SJR 7 Chaptered

BILL NUMBER: SJR 7 CHAPTERED

BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 103 
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 22, 2003 
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 17, 2003 
ADOPTED IN SENATE MAY 22, 2003

INTRODUCED BY Senator Karnette FEBRUARY 20, 2003

Senate Joint Resolution No. 7--Relative to highways.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SJR 7, Karnette. Highways: trucking size.

This measure would respectfully memorialize the President and the Congress of the United States to maintain the current federal truck size and weight limitations and to oppose proposals to experiment with longer and heavier trucks on public highways in the reauthorization of the federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Public Law 105-178).

WHEREAS, The State of California is committed to protecting the safety of motorists on its highways and protecting taxpayers' investment in our highway infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, The state supports safe and reliable trucking businesses and drivers; and

WHEREAS, In the 2001-02 fiscal year, the state expended over 800 million dollars to maintain its highways and bridges; and

WHEREAS, The August 2000 United States Department of Transportation Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight study found that double and triple trailer trucks are at least 11 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than a single trailer truck, and nationwide use of these trucks would result in 53 billion dollars in bridge reconstruction costs and an additional 266 billion dollars in congestion costs; and

WHEREAS, A road test conducted by the California Department of Transportation in 1984 found that triple trailer trucks experienced extended periods of sideways "whip and sway" and slower speeds on grades adding dangers for all motorists; and

WHEREAS, The Transportation Research Board, a federal government advisory group, has recommended testing longer and heavier trucks, including triple trailer trucks, on public highways under pilot programs; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to maintain the current federal truck size and weight limitations and oppose proposals to experiment with longer and heavier trucks on public highways in the reauthorization of the federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Public Law 105-178); and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.