Madison – This week the Wisconsin State Assembly voted to pass two transportation bills authored by Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield).
Assembly Bill 272 will make changes to heavy truck weight allowances in order to bring state regulations in line with recent federal changes. These changes will be made to vehicles using idle reduction technology and compressed natural gas. These changes will provide clarity for those using these technologies. The bill also makes positive environmental changes as both idle reduction technology and compressed natural gas have been shown to be more environmentally friendly than traditional technologies.
Assembly Bill 342 would increase the penalty for theft of a commercial vehicle, and will increase the penalty for theft where the property is valued at over $100,000.
“Cargo theft has become a serious and costly problem in Wisconsin and across the country,” said Rep. Spiros. “In addition to the actual dollar amount lost from the cost of the vehicle and goods, there are other costs and victims of commercial vehicle theft as well.
“It negatively impacts employees who may be at risk of personal injury during a theft, retailers who lose merchandise, shipping companies who lose the value of their vehicle or the cost of downtime until it is returned, and consumers who pay more for merchandise to make up for cargo theft. This is a crime that is costly to everyone.”
Assembly Bill 272 has already passed on the Senate floor and will be sent to the Governor to be signed into law. Assembly Bill 342 will be taken up in the Senate before being presented to the Governor for his signature.
