46.2-1143.1 - Overweight permits for haulers of excavated material. - Virginia Statutes

§ 46.2-1143.1. Overweight permits for haulers of excavated material.

The Commissioner and local authorities of cities and towns, in theirrespective jurisdictions, upon written application made by the owner oroperator, shall issue overweight permits for operation of certain vehicleshauling excavated material from construction-related land-clearingoperations. Permits shall be issued under this section only for vehicles thathave either (i) four axles with more than 22 feet between the first and lastaxle of the vehicle or (ii) three axles. Any vehicle operating under a permitissued pursuant to this section shall have a gross weight of no more than60,000 pounds for three-axle vehicles and 70,000 pounds for four-axlevehicles, a single axle weight of no more than 20,000 pounds, tandem axleweight of no more than 40,000 pounds, and a tri-axle grouping weight of nomore than 50,000 pounds, with no single axle of such tri-axle groupingexceeding the weight permitted for a single axle. Such permits shall beissued without cost.

No permit issued under this section shall authorize the operation of anyvehicle hauling excavated material for a distance of more than 25 miles fromthe land-clearing operation. However, such permit shall not designate theroute to be traversed nor contain restrictions or conditions not applicableto other vehicles in their general use of the highways. Each vehicle, whenloaded according to the provisions of a permit issued under this section,shall be operated at a reduced speed of 10 miles per hour slower than thelegal speed limit in 55, 45, and 35 miles per hour speed limit zones.

For purposes of this section, the term "excavated material" shall meannatural earth materials, which includes stumps, brush, leaves, soil, androcks, removed by any mechanized means.

(2002, c. 265; 2003, c. 314.)