Chapter 11.68
LOAD LIMITS – TRUCK ROUTES
Sections:
11.68.010 Load restrictions upon vehicles exceeding 14,000 pounds gross vehicular weight rating.
11.68.020 Truck routes designated.
11.68.030 Truck access routes designated.
11.68.040 Trucks prohibited on certain streets – Exceptions.
11.68.050 Parking of trucks restricted.
11.68.060 Authority of director of public works to impose additional weight limitations.
11.68.070 Restrictions upon use of streets by certain vehicles.
11.68.080 Liability for damage to streets and bridges – Excess weight.
11.68.005 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following designated meaning unless a different meaning is expressly provided:
(1) “Commercial trailer” means a trailer that is principally used to transport commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, or animals.
(2) “Commercial vehicle” means any vehicle the principal use of which is the transportation of commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, animals, or passengers for hire.
(3) “Gross vehicle weight rating” means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle.
(4) “Gross combined vehicle weight rating” means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle plus any attached trailers.
(5) “Motor truck” means any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation of commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, or animals.
(6) “Semitrailer” includes every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by a vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tractor and so constructed that an appreciable part of its weight and that of its load rests upon and is carried by such other vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tractor.
(7) “Tractor” means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
(8) “Truck” means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
(9) “Truck tractor” means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles but so constructed as to permit carrying a load in addition to part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019).
11.68.010 Load restrictions upon vehicles exceeding 14,000 pounds gross vehicular weight rating.
(1) By reason of the construction of certain streets and their weight-bearing capacity, it has been determined that gross weight exceeding 14,000 pounds will cause serious damage to such streets.
(2) All commercial vehicles exceeding 14,000 pounds gross vehicular weight rating or gross combined vehicle weight rating originating outside the boundary of the city and terminating outside the boundary of the city shall use the streets designated in LMC 11.68.020 as forming a part of the city’s truck route. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1571 § 2, 1972; Ord. 1517 § 31-97, 1971).
11.68.020 Truck routes designated.
City streets forming a part of the city truck route are designated as follows:
Ocean Beach Highway – from west city limits to Washington Way;
38th Avenue – from Ocean Beach Highway to Industrial Way;
Industrial Way – from 38th Avenue to 3rd Avenue;
Washington Way – from Industrial Way to 700 feet east of Industrial Way;
1st Avenue – from Washington Street to 3rd Avenue;
3rd Avenue – from Industrial Way to north city limits;
Tennant Way – from 11th Avenue to east city limits;
West Side Highway – from north city limits to south city limits. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1571 § 4, 1972; Ord. 1517 § 31-97.1, 1971).
11.68.030 Truck access routes designated.
All commercial vehicles exceeding 14,000 pounds gross vehicular weight rating or gross combined vehicle weight rating originating within or without the city limits and terminating within the city limits, traveling to or from a recognized truck service center, or making local deliveries, shall use the most direct route possible to utilize the designated truck routes. The following streets, designated as “truck access routes,” may be specifically used in gaining access to truck routes:
Baltimore Street – from 14th Avenue to California Way;
11th Avenue – from California Way to Hemlock Street;
California Avenue – from 14th Avenue to Industrial Way;
Oregon Way – from Industrial Way to Alabama Street;
Alabama Street – from Oregon Way to its easterly terminus. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2528 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2407 § 1, 1990; Ord. 1571 § 4, 1972; Ord. 1517 § 31-97.2, 1971).
11.68.040 Trucks prohibited on certain streets – Exceptions.
No commercial vehicle exceeding 14,000 pounds gross vehicular weight rating or gross combined vehicle weight rating shall be operated upon any of the following streets, for any purpose except to deliver or pick up goods or material serving businesses located along the specified portion of the street, and only when alley access is insufficient for such delivery or pick-up:
Oregon Way – from Alabama Street to Tennant Way;
14th Avenue – from Hemlock Street to Maple Street;
Commerce Avenue – from Hemlock Street to Maple Street;
12th Avenue – from Hemlock Street to Maple Street.
