner. The proceeds of this fee must be deposited in the trunk highway fund. The permit authorizes the tow truck or towing vehicle, when towing a disabled or damaged vehicle to a place of repair or safekeeping, to exceed the length and weight limitations of this chapter. §
Subd. 2.Applicability with urgent movement.
Sections 169.823 to 169.828 do not apply to a tow truck or towing vehicle when towing a disabled or damaged vehicle and the movement is urgent and for the purpose of removing the disabled vehicle from the roadway to a place of repair or safekeeping. A permit is not required for a vehicle operating under this subdivision. §
Subd. 3.Seasonal load restrictions; exemption.
(a) For purposes of this subdivision, “recovery vehicle” means a vehicle equipped with a boom that is used to move or recover an inoperable vehicle.
(b) The seasonal load restrictions under section 169.87, subdivisions 1 and 2, do not apply to a tow truck, towing vehicle, or a recovery vehicle that does not exceed a weight of 20,000 pounds per single axle and is being operated for the purpose of towing or recovering another vehicle that:
(1) is involved in a vehicle crash or is inoperable and is located within a public road right-of-way; or
(2) has entered a public body of water adjacent to the roadway.
History:
History: History:
2023 c 68 art 4 s 53