Chapter 10.13
EMERGENCY LOAD LIMITATIONS ON COUNTY ROADS
Sections:
10.13.010 Declaration of Purpose.
10.13.020 Scope and Construction of Terms.
10.13.040 Emergency Load Limitations.
10.13.050 Special Permits for Authorized Vehicles.
10.13.060 Maximum Speed Permitted on Posted Roads.
10.13.010 Declaration of Purpose.
It is hereby declared that the policy of the board of county commissioners is to:
(1) Establish general emergency load limitations upon county roads during load sensitive periods;
(2) Establish special load limitations for school buses, motor trucks transporting perishable commodities or commodities necessary to the health and welfare of county residents, and motor vehicles providing services necessary for health and welfare, when such emergency load limitations are in effect;
(3) Request the Washington State Patrol’s assistance with weight control enforcement.
(Ord. 1-1997 § 1, 1997).
10.13.020 Scope and Construction of Terms.
The definitions in this chapter shall control the meaning of terms used herein. Where no definition is expressly stated herein, a term shall have that meaning clearly indicated by, or reasonably implied from, the context in which such term is used.
(Ord. 1-1997 § 2, 1997).
10.13.030 Definitions.
(1) “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 Patrol.
(2) “Commodity necessary for health and welfare” means anything provided to the public which is necessary to provide essential shelter, food or fuel to people and animals.
(3) “County road” means every road or part thereof on the county road system.
(4) “Gross weight” means the total vehicle weight including load.
(5) “Truck” means any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation of commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, animals or other things.
(6) “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.
(7) “Person” includes every natural person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association or organization.
(8) “Pneumatic tire” includes every tire of rubber or other resilient material designed to be inflated with compressed air to support the load thereon.
(9) “School bus” means every motor vehicle used regularly to transport children to and from school or in connection with school activities, which is subject to the requirements set forth in the most recent edition of “Specifications for School Buses” published by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, but does not include buses operated by common carriers in urban transportation of school children.
(10) “Service necessary for 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 public.
(11) “Tire width,” in the case of pneumatic tires, means the maximum overall normal inflated width, as stipulated by the manufacturer, when inflated to the pressure specified and without load thereon.
(12) “Vehicle” includes every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.
(Ord. 1-1997 § 3, 1997).
10.13.040 Emergency Load Limitations.
(1) When the county engineer determines that, during load sensitive periods, vehicles whose gross tire loads exceed those described in this section will seriously damage or destroy a county road, the county engineer may impose the following limits on vehicle weights, except for authorized emergency vehicles.
|
Conventional |
Tubeless or Special |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tire Width |
Gross Load Each Tire |
Tire Width |
Gross Load Each Tire |
|
7.00* |
1800 lbs. |
8-22.5* |
1800 lbs. |
|
7.50 |
1800 lbs. |
9-22.5 |
1900 lbs. |
|
8.25 |
1900 lbs. |
10-22.5 |
2250 lbs. |
|
9.00 |
2250 lbs. |
11-22.5 |
2750 lbs. |
|
10.00 |
2750 lbs. |
11-24.5 |
2750 lbs. |
|
11.00** |
3000 lbs. |
12-22.5** |
3000 lbs. |
|
* |
And Under |
|
** |
And Over |
(2) The emergency load limitations imposed by this section shall become effective upon the erection and maintenance by the county engineer of signs designating the load limitations (visible to the operator of a vehicle as he/she enters the restricted area), and shall remain in effect until the load sensitive period ends and such signs are removed by the county engineer.
(Ord. 1-1997 § 4, 1997).
10.13.050 Special Permits for Authorized Vehicles.
(1) In accordance with RCW 46.44.080 and RCW 46.44.093, the county is authorized, during load sensitive periods, to issue special permits for the operations (upon any county road within the county) of a vehicle or a group or combination of vehicles exceeding the maximum loads specified in Section 10.13.040 above, to the following classes of vehicles:
(a) School buses (no extracurricular activities).
(b) Milk trucks with dual tires on rear axles and on trailers.
(c) Trucks hauling perishable commodities. To obtain a permit, drivers must show proof that at least fifty percent of their load is fresh produce and/or perishables.
