Chapter 7.20
TRUCK ROUTES AND WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Sections:
7.20.010 Weight Limit on All Streets
7.20.030 Designated Truck Routes
7.20.035 Truck Route - Exceptions
7.20.040 Special Permit Requirements
7.20.050 Enforcement - Weighing and Lightening
7.20.060 Violation and Penalty
7.20.005 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate truck vehicle traffic on City streets to promote the safe and efficient movement of vehicles while preserving the integrity of residential communities; and to restrict truck traffic in the City to the maximum extent possible to the state highway system and 20th Street SE between US 2 and State Route 9. Nothing in this chapter shall preclude or limit the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 7.28 and Chapter 46.44 RCW as adopted in MTO. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)
7.20.010 Weight Limit on All Streets.
(a) No person may operate any truck exceeding 20,000 pounds gross weight on any City street.
(b) Exceptions to 20,000 pounds gross weight on any City street:
(1) Authorized buses, emergency vehicles, public utility vehicles, and solid waste disposal vehicles; or
(2) Travel on designated truck routes pursuant to Section 7.20.030; or
(3) Such local operations on said streets necessary to reach the vehicle’s destination or for pickup or delivery pursuant to Section 7.20.035 exceptions. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)
7.20.020 Truck Definition.
“Truck,” for the purpose of this chapter, is defined as any motor vehicle designated or used for the transportation of commodities, merchandise, produce, hazardous cargo, freight or animals; except pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, municipal emergency and municipal service vehicles, school and Community Transit buses, and vehicles licensed for 20,000 pounds gross, or less, shall not be considered trucks for the purpose of this chapter. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)
7.20.030 Designated Truck Routes.
The following highway and street(s) shall be designated as approved truck routes within the City:
(a) SR 92.
(b) SR 9.
(c) SR 204.
(d) 20th Street SE between US 2 and east City limits. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)
7.20.035 Truck Route - Exceptions.
(a) When such locations are not immediately adjacent to the designated truck routes, vehicles described in this section shall use the shortest and most direct route possible to:
(1) Another location for the purpose of pickup, delivery, repair; or
(2) A place of business by vehicles operated by that business, except this shall not apply where residence is also a place of business.
(b) The owners or operators of trucks may be issued a special permit by the Public Works Director allowing off-truck route travel under special circumstances to Section 7.20.040. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)
7.20.040 Special Permit Requirements.
Upon receiving a written response for good cause from the applicant, the Public Works Director, or designee, may issue a special permit, in writing, authorizing the owner or operator of a truck to operate and/or park the same on a City street or avenue; provided, that said permit may contain such conditions, restrictions, and limitations as are deemed necessary to reasonably protect the public health, safety and welfare. The fee for such permit shall be per truck as established by Council resolution. Permits may be issued for any reasonable period of time not exceeding 30 days. The fee shall be collected by the City Finance Officer as a condition of the issuance of any permit.
The Public Works Director will determine if the special permit will require an additional haul route and subject to the additional requirements as follows:
(a) The Public Works Director may require the permittee to sign a haul route agreement prior to the issuance of the permit to protect the integrity of the roadway surface and other roadway features within the right-of-way.
(b) The permittee shall be responsible for any damages caused by the permittee’s use of the right-of-way. The Public Works Department will bill the permittee for any necessary repairs and/or services necessary to restore the right-of-way to the condition prior to granting the permit.
(c) The Public Works Director, or designee, and the permittee shall make a joint pre-activity and post-activity inspection of the proposed haul route. Conditions of the road, prior to the anticipated activity, will be documented and agreed upon by the parties prior to issuance of the permit.
(d) The Public Works Director may require insurance and performance security compliance prior to final signing of a haul route agreement. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)
7.20.050 Enforcement - Weighing and Lightening.
Any police officer is authorized to require the driver of any vehicle or combination of vehicles to stop and submit to a weighing of the same either by means of a portable or a stationary scale and may require that such vehicle be driven to the nearest public scale.
Whenever a police officer, upon weighing a vehicle and loads as above provided, determines that the weight is unlawful such officer may, in addition to any other penalty provided, require the driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place and remain standing until such portion of the load is removed as may be necessary to reduce the gross weight of such vehicle to such limit as permitted under this chapter. All materials unloaded shall be cared for by the owner or operator of such vehicle at the risk of such owner or operator.
It shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle to refuse to stop and submit the vehicle and load to a weighing, or refuse, when directed by an officer upon weighing the vehicle, to stop the vehicle and otherwise comply with the provisions of this section. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)
7.20.060 Violation and Penalty.
Failure to comply with any provision of this chapter or violation of any provision of this chapter is civil infraction. The owner, lessee and the driver each may be cited and punished as follows:
(a) First violation occurring within a 365-day period is a $150.00 fine plus costs and assessments.
(b) Second violation occurring within a 365-day period is a $250.00 fine plus costs and assessments.
(c) Third or subsequent violations within a 365-day period is a $500.00 fine plus costs and assessments. (Ord. 863, Sec. 1, 2011)