61-10-145. Penalties. - Montana Statutes

     61-10-145. Penalties. (1) A person, firm, or corporation convicted of violating 61-10-101 through 61-10-104 and 61-10-106 through 61-10-110 shall be punished by a fine of not less than $30 or more than $100. A person, firm, or corporation convicted of operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state with weight upon a wheel, axle, or group of axles greater than the maximum permitted by 61-10-101 through 61-10-104 and 61-10-106 through 61-10-110 shall be fined, in addition to other penalties provided by law for the offense, the following amounts:
     (a) $30 for any excess weight up to and including 2,000 pounds;
     (b) $75 for any excess weight more than 2,000 pounds and less than 4,001 pounds;
     (c) $125 for any excess weight more than 4,000 pounds and less than 6,001 pounds;
     (d) $175 for any excess weight more than 6,000 pounds and less than 8,001 pounds;
     (e) $250 for any excess weight more than 8,000 pounds and less than 10,001 pounds;
     (f) $275 for any excess weight more than 10,000 pounds and less than 12,001 pounds;
     (g) $300 for any excess weight more than 12,000 pounds and less than 14,001 pounds;
     (h) $400 for any excess weight more than 14,000 pounds and less than 16,001 pounds;
     (i) $500 for any excess weight more than 16,000 pounds and less than 18,001 pounds;
     (j) $600 for any excess weight more than 18,000 pounds and less than 20,001 pounds;
     (k) $1,000 for any excess weight more than 20,000 pounds and less than 25,001 pounds;
     (l) $2,000 for any excess weight more than 25,000 pounds.
     (2) If a motor vehicle is equipped with a retractable axle that is not fully extended and carrying its proportionate share of the load while the motor vehicle is operated upon the highways of this state, the weight penalties in subsection (1) apply to all weight over the legal maximum allowed by the fixed axles regardless of whether the axle is extended at the time of weighing. In addition to the penalties in subsection (1), the owner or operator shall be fined $100 for failure to have the retractable axle fully extended while the gross weight of the vehicle exceeds the legal maximum allowed by the fixed axles.
     (3) A complaint filed and a summons or notice to appear issued pertaining to a violation of the gross weight regulations in 61-10-101 through 61-10-104 and 61-10-106 through 61-10-110 must specify the amount of the excess weight that the defendant is alleged to have had upon the vehicle or combination of vehicles.
     (4) It is a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in 46-18-212, for a person, firm, or corporation to violate any of the provisions of 61-10-123, 61-10-141, or 61-10-142.

     History: En. Sec. 3(b), Ch. 123, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 243, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 316, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 32-1125; amd. Sec. 78, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 601, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 380, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 122, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 70, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 236, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 232, L. 1997.