Section 30A. The owner or lessee of any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, which may lawfully be operated on the ways of this commonwealth may apply to the commissioner of highways for a permit authorizing the operation of such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit upon any state highway or way determined by the department of highways to be a through route when the weight of such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit together with its load would exceed the weight limitations prescribed by section thirty or by the provisions of chapter ninety. No such application shall be approved by the commissioner of highways if the weight sought in such application exceeds either the weight of such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit, together with its load, for which such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit is registered, or the gross vehicle weight rating established by a manufacturer of such vehicle or otherwise established in accordance with the provisions of section nineteen D of chapter ninety. All such applications shall be made on forms provided by the commissioner of highways which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) The make, model and year of the motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit to which the permit is to apply, including the said gross vehicle weight rating and the weight for which it is registered.
(2) The name, business address and residential address, if any, of the owner or lessee of the motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit.
(3) The name and address of the insurer of the motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit.
(4) The maximum weight sought for such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit.
(5) The period of time for which such permit is sought, which shall not exceed one year from the date on which it is issued by the commissioner of highways.
Within seven days after his receipt of such application, the commissioner of highways shall notify the applicant of the approval or disapproval of his application. If the application is disapproved, the commissioner of highways shall notify the applicant, in writing, setting forth his reasons for such disapproval. If the application is approved, the commissioner of highways shall issue to the applicant written evidence of such approval, and the form of such approval shall set forth a description of the motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit and its owner or lessee as provided in (1) through (4) above, the maximum weight allowed under such permit, and the expiration date of such permit. Such permit may be issued to allow the operation of any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit having three axles which with its load weighs not more than seventy-three thousand pounds, or any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit having four axles which with its load weighs not more than eighty-seven thousand pounds, or any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit having five or more axles which with its load weighs not more than ninety-nine thousand pounds, but such permit shall not allow the operation of any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit which with its load exceeds either the weight for which such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit is registered or the said gross vehicle weight rating. The commissioner of highways may, however, issue under such conditions and limitations as he shall prescribe, special permits for the carrying of so-called irreducible loads with weights greater than those provided in the preceding sentence, except that the weight authorized by such irreducible load permit shall not exceed the weight for which the motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit is registered.
Application for a special permit under this section may be approved, and a permit may be issued, to allow the operation of a vehicle for a weight in excess of the weight for which such vehicle is registered if such vehicle is owned or leased by a carrier not domiciled in this commonwealth. In connection with the issuance of a permit to a vehicle owned or leased by a carrier that is not domiciled in this commonwealth, the commissioner of highways may collect a reasonable fee therefor based upon the difference between the weight for which the permit is issued and the weight for which the vehicle is registered, but in no event shall such fee exceed the registration fee that would be collected from a carrier domiciled in this commonwealth to register a vehicle for such weight differential. The receipts from such fee shall be deposited into the highway fund.
No motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit which is the subject of any such permit issued by the commissioner of highways, other than a permit for the carrying of said so-called irreducible loads, shall be operated on any public way until the registrar of motor vehicles shall have issued to the owner or lessee thereof the permit sticker as provided in section nineteen D of chapter ninety.
