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HR 2180 108th Congress House

Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act

Official title: 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.

Introduced: May 21, 2003 Introduced by: McGovern, James P. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works Economics and Public FinanceEmergency ManagementFederal aid to transportationFederal preemption
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Fines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkHighway financeLawMotor vehicle safetyState lawsTruckingTrucks
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 7, 2004
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H10928)
May 22, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
May 21, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
May 21, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 7, 2004

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H10928)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act - Amends Federal transportation law to prohibit a State from prescribing or enforcing any regulation that allows a restricted property-carrying unit (any trailer, semi-trailer, container, or other property-carrying unit longer than 53 feet, except for a fire-fighting unit) to operate on the National Highway System (including the Interstate System), unless the operation of such unit is authorized by the State on June 1, 2003, and in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including seasonal operations) on or before that date.

Prohibits a State from allowing the operation of a commercial motor vehicle combination on the National Highway System (except a vehicle or load that cannot be dismantled or divided easily, and that has been issued a special permit under State law) with more than one property-carrying unit (excluding the truck tractor) whose property-carrying units are more than: (1) the maximum combination trailer, semi-trailer, or other type of length limitation allowed by State law on June 1, 2003; or (2) the length of the property-carrying units of those commercial motor vehicle combinations, by specific configuration, in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including continual seasonal operation) in such State on or before June 1, 2003. Permits a commercial motor vehicle combination authorized in a State to continue to operate on System highways provided it is in compliance with State law, including routing-specific and configuration-specific designations and all other restrictions in force in the State on June 1, 2003.

Amends Federal highway law to prohibit a State from allowing the operation of a vehicle or combination (other than a longer combination vehicle) exceeding Interstate weight limits on the Interstate System unless its operation was lawful: (1) on July 1, 1956; (2) in the case of the overall gross weight of any group of two or more consecutive axles, on the date of enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 1974; or (3) under a special permit pursuant to State (grandfather) law. Subjects such vehicles and combinations to all routing-specific, commodity-specific, and weight-specific designations in force in such State on June 1, 2003.

Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) the operation of vehicles and loads which cannot be easily dismantled or divided (nondivisible loads) on the Federal-aid highway system as they relate to Interstate weight limitations; and (2) waiver of weight limitations for vehicles that operate on the Federal-aid highway system during periods of national emergency.

Declares that Interstate weight limitations on vehicles and combinations (other than longer combination vehicles) that operate on the Interstate System shall also apply to such vehicles and combinations that operate on non-Interstate segments of the National Highway System, unless: (1) such segments are subject to lower State weight limits; or (2) a State allows the operation of any vehicle or combination on an existing non-Interstate segment of the National Highway System that could be so operated lawfully on June 1, 2003. Requires establishment of a model schedule of fines for violations of this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2180: Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2180/
MLA
"H.R. 2180: Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2180/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2180, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2180/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2180: Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2180/)
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