(d) Garbage vehicles making pickups required for health, e.g., schools, hospitals and institutions.
(e) Dead animal services required for health reasons.
(f) Vehicles or emergency equipment vendors hauling medical supplies (gases, drugs, etc.).
(g) Feed trucks – one trip basis only.
(h) Fuel trucks – one trip basis only, allowed to haul half-loads on emergency basis.
(i) Vehicles engaged in septic tank pumping – emergency basis, one trip only.
(j) Public transportation vehicles.
(k) Vehicle providing service necessary for health and welfare.
(l) Authorized emergency vehicles.
(2) A permit issued to a vehicle or group of vehicles in one of the classes of vehicles listed in subsection 1 of Section 10.13.050 shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) The gross weight of such vehicle shall not exceed that amount determined by multiplying the total number of tires concentrated upon the surface of the road times the maximum allowable gross weight per tire;
(b) No allowance shall be made for any second gear axle suspended from the frame of the vehicle independent of the regular driving axle, otherwise known as “rigid tail-axles”;
(c) Allowance will be made for single tires only on the front of a vehicle;
(d) The load distribution on any axle of a vehicle shall be such that it will not load the tires on said axle in excess of the prescribed load, as set forth above, and any loading in excess of the specified maximum will be considered a violation of the ordinance codified in this chapter;
(e) In an attempt to comply with requirements of this section, the power unit of any combination shall be sufficiently designed to lawfully handle the designated weight;
(f) The special permit shall be clearly displayed in the lower right hand corner of the vehicle’s windshield while moving on any restricted county road.
(3) The following limits on vehicle weights shall apply to vehicles receiving permits under Section 10.13.050:
|
Conventional |
Tubeless or Special |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tire Width |
Gross Load Each Tire |
Tire Width |
Gross Load Each Tire |
|
7.00* |
1800 lbs. |
8-22.5* |
1800 lbs. |
|
7.50 |
2000 lbs. |
9-22.5 |
2200 lbs. |
|
8.25 |
2200 lbs. |
10-22.5 |
2600 lbs. |
|
9.00 |
2600 lbs. |
11-22.5 |
3200 lbs. |
|
10.00 |
3200 lbs. |
11-24.5 |
3200 lbs. |
|
11.00 |
3600 lbs. |
12-22.5 |
3600 lbs. |
|
* |
And Under |
If a vehicle has ten-inch (10") or wider tires on the front axle and otherwise qualifies for a permit, the vehicle may be allowed to have 10,000 pounds gross weight on said front axle under emergency load limitations.
Tires over eleven inches (11") in width may be issued a special permit for loads of three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.) plus four hundred pounds (400 lbs.) per inch of tire in excess of eleven inches (11"), up to five thousand two hundred fifty pounds (5,250 lbs.) per tire.
(4) Any vehicle requiring a special permit under Section 10.13.050 shall not exceed twenty-five miles per hour on any county road subject to emergency load limitations.
(5) Where a specific hardship occurs, variances from these special permit weight limitations may, in the discretion of the county engineer, be issued on a case-by-case basis. Such variance permits may allow a vehicle to exceed the gross weight limits of this section, subject to specified times and routes of movement needed to protect the county roads from serious damage.
(Ord. 1-1997 § 5, 1997).
10.13.060 Maximum Speed Permitted on Posted Roads.
Except where applicable law specifies a lower speed, the county engineer may post a reduced speed limit as low as twenty-five miles per hour upon any county roads under emergency load limitations.
(Ord. 1-1997 § 6, 1997).
10.13.070 Penalty.
Any person violating any emergency load limitations on a county road during a load sensitive period shall be in violation of the ordinance codified in this chapter. A violation of this chapter shall constitute a traffic infraction under the provisions of RCW 46.44.080, and RCW 46.44.105, subjecting the violator to the monetary penalties provided in RCW Chapters 46.44 and 46.61.
Any person operating a motor vehicle upon any county road in violation of any provision of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be liable under RCW 46.44.110 and RCW 46.44.120 for any damage caused to such county road as the result of such violation.
(Ord. 1-1997 § 7, 1997).