HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 08-108-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Grant Counfiy, Washington
A RESOLUTION GOVERNING EM�RGENCY
LOAD LIMITATIONS ON COUNTY ROADS,
THE ISSUANCE Or SPECIAL MOTOR
VEHICLE PERMIi'S TO USE ON WEIGHT
R�STRICTED COUNTY ROADS, AND FIXING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF
ItESOLUTION NO. 2008- ) ��-CC
WHEREAS, ptiusuant to RCW 36,75.270 and 46.44.080, Grant County lnay prohibit or
restrict vehicle operations or vehicle weight whenever any county road, by reason of rain, snow, climatic,
or other conditions, will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless 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 Cominissioneis of Grant County, Washington, upon
recommendation of the County Engineer, has deemed it advisable to pl�ce certain restrictions on various
county roads during load sensitive periods to protect such roadways fi�om extensive dainage; and
WIIEREAS, an RESOLUTION has been proposed with the following sections:
1. Declaration of purpose
2. Scope and construction of tei-�ns
3. Definitions
4. Einergency load limitations
5. Special perinits For authorized vehicles
6. Maxiinum speed permitted on posted roads
7. Penalty
Action for dainage
Savings
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to RCW 46.44.080, BE IT HEREBY ORDAIN�D by the
Board of County Commissioners of Grant County, as follows:
SECTION 1 DECLARATION OP PURPOSE.
It is hereby declared that the policy of the Board of County Con�missioners it to:
A. Establish general einergency load limitations upon county roads during load sensitive periods;
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B. Establish special load limitations for school btises, motor trucics transporting perishable commodities
or coinmodities necessary to the health and welfare of county residents, and inotor vehicles
providing seivices necessaiy for health and welfare, when such emergency load limitations are in
effect.
C. Request the Washington State Patrol's assistance 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 harein, a tenn shall have that meaning clearly indicated by, or reasonably implied from, the
context in which such tei7n 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 noti Ue classified, registered, or authorized Uy the State Patrol.
B. "Corrunodity necessary for health and welfare" means anything provided to the public th�t is
necessary to provide essential shelter, food, or fuel to people and animals.
C. "County Engineer" means the county engineer, the county director of public worlcs, or his/her
designee.
D. "County Road" means every puUlic highway or part thereof, outside the liinits 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. "Trucic" means any motar• vehicle designed or used for the t�•ansport�tion of commodities,
inerchandise, produce, freight, animals, or other things.
G. "Perishable commodity" means a product of agriculture, aquacultzire, or znanufactui e, which by its
nature is subject to destruction, decay, deterioration, or spoilage except under proper conditions.
H. "Person" means every n�tural person, firm, co partnership, corporation, association, or organization.
I. "Pneumatic tire" means every tire of rubber or other resilient mlterial designated to be inflated with
compressed air to support the load thereoz7,
"School Uus" r�leans evezy motor vehicle used regularly to transport childxen 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 foz• School Buses" published by the State Superintendent of Public
Insti�uction, but does not include buses operated by common cai-�-iers in urban transportation of
school children.
K. "Service necessary for health and Welfare" means any service pxovided to the public that is necessazy
to maintain essential power, gas, communications, garbage, sewer, and water services for the public.
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°L. "Tire width" means, in the case of pneumatic tires, the maxiinum overall normal inflated width, as
stipulated by the manufacturer, when installed to the pressure specified and without load thereon.
M. "Vehicle" means eveiy device capable of being znoved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by
which any person or property is or may be t��ansported or drawn upon a public highway.
SECTION 4 EMERGENCY LOAD LIMITATION
A. When the County Engineer determines that, during load sensitive periods, vehicles whose gross tii•e
loads exceed those described in this section will seriously damage or destroy a county road, the
County Engineer may impose the following limits on vahicle weights, except for authorized
emergency vehicles.
Conventional Pnetulzatic Tires
Tire Width Gross Load Each
Tire
*7.00 1800 lbs.
7.50 18001bs
8.25 19001Us
9.00 22501bs
10.00 27501bs
* * 11.00 30001bs
* �1nd Under
* * And Over
Tubeless or SUecial Pneurnatic Tires
With .5 Marlcin�
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,
27501bs.
27501bs.
3000 lbs.
