HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 09-114-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Grant County, Washington
A RESOLUTION GOVERNING EMERGENCY
LOAD LIMITATIONS ON COUNTY ROADS,
THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL MOTOR
VEHICLE PERMITS TO USE ON WEIGHT
RESTRICTED COUNTY ROADS, AND FIXING
PENALTI�S FOR VIOLATIONS TH�REOF
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RESOLUTION NO. �6 - C
WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 36.75.270 and 46.44.080, Grant County may prohibit or
i•estrict vehicle operations or vehicle weight whenever any cotulty road, by reason of rain, snow, climatic,
or other conditions, will be seriously damaged or destroyed miless the operation of vehicles thereon is
prohibited or restricted or their permissible weights reduced (such periods hereafter referred to as "load
sensitive periods"); and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Grant Cotuity, Washington, upon
recommendation of the County Engineer, has deemed it advisable to place cei�tain restrictions on various
county roads dtlring load sensitive periods to protect such roadways fi•om extensive damage; and
WHEREAS, an RESOLUTION has been proposed witl� the following sections:
1. Declar�tion of purpose
2. Scope and construction of terms
3. De�nitions
4. Emergency load limitations
5. Special permits for authorized vel�icles
6. Maximum speed permitted on posted roads
7. Penalty
$. Action for damage
9. Savings
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to RCW 46.44.080, BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED by the
Board of County Commissioners of Grant Coltnty, as follows:
SECTION 1 DECLARATION OF PURPOSE.
It is hereby declared that the policy of the Board of County Commissioners it to:
A. Establish genei•al emergency load litnitations upon cotmty roads during load sensitive per•iods;
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B. Establish special load limitations for school buses, motot• trucks transporting perishable commodities
or commodities necessary to the health and welfare of county residents, and motor vehicles
pi•oviding services necessary for health and welfare, when such emergency load limitations are in
effect.
C. Request the Washington State Patrol's assistlnce with weight control enForcement.
SECTION 2 SCOPE AND CONSTRUCTION OF TERMS.
The definitions in this ordinance 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.
SECTION 3 DEFINITIONS.
A. "Authorized Emergency Vehicle" means any vehicle of any fire department, police department,
sheriff's office, coroner, prosecuting attorney, Washington State Patrol, or ambulance service, public
or private, which need not be classified, registered, or authorized by the State Patrol.
B. "Commodity necessary for health and welfare" means anything provided to the public that is
necessary to provide essential shelter, food, or fi�el to people and animals.
C. "County Engineer" means the colulty engineer, the county director of public works, or his/her
designee.
D. "County Road" means every public highway or part thereof, outside the limits of cities and towns,
and which has not been designated as a state highway.
E. "Gross Weight" means the total vehicle weight including load.
F. "Trucl<" means any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation of commodities,
merchandise, produce, freight, animals, or other things.
G. "Perishable commodity" means a product of agriculture, aquacultm�e, or manufacture, which by its
nature is subject to destruction, decay, deterioration, or spoilage except under proper coiiditions.
H. "Person" means every uatural person, firm, co partnexship, corporation, association, or organization.
L "Pneiunatic tire" means eveiy tire of rubber or other resilient material designated to be iiiflated with
compressed air to support the load thereon.
"School bus" means every motor vehicle used regularly to transport children to and fi�om school or
in comlection with school activities, which is subject to ihe requirements set forth in tl�e 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.
K. "Service necessary for health and welfare" means any service provided to the public that is necessary
to maintain essential power, gas, commtuiications, garbage, sewer•, and water services for the public.
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L. "Tire width" means, in the case of pi�eumatic tires, the maximum overall normal inflated width,ls
stipulated by the tnanufacturer, when installed to tl7e pressui�e specified and without load thereon.
M. "Vel�icle" means every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by
which any person or property is or may be trinsported or drawn upon a public highway.
S�CTION 4 EMERGENCY LOAD LIMITATION
A. When the County Engineer determines that, during lo�d sensitive pet•iods, vehicles whose gross tire
loads exceed those described in this section will seriously dlmage or destroy � cotuity road, the
County Engineer may impose the following limits on vehicle weights, except for authorized
emergency vehicles.
Conventional Pneumatic Tires
Tire Width
*7.00
7.50
8.25
9.00
10.00
**11.00
* And Under
* * And Over
Gross Load Each
Tire
1800 lbs.
1800 lbs.
1900 lbs.
2250 lbs.
2750 lbs.
3000 lbs.
Tubeless or Special Pneumatic Tires
With .5 Marl<in�
Tire Width
*8-22.5
9-22.5
10.22.5
11-22.5
11-24.5
* * 12-22.5
Gross Load Each
Tire
18001bs.
19001bs.
22501bs.
2750 lbs.
27501bs.
30001Us.
