CHAPTER 188
An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-1143 of the Code of Virginia and the second enactment of Chapter 864 of the Acts of Assembly of 2008 and to repeal the third enactment of Chapter 738 of the Acts of Assembly of 2007, relating to overweight truck permits in counties that impose a severance tax on coal and gases and overweight permit fees for tank wagon vehicles.
Approved March 27, 2009
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.2-1143 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 46.2-1143. Overweight permits for coal haulers; trucks hauling gravel, sand, crushed stone, or liquids produced from gas or oil wells in certain counties; penalties.
A. The Commissioner and local authorities of cities and towns in their respective jurisdictions, upon written application by the owner or operator of vehicles used exclusively for hauling coal or coal byproducts from a mine or other place of production to a preparation plant, electricity-generation facility, loading dock, or railroad shall issue, without cost, a permit authorizing those vehicles to operate with gross weights in excess of those established in § 46.2-1126 on the conditions set forth in this section.
B. Vehicles with three axles may have a maximum gross weight, when loaded, of no more than 60,000 pounds, a single axle weight of not more than 24,000 pounds and a tandem axle weight of no more than 45,000 pounds. Vehicles with four axles may have a maximum gross weight, when loaded, of no more than 70,000 pounds, a single axle weight of no more than 24,000 pounds, and a tri-axle weight of no more than 50,000 pounds. Vehicles with five axles having no less than 35 feet of axle space between extreme axles may have a maximum gross weight, when loaded, of no more than 90,000 pounds, a single axle weight of no more than 20,000 pounds, and a tandem axle weight of no more than 40,000 pounds. Vehicles with six axles may have a maximum gross weight, when loaded, of no more than 110,000 pounds, a single axle weight of no more than 24,000 pounds, a tandem axle weight of no more than 44,000 pounds, and a tri-axle weight of no more than 54,500 pounds.
C. No load of any vehicle operating under a permit issued according to this section shall rise above the top of the bed of such vehicle, not including extensions of the bed. Three-axle vehicles shall not carry loads in excess of the maximum bed size in cubic feet for such vehicle which shall be computed by a formula of 60,000 pounds minus the weight of the empty truck divided by the average weight of coal. For the purposes of this section, the average weight of coal shall be 52 pounds per cubic foot. Four-axle vehicles shall not carry loads in excess of the maximum bed size for such vehicle which shall be computed by a formula of 70,000 pounds minus the weight of the truck empty divided by the average weight of coal. Five-axle vehicles shall not carry loads in excess of the maximum bed size for such vehicle, which shall be computed by a formula of 90,000 pounds minus the weight of the truck empty divided by the average weight of coal. Six-axle vehicles shall not carry loads in excess of the maximum bed size for such vehicle, which shall be computed by a formula of 110,000 pounds minus the weight of the truck empty divided by the average weight of coal.
D. For the purposes of this section, the term bed shall mean that part of the vehicle used to haul coal. Bed size shall be measured by its interior dimensions with volume expressed in cubic feet. In order to ensure compliance with this section by visual inspection, if the actual bed size of the vehicle exceeds the maximum as provided above, the owner or operator shall be required to paint a horizontal line two inches wide on the sides of the outside of the bed of the vehicle, clearly visible to indicate the uppermost limit of the maximum bed size applicable to the vehicle as provided in this section. In addition, one hole two inches high and six inches long on each side of the bed shall be cut in the center of the bed and at the top of the painted line. Any vehicle in violation of this section shall subject the vehicle's owner or operator or both to a penalty of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense within a 12-month period, and $1,000 and revocation of the permit for a third offense within a 12-month period from the first offense.
E. If the bed of any vehicle is enlarged beyond the maximum bed size for which its permit was granted, or if the line or holes required are altered so that the vehicle exceeds the bed size for which its permit was granted, the owner, operator, or both shall be subject to a penalty of $1,000 for each offense and revocation of the permit. Upon revocation, a permit shall not be reissued for six months. The penalties provided in this section shall be in lieu of those imposed under § 46.2-1135.
F. For any vehicle with a valid permit issued pursuant to the conditions required by this section, when carrying loads which do not rise above the top of the bed or the line indicating the bed's maximum size, if applicable, it shall be, in the absence of proof to the contrary, prima facie evidence that the load is within the applicable weight limits. If any vehicle is stopped by enforcement officials for carrying a load rising above the top of the bed or the line indicating the bed's maximum size, the operator of the vehicle shall be permitted to shift his load within the bed to determine whether the load can be contained in the bed without rising above its top or above the line.
G. No such permit shall be valid for the operation of any such vehicle for a distance of more than 85 miles within the Commonwealth of Virginia from the preparation plant, loading dock, or railroad.
Until July 1, 2009 2010, in counties that impose
a severance tax on coal and gases as authorized by § 58.1-3712, the weight
limits prescribed in subsection B of this section shall also apply to trucks
hauling gravel, sand, or crushed stone no more than 50 miles from origin to
destination. Nothing contained in this subsection shall authorize any extension
of weight limits provided in § 46.2-1127 for operation on interstate highways.
Any weight violation hauling sand, gravel, or crushed stone under this
subsection shall be subject to the penalties authorized by § 46.2-1135.
H. In counties that impose a severance tax on coal and gases as authorized by § 58.1-3712, the weight limits prescribed in subsection B shall also apply to motor vehicles hauling liquids produced from a gas or oil well and water used for drilling and completion of a gas or oil well no more than 50 miles from origin to destination. Nothing contained in this subsection shall authorize any extension of weight limits provided in § 46.2-1127 for operation on interstate highways. Any weight violation involving hauling liquids produced from a gas or oil well and water used for drilling and completion of a gas or oil well under this subsection shall be subject to the penalties authorized by § 46.2-1135.
2. That the second enactment of Chapter 864 of the Acts of Assembly of 2008 is amended and reenacted as follows:
2. That from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, the
annual overweight permit fee for each eligible tank wagon vehicle shall
be $800 for each eligible vehicle. Such vehicles shall pay an annual
overweight permit fee of $265 from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009 until
further comprehensive legislation addressing fees for overweight vehicles is
enacted. The Commonwealth Transportation Board, in consultation with the
Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall establish a fee
structure that shall become effective on July 1, 2009, based on the results of
a study of overweight vehicles.
3. That the third enactment of Chapter 738 of the Acts of Assembly of 2007 is repealed.