CHAPTER 476

AN ACT to amend and reenact §§ 46-828, 46-884 and 46-889 of the Code of
Virginia, relating to the maximum size and weight of motor vehicles;
and to repeal § 46-886 of the Code of Virginia. rs 201]

Approved March 30, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 46-328, 46-334 and 46-339 of the Code of Virginia be amended
and reenacted as follows:

§ 46-328. Length.—No passenger bus shall exceed a length of thirty-
tive feet and no other motor vehicle a length of thirty-five feet; provided,
however, the State Highway Commission may, by general or special order,
which may be amended or rescinded from time to time, increase the length
of passenger busses * to forty feet. The actual length of any combination
of vehicles coupled together shall not exceed a total of * fifty feet, * in-
cluding the load thereon; and no tolerance shall be allowed thereon; pro-
vided, however, that the State Highway Commission in cases of emergency
may issue a special permit for combinations in excess of * fifty feet *,
where the object or objects to be carried cannot be moved otherwise;
and provided, further, that passenger busses in excess of thirty-five feet
but not exceeding forty feet, may be operated on the streets of incorporated
cities and towns when authorized pursuant to § 46-198. The Commissioner
of the Division of Motor Vehicles is hereby authorized to register and
license such busses. .

ad 46-334. Weight of vehicles and loads.—The maximum gross weight
* and axle weight to be permitted on the road surface of any highway shall
be tn accordance with the provisions of this section.

(1) For the purposes of this section an axle load shall be defined as
the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers may be
included between two parallel transverse vertical planes forty inches apart,
extending across the full width of the vehicle and all wheels thereof that
are equipped with brakes in conformity with §§ 46-288 to 46-286.

(2) The azle load of any vehicle or combination shall not exceed
eighteen thousand pounds, nor shall it exceed six hundred fifty pounds per
inch, width of tire, measured in contact with the surface of the highway.

(8) No group of axles shall carry a load in pounds in excess of the
value given in the following table corresponding to the distance in feet
between the extreme axles of the group, measured longitudinally to the
nearest foot:

Distance in feet between Maximum load in pounds
the extremes of any carried on any group
group of axles of axles

(4) Provided, however, that motor vehicles which are registered in
this State prior to July first, nineteen hundred and fifty-six may be per-
mitted to operate under (a) the preceding paragraphs of this section in
conformity therewith or (b) under the provisions of the statutes of this
State in force on January first, nineteen hundred and fifty-six but such
operation shall only be permissible during the period in which the motor
vehicle remains in operating condition. When such vehicle ceases to be
operable the option to operate under this provision shall terminate. All
vehicles, operation of which is desired under the provisions of subsection
(b) of this paragraph, shall be registered with the State Department of
Highways and obtain a permit, without cost, so to do.

(5) Whenever in the judgment of the State Highway Commission it
would promote the safety of travel or is necessary for the protection of any
highway or section of highway or bridge constituting a part of the State
Highway System or the secondary system of State Highways from undue
damage or strain the State Highway Commision may prescribe the weight,
width, height, length or speed of any vehicle or combination of vehicles
passing over such highway or section of highway or bridge less than those
prescribed by this section.

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 of Virginia or any of them, of a greater size, weight, or
load limit than may be prescribed as hereinabove provided, then the Com-
mission may prescribe a similar size, weight and load limit for vehicles
operated in intrastate commerce over the same highways.

§ 46-339. Permits for excessive size and weight.—The State Highway
Commission and local authorities of cities and towns in their respective
jurisdictions may, in their discretion, upon application in writing and good
cause being shown therefor, issue a special permit in writing authorizing
the applicant to operate or move a vehicle upon the highway of a size or
weight exceeding the maximum specified in this title. Every such permit
may designate the route to be traversed and contain any other restrictions
or conditions deemed necessary by the body granting such permit.

Provided, however, the State Highway Commission and local author-
ities of cities and towns, in their respective jurisdictions, upon application
in writing made by the owner or operator of three axle vehicles used ex-
clusively for the mixing of concrete in transit or other three axle trucks
hauling road construction materials and having a gross weight not exceed-
ing forty-three thousand and nine hundred pounds, a single axle weight
not exceeding eighteen thousand pounds, and a tandem azle weight not
exceeding thirty-two thousand pounds, shall issue to such owner or
operator, without cost, a permit in writing authorizing the operation of
such vehicles upon the highways. No such permit shall designate the route
to be traversed nor contain restrictions or conditions not applicable to
other vehicles in their general use of the highways.

Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle to which it refers and
shall be open to inspection by any officer and it shall be a misdemeanor
for any person to violate any of the terms or conditions of such special
permit.

2. That § 46-336 of the Code of Virginia is repealed.