(a) Gross, axle and wheel weights.--No bus shall be operated upon any highway with a gross weight in excess of 73,280 pounds, or with a weight on any axle in excess of the lesser of the manufacturer's rated axle capacity or 22,400 pounds on any single axle. Buses operated upon interstate highways shall not have a weight on any axle in excess of 20,000 pounds. No bus shall be operated on a highway with a weight upon any wheel in excess of 800 pounds on any one wheel for each nominal inch of width of tire on the wheel.
(b) Seating capacity load.--A bus shall not be operated on a highway with a load exceeding by more than 25% its registered seating capacity except when operated within a business or residence district. A child under the age of six years shall not be counted when computing the load on the bus.
(c) Penalties.--Any person owning or operating a bus with a gross weight or with weight on any axle or wheel exceeding by more than 5% the maximum allowed in subsection (a) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $100. If the excess weight is more than 10% above the maximum weight allowed, the fine shall be $300. Any person in violation of subsection (b) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $100.
(June 6, 1979, P.L.39, No.12, eff. imd.; Oct. 10, 1980, P.L.791, No.147, eff. imd.)
1980 Amendment. Act 147 amended subsec. (a).
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 49 - Size, Weight and Load
Section 4901 - Scope and application of chapter
Section 4902 - Restrictions on use of highways and bridges
Section 4903 - Securing loads in vehicles
Section 4904 - Limits on number of towed vehicles
Section 4905 - Safety requirements for towed vehicles
Section 4906 - Fire apparatus and emergency vehicles
Section 4907 - Penalty for violation of chapter
Section 4908 - Operation of certain combinations on interstate and certain other highways
Section 4908.1 - Operation of motor homes on interstate and certain other highways (Repealed)
Section 4909 - Transporting foodstuffs in vehicles used to transport waste
Section 4921 - Width of vehicles
Section 4922 - Height of vehicles
Section 4923 - Length of vehicles
Section 4924 - Limitations on length of projecting loads
Section 4925 - Width of projecting loads on passenger vehicles
Section 4941 - Maximum gross weight of vehicles
Section 4942 - Registered gross weight
Section 4943 - Maximum axle weight of vehicles
Section 4944 - Maximum wheel load
Section 4945 - Penalties for exceeding maximum weights
Section 4946 - Impoundment of vehicles for nonpayment of overweight fines (Repealed)
Section 4947 - Disposition of impounded vehicles and loads (Repealed)
Section 4948 - Maximum weight and seating capacity of buses
Section 4949 - Application to tow trucks
Section 4961 - Authority to issue permits
Section 4962 - Conditions of permits and security for damages
Section 4963 - Exemptions for vehicles used in State highway construction or maintenance
Section 4964 - Oral authorization following emergency or accident
Section 4965 - Single permits for multiple highway crossings
Section 4966 - Permit for movement of quarry equipment
Section 4967 - Permit for movement of implements of husbandry (Repealed)
Section 4968 - Permit for movement during course of manufacture
Section 4969 - Permit for movement of vehicles with oversize wheels and tires (Repealed)
Section 4970 - Permit for movement of construction equipment
Section 4971 - Permit for operation of chemical and fertilizer vehicles (Deleted by amendment)
Section 4972 - Permits for migrant farm vehicles (Repealed)
Section 4974 - Permit for movement of containerized cargo
Section 4975 - Permit for movement of special mobile equipment
Section 4976 - Permit for movement of domestic animal feed and whole or unprocessed grain
Section 4976.1 - Permit for movement of live domestic animals
Section 4976.2 - Permit for movement of eggs
Section 4977 - Permit for movement of wooden structures
Section 4978 - Permit for movement of building structural components
Section 4979.1 - Permit for movement of bulk refined oil
Section 4979.2 - Permit for movement of waste coal, beneficial combustion ash or limestone
Section 4979.4 - Permit for movement of self-propelled cranes
Section 4979.5 - Permit for movement of nonhazardous liquid glue
Section 4979.6 - Permit for movement of waste tires
Section 4981 - Weighing and measurement of vehicles
Section 4982 - Reducing or readjusting loads of vehicles
Section 4983 - Penalty for failure to obey police officer (Repealed)