Chap. 209.—An ACT to provide for the fixing of maximum weights of motor
vehicles or combination of vehicles by the State Highway Commission; to
provide for the establishment and posting of signs on highways, public bridges,
causeways and viaducts; and to provide penalties for violations of the pro-
visions of this act. [H B 321]

Approved March 27, 1934

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That in addi-
tion to other powers vested in it by law, the State Highway Commission
may, when in its judgment it is advisable so to do, in order to protect
such highway or section thereof, public bridge, causeway or viaduct
from undue damage or strain, determine and fix the maximum weight
of any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles to be operated over
any public highway or section thereof, public bridge, causeway or via-
duct in this State, at less than the maximums otherwise provided by law,
and in such cases shall cause conspicuous signs to be posted on or at
the approach to such public highways or sections thereof, public bridges,
causeways or viaducts, as the case may be, plainly indicating the maxi-
mum weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles permitted to be
operated thereon, or such of them as are less than such maximum other-
wise provided by law. ,

It shall be unlawful to operate a motor vehicle or combination of
vehicles over or upon any public highway or section thereof, public
bridge, causeway or viaduct in this State when the weight thereof ex-
ceeds the maximum so posted by or upon the authority of the State
Highway Commission.
Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this act
shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten ($10.00) dollars nor more
than five hundred ($500.00) dollars or by confinement in jail for not
less than one day nor more than six months, or both, and the motor
vehicle or combination of vehicles so operated may be held upon an
order of the court until all fines and costs have been satisfied.

This act shall not be construed to apply in cases when it is proven
by the person accused of the violation thereof that the journey upon
which such motor vehicle or combination of vehicles was then engaged
originated or was intended to terminate upon the section of highway
upon which it was then traveling, and upon which the maximum weight
had been lessened under the provision of this act, and that such person
had no other public road free of such restrictions upon which he might
have operated such motor vehicle or combination of vehicles from the
point of origin of the journey or to the destination, as the case may be.