Chapter 10.74
VEHICLE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
ON CERTAIN STREETS
Sections:
10.74.020 Scope and construction of terms.
10.74.040 Weight restrictions established.
10.74.060 Restrictions apply to legal weight rate, not actual load.
10.74.070 Violations – Penalty.
10.74.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter shall be to protect and preserve identified streets within the city that will otherwise be seriously damaged because of rain, snow or other climatic conditions unless subject to vehicle weight restrictions; further, to protect those identified city streets whose condition is such that continued unrestricted use will result in great damage to those streets. This chapter shall exempt authorized emergency vehicles, buses, trucks transporting perishable commodities, commodities necessary to the health and welfare of city residents, trucks providing services necessary to the health and welfare of city residents, and local deliveries. (Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).
10.74.020 Scope and construction of terms.
Terms used in this chapter shall have that meaning given to them in PMC 10.74.030 and where not defined herein shall have that meaning clearly indicated by the context in which such terms are used. (Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).
10.74.030 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
“Authorized emergency vehicle” means any vehicle of any fire department, police department, sheriff’s office, coroner, prosecuting attorney, Washington State Patrol, ambulance service, public or private, which need not be classified, registered or authorized by the State Commission on Equipment, including any other vehicle authorized in writing by the State Commission on Equipment, or deemed by the above-named departments, offices and agencies as necessary to assist in the handling of any such emergency.
“Buses” means every motor vehicle used regularly to transport children to and from school (school buses) or public transit buses used to transport persons to and from businesses, commercial locations and home.
“City street” means every public street or part thereof, maintained by the city, lying inside the limits of Puyallup, and which has not been designated as a state highway as that term is defined in RCW 47.04.010(34) as now or hereafter amended.
“Commodity necessary for health and welfare” means a product of agriculture or manufacture, which is necessary to provide essential shelter, food and fuel to people and animals.
“Gross vehicle weight (GVW)” means the total vehicle weight including load.
“Local delivery” means construction, commercial or service trucks delivering or receiving materials, goods, equipment or services to locations within the city, where no alternative access route is available for delivery or receipt except by weight restricted streets.
“Motor vehicle” means every vehicle or vehicle combination which is self-propelled.
“Perishable commodity” means a product of agriculture, aquaculture, or manufacture, which by its nature is subject to destruction, decay, deterioration or spoilage except under proper conditions.
“Person” means every natural person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association or organization.
“Service necessary to the health and welfare” means any service provided to the public, which is necessary to maintain essential power, gas, communications, garbage, sewer and water services for the community at large.
“Truck” means any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation of commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, animals or other materials.
“Vehicle” means every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway. (Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).
10.74.040 Weight restrictions established.
The weight restriction established for the following streets within the city shall be as follows:
West Pioneer from the city limit to
5th Street S.W. 30,000 GVW
7th Avenue S.W. from the city
limit to 5th Street S.W. 30,000 GVW
West Stewart from the city limit to
4th Street N.W. 30,000 GVW
(Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).
10.74.050 Exemptions.
When weight restrictions as defined in this chapter are in effect for any city streets, authorized emergency vehicles, buses, trucks transporting perishable commodities, commodities necessary to the health and welfare of city residents, trucks providing services necessary to the health and welfare of city residents, and local deliveries are permitted to exceed the load restriction; provided, that the gross weight of said vehicle does not exceed the vehicle’s legal weight rate designation as defined in RCW 46.16.111. (Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).
10.74.060 Restrictions apply to legal weight rate, not actual load.
All weight restrictions shall apply to vehicles based upon the vehicle’s legal weight rate designation, regardless of the actual vehicle weight or load in any given trip or at any given time. (Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).
10.74.070 Violations – Penalty.
A violation of this chapter shall be a traffic infraction with a maximum penalty of a fine in the amount of $250.00, exclusive of statutory penalties. (Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).
10.74.080 Notice.
The weight restriction imposed by this chapter shall become effective upon the erection and maintenance by city forces of signs designating such limitations at each end of the affected portion of city street and shall remain in full force until such signs are removed by city forces. (Ord. 2627 § 1, 1999).