B. The emergency load limitations iinposed 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. The following limitations shall not
exceed a period of 120 days from the effective date below.
SECTION 5 SPECIAL PERMITS FOR AUTHORIZED VEHICLES
A. In accoS•dance with RCW 46.44.092 and RCW46.44.093, the County Road Supervisors are
authorized, during load sensitive periods, to issue special permits for the operation (upon any county
road within the county) of a vehicle or• combii�ation of vehicles exceeding the maximum loads
specified in Section 4 above, to the following classes of vehicles:
(1) School buses (no permit required).
(2) Milk trucics with dual tires on rear axles atid on trailers.
(3) Trucks hauling perishlble con�modities. To obtain a permit, drivers must show proof that
at least fifty percent (50%) of their load is fi�esh produce and/or perishables.
(4) Garbage vehicles malcing picl<ups required for health, e,g., schools, hospitals, and
111Si1tL1ilO11S.
Dead animal services required for health reasons.
Vehicles or emergei�cy equipment vendors hauli�lg medical supplies (gases, drugs, etc.)
Feed trucics - one trip basis only.
Fue] trucks - one trip basis only, allowed to haul '/Z loads on emei•gency blsis.
Vel�icles engaged in septic tanlc pumping - emergency basis, oi�a trip only.
Public transportation vehicles.
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A permit issued to a vehicle in one of the classes of vehicles listed in Section SA shall be subject to
the following conditions:
(1) The gross weight of such vehicle shall tlot exceed the amotult determined by multiplying the
total nlimber of tires concentrated upon the surface of the �•o1d times the maximum
allowable gross weight per tire.
(2) No allowance shall be made for any second gear axle suspended from the frame of the
vehicle independent of the regular driving axle, otherwise lcnown �s "rigid tail-axles" or�
"drop axles".
(3) Allowance will be made For single tires only on the front of a vehicle.
(4) The load distribution on any axle of a vel�icle shall be such thlt it will not load the tires on
said axle in excess of the pt�escribed load, as set forth above, and any loading in excess of
the speci�ed maximum will be considered a violation of this Ordinance.
(5) In an attempt to comply with requirements of this section, the power unit of any combination
sh111 be suf�ciently designed to lawfiilly handle the designated weight.
(6) The special permit shall be clearly displayed in the lower right hand corner of the vehicles's
windshielcl while moving on any restricted county road.
The following limits on vehicle weights shall apply to vehicles receiving permits tulder Section 5:
Conventional Pnetunatic Tires
Tire Width Gross Load Each
Tire
*7.00 18001bs.
7.50 1800 lbs.
8.25 19001bs.
9.00 2250 lbs.
10.00 2750 lbs.
* * 11.00 3000 lbs.
* And Under
* * And Over
Tubeless or Special Pnetunatic Tires
With .5 Markin�
Tire Width
*8-22.5
9-22.5
10-22.5
11-22.5
11-24.5
** 12-22.5
Gross Load Each
Tire
1800 lbs.
1900 lbs.
22501bs.
27501bs.
27501bs.
30001bs.
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 ten thousand pounds (10,0001bs.) gross weight on said Front axle
uilcler 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.) pllts four hundred pounds (4001bs.) per inch of tire in excess of eleven inches
(11 "), �ip to five thousand two hundred �fly founds (5,250 lbs.) per tire.
Any vehicle requiring a special permit undar Section 5 shall not exceed thirty-five miles per hour
(35 M,P,H.) on any county road subject to emergency load limitations.
�. Where a specific hardship occurs, variances fi•om these special permit weight limitations may, at 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.
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SECTION 6 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 thirty-five miles per hour (35 M.P.H.) upon any county road Lulder emergency load limitations.
SECTION 7 PENALTY.
Any person viol�ting any emergency load limitation on a county road during a load sensitive period shall be
in violation of this Resohition. A violation of this Resolution shall constitute a traffic infi•action under the
provisions of RCW 46.44.105, RCW 46.44.100, and RCW 46.44.080, subjecting the violator to the monetary
penalties provided in RCW 46.44 and RCW 46.61.
S�CTION 8 ACTION rOR DAMAGES.
Any person oper�ting a motor vehicle upon airy county road in violation of any provision of this Resolution
shall be liable under RCW 46.44.110 and RCW 46.44.120 for any damage caused to such cottnty road as the
result of such violation.
SECTION 9 SAVINGS
If any provision of' this Resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalicl, the
reinainder of the Resolution or the application fo the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not
be afFected.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, this Resolution is passed and adopted and shall be
effective 1nd enforced on and after the 1S` Day of Januarv ,
2010 , and shall be published in the official County newspaper.
DATED this v� Y�C' day of �Qeern�2r , 2009.
Yea� Nay Abstain
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Cin�l�arte�, Chair
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Richard Stevens, Vice Chair
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Carolaml Swartz, Member
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