CHAPTER 422

An Act to amend and re-enact § 46-336 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to increase of maximum weights on certain highways. 'S 262
]

Approved April 3, 1954
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

a That § 46-336 of the Code of Virginia be amended and re-enacted as
ollows:

§ 46-336. Increase of maximum weights on certain highways.—The
State Highway Commission may, by general or special order, which may
be amended or rescinded from time to time, increase the maximum weights
permitted on the road surface of certain highways, or parts thereof, such
as in the opinion of the Commission are capable, from the standpoint of
the design, strength and condition, of carrying such maximum weights as
prescribed in this section.

(1) For the purposes of this section an axle load shall be defined as
the total load on all wheels bearing upon the road surface whose axle
centers are not more than forty-eight inches apart.

(2) For the purpose of determining gross weight, no axle shall be
considered unless the wheels thereof are equipped with brakes in con-
formity with § 46-283 to 46-286.

(3) Subject to the foregoing limitations, the gross weight of any
vehicle, or combination of vehicles, having three axles, six wheels or more,
shall not exceed forty thousand pounds, nor shall the axle weight of any
such vehicle, or combination, exceed eighteen thousand pounds.

(4) Subject to the foregoing limitations, the gross weight of any
vehicle, or combination of vehicles, having four axles, eight wheels or
more, shall not exceed fifty thousand pounds, nor shall the axle weight of
any such vehicle, or combination, exceed eighteen thousand pounds.

(5) Subject to the foregoing limitations, the gross weight of any pas-
senger carrying motor bus or of any motor trucks having only two axles
not less than twelve (12) feet apart and having not less than six tires, shall
not exceed thirty-six thousand pounds, nor shall the axle weight of any
such vehicle exceed eighteen thousand pounds.

And in the event a valid regulation of interstate commerce, recognized
by the State Highway Commission, permits the use in interstate commerce
over the highways in Virginia, or any of them, of a greater size, weight
or load limit than may be prescribed as hereinabove provided, then the
Commission may prescribe a similar size, weight and load limit for vehi-
cles operated in intrastate commerce over the same highways.