CHAPTER 218

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.1-845, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to reduction of certain limits by the Highway Com-
missioner and local authorities.

[H 398]

Approved March 13, 1968

‘Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.1-345, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 46.1-345. The State Highway Commissioner, acting through dis-
trict or resident engineers, may prescribe the weight, width, height,
length or speed of any vehicle or combination of vehicles passing over
any highway or section of highway or bridge constituting a part of the
State Highway System, Interstate System of Highways or Secondary
System of State Highways less than those prescribed in this title when-
ever an engineering study discloses that it would promote the safety of
travel or is necessary for the protection of any such highway.

If the reduction of limits * as herein provided is to be effective for
a period exceeding ninety days, the State Highway Commissioner shall
prescribe such reduction in writing which shall be kept on file at the
central office of the Department of Highways; provided, the reduction
of any * limit as herein provided is under the jurisdiction of the State
Highway Commissioner. In instances where the limits, including speed
limits, are to be temporarily reduced, the resident engineer for the Depart-
ment of Highways in the county wherein such road is situate shall imme-
diately notify the Chief Engineer for the Department of Highways at the
central office in Richmond of such reduction, who shall either affirm or
rescind the action of reducing such limits within five days from the date
the limits have been posted as hereinafter provided. A list of all roads
whereon there has been a reduction of limits as herein provided shall be
kept on file at the central office of the Department of Highways. _ Anyone

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Highway Commissioner for redress, and if the State Highway Commis-
sioner affirms the action of reducing such limits * the State Highway
Commission shall afford any such aggrieved person the opportunity of
being heard at its next regular meeting.

The local authorities of cities, towns and counties, where the high-
ways or streets are under their jurisdiction, may adopt rules and regula-
tions or pass ordinances, as the case may be, decreasing the weight limits
prescribed in this title for a total period not to exceed ninety days in any
calendar year, when an engineering study discloses that operation over
such highways or streets by reason of deterioration, rain, snow or other
climatic conditions will seriously damage such highways or streets unless
such weights are reduced.

In all instances where the limits for weight, size or speed have been
reduced by the State Highway Commissioner or the weights have been
reduced by local authorities, pursuant to this section, signs stating the
weight, height, width, length or speed, as the case may be, permitted on
such highway or street, shall be erected at each end of the section of
highway or street affected and no such reduced limits shall be effective
until such signs have been posted.

It shall be unlawful to operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles
over or upon any public highway, street or section thereof when the
weight, size or speed thereof exceeds the maximum posted by authority
of the State Highway Commissioner or local authorities pursuant to this
section.

Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this section
shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than five
hundred dollars or be confined in jail for not less than one day nor more
than six months, or both, and the vehicle or combination of vehicles
involved in such violation may be held upon an order of the court until
all fines and cost have been satisfied.