A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide an exception to state and local firefighting agencies transporting overweight and oversized vehicles being used to COMBAT forest fires, wildfires, and other fires associated with NATURAL DISASTERS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 20‑118.4. Exempt firefighting equipment from size and weight restrictions while transporting or moving heavy equipment in an emergency.
Any State or local fire protection agency shall be exempt from the size and weight restrictions of this Chapter and shall not be required to operate pursuant to any rules established by the Department of Transportation while actively engaged in an emergency response to a forest fire, wildfire, or any fire associated with a natural disaster. An emergency response is that period of time from which the fire protection agency is notified to respond to a scene and lasts until all equipment is returned to its original location and put back into service for another emergency response.
At all other times, a State or local fire protection agency shall be required to operate its equipment subject to the size and weight provisions of this Chapter and pursuant to any rules established by the Department of Transportation."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.