B. The emergency load liinitations imposed by this section shall becolne 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 relnain in effect until the load sensitive
period ends and such signs are rernoved 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. I�Z accordance 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 operatioil (upon any county
road within the county) of a vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding the n�aximum loads
specified in Section 4 above, to the following classes of vehicles:
(1)
�2)
(3)
(4)
School Uuses (no permit required).
Millc trucics with dual tires on rear axles and on trailers.
Trucics hauling perishable commodities. To obtaixl a perinit, drivers must show proof that
at least fifty percent (50%) of their load is fresh produce and/or perishables.
Garbage vehicles inalcing picicups required for health, e.g., schools, hospitals, and
institutions.
De�d animal seivices required for health reasons.
Vehicles or emergency equipment vendors hauling medical supplies (gases, drugs, etc.)
Feed trucics - one trip basis only.
I'uel trucics - one trip basis only, �1lowed to l��ul '/Z loads on emergency basis.
Vehicles engaged in septic tank plunping - emergency Uasis, one trip only,
Public transpoi�tation vehicles,
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C
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A permit issued to a vehicle in one of the classes of vehicles listed in Section SA shall be subj ect to
the following conditions:
(1) The gross weight of such vehicle shall not exceed the ainount detei-mined by multiplying the
total number of tires concentrated upon the surface of the road 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 di•iving axle, otherwise lrnown as "rigid tail-axles" or
"drop axles".
(3) Allowance will be inade for single tires only on the front of a vehicle.
(4) The load distribtition on any axle of a vehicle shall be such that it will not load the tii�es on
said a�le 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 this Ordinance.
(5) In an atteinpt to comply with requireinents of this section, the power unit of any combination
shall be sufficiently designed to lawFitlly handle the designated weight.
(6) The special permit shall be clearly displayed in the lower right hand corner of the vehicles's
windshield while moving on any restricted county road.
The following limits on vehicle weights shall apply to vehicles receiving permits under Section 5:
Conventional Pneumatic Tires
Tire Width Gross Load Each
Tire
*7�00 18001bs.
7.50 18001bs.
8.25 19001bs.
9.00 22501bs.
10.00 27501Us.
**11.00 30001bs.
'k And Under
*�` And Over
Tubeless or St�ecial Pneumatic Tires
With .5 Marlcin�
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.
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 thousandpounds (10,0001Us.) 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.) phis four hundred pounds (400 lUs.) per inch of tire in excess of eleven inches
(11"), up to five thousand two hundred fifty founds (5,2501bs.) per tire.
Any vehicle requiring a special perinit under Section 5 sha11 not exceed thilty-five miles per hour
(35 M.P.H.) on any cotmty road subject to emergency load limitations.
E. Where a specific hardship occurs, variances fi-om these special permit weigllt limitations may, at the
discretion of the County Engineei•, Ue issued on a case-by-case basis. Such variance permits inay
allow a vehicle to exceed the gross weight lilnits of this section, subj ect to specified times and routes
of inovernent needed to protect the county ro�ds from sei•ious damage.
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e 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 roacl under einergency load limitations.
SECTION 7 PENALTY.
Any person violating any emergency load limitation on a county road during a load sensitive period shall Ue
in violation of this Resolution. A violation of this Resohltion shall constitute a traffic infraction under the
provisions ofRCW 46.44.105, RCW 46,44.100, and RCW 46.44.080, subj ecting the violator to the monetary
penalties provided in RCW 46.44 and RCW 46,61.
SECTION 8 �CTION FOR DAMAGES.
Any person operating a motor vehicle upon any county road in violation of any provision oFthis Resolution
shall be liaUle under RCW 46.44.110 and RCW 46.44.120 for any damage caused to such county road as the
result of such violation.
SECTION 9 SAVINGS
If any provision of this Resolution or its applic�ition to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the Resoltrtion or the application fo the provision to other persons or circtnnstances shall not
be afFected.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLV�D, this Resolution is passed and adopted and s11a11 be
effective and enforced on and after the 1 st Day of Januarv , 2009 , and shall be
published in the official County newspaper.
DATED this � 7� day of .u.ec e rn�be r, 2008.
Yea ay AUstain
❑ ❑
ATT�ST: � � �
� -������
lerlc of the Board � � �
�
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
GRANT COUNTY, WASIIINGTON
,
Richard Stevens, Chair
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