Provided, however, that commercial vehicles exceeding 14,000 pounds gross vehicular weight rating or gross combined vehicle weight rating may be operated upon the above described streets upon written approval of the director of public works, given for good cause shown. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2528 § 2, 1993; Ord. 1571 § 4, 1972; Ord. 1517 § 31-97.3, 1971).
11.68.050 Parking of trucks restricted.
No person shall park a commercial trailer, commercial vehicle, motor truck, semitrailer, tractor, truck, truck tractor or combination thereof with a gross vehicular weight rating or gross combined vehicle weight rating of over 14,000 pounds, or over 102 inches in width, not including side mirrors, on any city street within the city except for any such vehicle parked in connection with any permitted construction, while loading or unloading goods or services, or along designated truck routes or truck access routes. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1571 § 4, 1972; Ord. 1517 § 31-97.4, 1971).
11.68.060 Authority of director of public works to impose additional weight limitations.
(1) The director of public works may prohibit the operation of motor trucks or other vehicles or may impose limits as to the weight thereof, or any other restrictions as may be deemed necessary, whenever any street, by reason of rain, snow, climatic, structural integrity, or other conditions, will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless the operation thereon be prohibited, restricted, or the permissible weights thereof reduced; provided, the director of public works shall not prohibit the use of any street in the city designated by the Washington State Highway Commission as forming a part of the state highway system, unless such restriction, limitation, prohibition, or reduction in permissible weights is first approved, in writing, by the Washington State Highway Commission.
(2) Any such restriction, limitation, prohibition or reduction of permissible weights shall be accomplished by the erection of appropriate signs along the streets so affected in such manner as to advise the traveling public thereof. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1571 § 3, 1972; Ord. 1517 § 31-98, 1971).
11.68.070 Restrictions upon use of streets by certain vehicles.
(1) The director of public works, subject to the approval of the city manager, is authorized to determine and designate those heavily traveled streets upon which shall be prohibited the use of the roadway for bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles, or other non-motorized traffic and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.
(2) When signs are so erected giving notice thereof, no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs.
(3) The moving or relocation of any building shall require a permit from the director of public works and a 24-hour advance notice shall be given to the department of public works prior to using any street, highway or right-of-way for such purpose. The required permit fee shall be as determined by council resolution. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1517 § 31-99, 1971).
11.68.080 Liability for damage to streets and bridges – Excess weight.
Any person operating any vehicle or moving any object or conveyance upon any street, alley or public way in the city or upon any bridge or elevated structure which is a part of any such public street, alley, or way of the city shall be liable for all damages which the public street, bridge or elevated structure may sustain as a result of any illegal operation of such vehicle or the moving of any such object or conveyance or as a result of the operation or moving of any vehicle, object or conveyance weighing in excess of the legal weight limits allowed by law. This section shall apply to any person operating any vehicle or moving any object or contrivance in any illegal or negligent manner or without a special permit as by law provided for vehicles, objects or contrivances that are over-weight, over-width, over-height or over-length. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1517 § 31-100, 1971).
11.68.090 Liability for damage to streets and bridges – Negligent operation of vehicle – Recovery in civil action.
Any person operating any vehicle, object or contrivance in the city shall be liable for any damage to any public street, bridge or elevated structure sustained as a result of any negligent operation of such vehicle. When such operator is not the owner of such vehicle, object or contrivance but is so operating or moving the same with the express or implied permission of the owner thereof, said owner and the operator shall be jointly and severally liable for any such damage. Such damage to any public street or structure of the city may be recovered in a civil action instituted in the name of the city. Any measure of damage to any public street determined by the director of public works by reason of this section shall be prima facie the amount of damage caused thereby and shall be presumed to be the amount recoverable in any civil action therefor. (Ord. 3409 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1517 § 31-101, 1971).