Towing over an 8 foot beam

[fishstick]

This came up in conversation today. I made the comment about getting a boat with a larger beam, more than 8 foot. The guy I was talking with informed me that you would need a permit to tow this.
Can anyone tell me if this is true?
What is the Michigan law regarding this, if any?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

[Big Frank 25]

MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT)


Act 300 of 1949


***** 257.717.amended THIS AMENDED SECTION IS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2002 *****

257.717.amended Maximum permissible width of vehicle or load; operation or movement of implement of husbandry; extension beyond center line of highway; permit; designation of highway for operation of vehicle or vehicle combination; special permit; violation as civil infraction; charging owner.
Sec. 717.

(1) The total outside width of a vehicle or the load on a vehicle shall not exceed 96 inches, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) A person may operate or move an implement of husbandry of any width on a highway as required, designed, and intended for farming operations, including the movement of implements of husbandry being driven or towed and not hauled on a trailer, without obtaining a special permit for an excessively wide vehicle or load under section 725. The operation or movement of the implement of husbandry shall be in a manner so as to minimize the interruption of traffic flow. A person shall not operate or move an implement of husbandry to the left of the center of the roadway from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, under the conditions specified in section 639, or at any time visibility is substantially diminished due to weather conditions. A person operating or moving an implement of husbandry shall follow all traffic regulations.

(3) The total outside width of the load of a vehicle hauling concrete pipe, agricultural products, or unprocessed logs, pulpwood, or wood bolts shall not exceed 108 inches.

(4) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (5) and this subsection, if a vehicle that is equipped with pneumatic tires is operated on a highway, the maximum width from the outside of 1 wheel and tire to the outside of the opposite wheel and tire shall not exceed 102 inches, and the outside width of the body of the vehicle or the load on the vehicle shall not exceed 96 inches. However, a truck and trailer or a tractor and semitrailer combination hauling pulpwood or unprocessed logs may be operated with a maximum width of not to exceed 108 inches in accordance with a special permit issued under section 725.

(5) The total outside body width of a bus, a trailer coach, a truck camper, or a motor home shall not exceed 102 inches. However, an appurtenance of a trailer coach, a truck camper, or a motor home that extends not more than 6 inches beyond the total outside body width is not a violation of this section.

(6) A vehicle shall not extend beyond the center line of a state trunk line highway except when authorized by law. Except as provided in subsection (2), if the width of the vehicle makes it impossible to stay away from the center line, a permit shall be obtained under section 725.

(7) The director of the state transportation department, a county road commission, or a local authority may designate a highway under the agency's jurisdiction as a highway on which a person may operate a vehicle or vehicle combination that is not more than 102 inches in width, including load, the operation of which would otherwise be prohibited by this section. The agency making the designation may require that the owner or lessee of the vehicle or of each vehicle in the vehicle combination secure a permit before operating the vehicle or vehicle combination. This subsection does not restrict the issuance of a special permit under section 725 for the operation of a vehicle or vehicle combination. This subsection does not permit the operation of a vehicle or vehicle combination described in section 722a carrying a load described in that section if the operation would otherwise result in a violation of that section.

(8) The director of the state transportation department, a county road commission, or a local authority may issue a special permit under section 725 to a person operating a vehicle or vehicle combination if all of the following are met:

(a) The vehicle or vehicle combination, including load, is not more than 106 inches in width.

(b) The vehicle or vehicle combination is used solely to move new motor vehicles or parts or components of new motor vehicles between facilities that meet all of the following:

(i) New motor vehicles or parts or components of new motor vehicles are manufactured or assembled in the facilities.

(ii) The facilities are located within 10 miles of each other.

(iii) The facilities are located within the city limits of the same city and the city is located in a county that has a population of more than 400,000 and less than 500,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census.


(c) The special permit and any renewals are each issued for a term of 1 year or less.


(9) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction. The owner of the vehicle may be charged with a violation of this section.


History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;--Am. 1951, Act 68, Eff. Sept. 28, 1951 ;--Am. 1952, Act 69, Imd. Eff. Apr. 8, 1952 ;--Am. 1953, Act 206, Imd. Eff. June 10, 1953 ;--Am. 1954, Act 92, Eff. Aug. 13, 1954 ;--Am. 1964, Act 222, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;--Am. 1966, Act 237, Eff. Mar. 10, 1967 ;--Am. 1976, Act 320, Imd. Eff. Dec. 7, 1976 ;--Am. 1978, Act 391, Eff. Jan. 15, 1979 ;--Am. 1978, Act 510, Eff. Aug. 1, 1979 ;--Am. 1979, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 1, 1979 ;--Am. 1982, Act 533, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983 ;--Am. 1987, Act 90, Imd. Eff. July 1, 1987 ;--Am. 1992, Act 257, Imd. Eff. Dec. 7, 1992 ;--Am. 1999, Act 63, Imd. Eff. June 17, 1999 ;--Am. 2000, Act 7, Imd. Eff. Feb. 25, 2000 ;--Am. 2002, Act 453, Imd. Eff. June 21, 2002 ;--Am. 2002, Act 552, Eff. Oct. 1, 2002 .



96" as well, before being ammended

[Joe_G]

My dad & I towed his 26 footer with a 10 foot beam to Florida last year, and yes, technically, you need a permit. He had to buy a permit from every state you go through and put orange flags on both sides near the rear. The flags blew out of the rod holders
before we hit Ohio, and we never got stopped or checked and seemed to go by semi's & such without a problem. If your talking about a 10 foot beam (or less) I wouldn't bother with it. Just tow & go. Civil infraction? Cheaper than permits. But..... I'm a rebel.

[Foxy Carp]

We've towed a boat over 8 feet wide plenty of times. A cop would have to be a jerk to pull you over for something like that anyway.

[reeldeal3]

I would agree with carp, there are some small boats as well as big boats that do some stupid things, but towing a boat that is over 8 ft, as well as im concered it doesn't matter.

[Icet]

Don't know what all them regs said (duh) but I have a 8.6 boat that is legal to tow in this state and I know for a fact all the way down to Key West. You get over 102 inches and you might run into insurance risks if not done by the book.

[Jason Adam]

I tow my 8'6" without a problem, just don't sway to either side too much. Theres not much extra road there

[fishstick]

Sorry for the delay in responding but was out of town (JOB thing).

I appreciate all of your responses. Sounds like I can go o 8.5 with out a problem but anything aove I should chec into the permit deal. That does not ond bad if annual but guess it depends on the cost.

Thanks all for your replys.

Bill

[Jason Adam]

It is $15 per permit or like $50 or $60 annually. Not too bad...

[fishstick]

That is not bad. I was thinking somewhere between 100 to 200 bucks.

[Captnbobb]

Seems like the law says anything over 8' and you need a permit. Maybe 1/2 of the states allow 8'-6" but not Michigan, it is inconsistent nationwide and likely not enforced very closely (I doubt very many tickets are written for 56 in a 55 mph zone). I don't know what the fine is but if you get pulled over for something else a cop could decide to check. If an accident occured your insurance may not cover you if you were operating illegally. The one time I got a permit for a 10' load I discovered that I was required to only drive during daylight during weekdays and technically only on state roads (it was a state issued permit, you needed county permits for county roads).

[Jason Adam]

Wow, thanks for the update Captnbobb, I hope the guy that asked the question in 2002 wasnt waiting for your response... :lol: :lol: :lol: Doing some archive reading???