It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 31-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size, Weight and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-25-21. Power to permit excess size or weight of loads. -- (a) The state department of administration with respect to highways under its jurisdiction may in its discretion upon application in writing and good cause being shown therefor, issue a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding eighty thousand pounds (80,000 lbs.) or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of chapters 1 to 27, inclusive of this title upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting such permit and for the maintenance of which the party is responsible. {ADD Permits which have been issued for a full year shall not be required to be renewed for the period of time for which payment has been made and the application and other required documentation has been completed and filed. ADD} Provided, however, that neither the state department of transportation nor the local authorities may issue permits for divisible loads weighing in excess of one hundred four thousand eight hundred (104,800) pounds, gross vehicle weight, for five (5) axle vehicles and seventy-six thousand six hundred fifty pounds (76,650 lbs.), gross vehicle weight, for three (3) axle vehicles.

(b) The director of the department of administration may enter into agreements with other states, the District of Columbia and Canadian provinces providing for the reciprocal enforcement of the overweight or overdimensional vehicle permit laws of those jurisdictions entering into the agreement.

(c) Trip permit fee.

A fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be paid to the registry of motor vehicles for the issuance of each non-reducible vehicle or load permit.

(d) Annual fee.

A fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), paid to the registry of motor vehicles shall exempt the payor from the necessity of paying trip permit fees as found in subsection (c), provided, however, that payment of the fee shall not be deemed to authorize non-compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled state of Rhode Island manual for overweight and oversize vehicle permits.

{ADD (e) Blanket permits may be issued, as determined by the department of transportation, for intrastate movement of nonreducible loads upon payment of the fee set forth in subsection (d) of this section. The permits may not exceed one (1) year and shall be limited to a maximum overall length of

seventy-five (75) feet and maximum overall width of eleven (11) feet, eleven (11) inches. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.