A conviction of a violation of this section or of sections seventeen, nineteen, or nineteen A of chapter ninety arising out of the operation of any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit for which such permit, other than a permit for the carrying of said so-called irreducible loads, has been issued shall be reported forthwith by the court to the registrar of motor vehicles, who shall, if such conviction is a second or subsequent conviction of such a violation within twelve months, immediately revoke the permit sticker and certificate issued to the owner or lessee under section nineteen D of chapter ninety; and the registrar of motor vehicles shall forthwith report such violation and such revocation to the commissioner of highways, who shall immediately revoke the permit issued for such vehicle to such owner or lessee, and no new permit for such vehicle shall be issued for a period of not less than ninety days from the date of the revocation of the permit. The commissioner of highways may, after a prior hearing, suspend or revoke for cause any permit issued by him under this section, and in the event of such revocation, shall forthwith notify the registrar of motor vehicles, who shall immediately revoke the permit sticker and certificate issued under section nineteen D of chapter ninety. Upon the revocation of any such permit or sticker, the owner or lessee of such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit shall immediately return his copy of such permit certificate to the registrar of motor vehicles under section nineteen D of chapter ninety, and shall immediately remove such permit sticker from any such motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or semi-trailer unit.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Chapter 85 - Regulations and By-Laws Relative to Ways and Bridges
Section 1 - Direction Signs; Erection and Maintenance by Cities and Towns
Section 2 - Traffic Signs or Devices; Erection and Maintenance; Rules and Regulations
Section 2a - Removal of Vehicles Interfering With Snow and Ice Removal
Section 2b - Limited Access and Express State Highways; Regulation of Use
Section 2c - Towing of Vehicles From State Highways
Section 2d - Signs on State Highways Indicating Availability of Certain Services
Section 3 - Change of Name of Ways or Parks; Appeal
Section 3a - Approval of Name for Way Other Than Public Way in City or Town
Section 3b - Changing of Name of Way
Section 4 - Construction of Sidewalks by Adjoining Landowners
Section 5 - Removal of Snow and Ice From Sidewalks by Abutting Landowners; Penalties
Section 6 - Assessment of Cost of Removal of Snow and Ice From Sidewalks
Section 7 - Exemption From Assessment by Agreement of Owner to Remove Snow and Ice
Section 7a - Storage and Use of Snow Removal Chemicals; Regulations; Reports; Penalty
Section 7b - Depositing Snow on State Highways
Section 8 - Permits for Signs and Other Structures Projecting Into or Over Ways
Section 9 - Permits; Exemption of Certain Structures
Section 9a - Flashing Lights on Billboards, etc.; Discontinuance Orders; Penalties; Exceptions
Section 10 - Regulation of Use of Ways; Penalties
Section 10a - Coasting on Ways in Cities
Section 11 - Arrest Without Warrant for Driving at Excessive Speed
Section 11b.5 - Mandatory Helmet Use for Persons 16 Years of Age or Younger
Section 11d - Bicycle Helmets; Display of Sign Requiring Use
Section 11e - Traffic Law Violations by Bicyclist
Section 14a - Funeral Processions
Section 14b - Flares; Use by Certain Commercial Vehicles
Section 15 - Lights on Vehicles
Section 16 - Duty of Driver at Night to Give Name to Officer on Request
Section 17 - Penalty for Violation of Sec. 15 or 16
Section 17a - Soliciting From Vehicles on Public Ways
Section 17b - Riding on Rear or Side of Street Railway Car, Motor Bus or Trackless Trolley
Section 18 - Moving of Buildings in Public Way
Section 19 - Leading, Driving, or Conveying Dangerous Wild Animals on Public Ways
Section 20 - Regulation of Speed on County Bridges
Section 21 - Regulation of Speed on Town Bridges
Section 21a - Warning Signs on State Highways for Protection of School Children
Section 22 - Regulation of Speed on Incorporated Bridges
Section 23 - Regulation of Travel on State Ways; Penalties
Section 24 - Posting of Regulations on Bridges
Section 25 - Jurisdiction of District Court Over Bridges
Section 27 - Duties of Draw Tender
Section 28 - Liability of Owners of Vessel for Injury to Bridge
Section 29 - Removal of Vessel Obstructing Draw
Section 31 - Speed of Heavy Vehicles With Metallic Tires
Section 32 - Penalties for Violations of Secs. 30, 30a, and 31
Section 33 - Scope of Secs. 30 to 32
Section 34 - Protection of Bridges From Heavy Loads
Section 36 - Construction and Loading of Vehicles to Prevent Dropping of Load on Way; Penalty
Section 37 - Indemnity Provision in Motor Carrier Transportation Contracts Void and Unenforceable