§ 31-25-10. Fastening of load and covering.
(a) No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering on it is securely fastened so as to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.
(b) No motor truck trailer or semitrailer which is used for the purpose of hauling logs, pulpwood, lumber, or other materials which by their very nature may shift or roll so as to be likely to fall from the vehicle, shall be operated or moved over any highway unless its load is securely fastened to the vehicle by chains, cables, or other approved devices as will effectively prevent the shifting of the load or any part of it falling from the vehicle. The ends of the chains, cables, or other devices and any tire chains shall be tied securely, whether the vehicle is loaded or unloaded, so that loose ends shall not endanger pedestrians or other vehicles encountered on the highway.
(c) This section shall not be construed to include a truck transporting lumber, wood, or sawmill wastes, when transported in a box type body with solid sides, provided that the truck is not loaded higher than its side-boards.
(d) A person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined:
(1) Not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the first violation; and
(2) Not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for any subsequent violations.
(e) No person shall operate a motor truck or other vehicle carrying or transporting any rubbish, refuse, or other debris on any highway without first securely fastening a covering on it to prevent the contents from falling to the highway. No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering on it is securely fastened so as to prevent that covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.
(f) No person shall operate an open motor truck or other similar vehicle while carrying or transporting any child under sixteen (16) years of age without securely fastening the child to prevent them from becoming loose or detached in any manner.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 35, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 31-25-10; P.L. 1966, ch. 270, § 1; P.L. 1973, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1974, ch. 31, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 17, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 271, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 410, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-25 - Size, Weight, and Load Limits
Section 31-25-1. - Compliance with chapter required.
Section 31-25-2. - Vehicles exempt from limitations.
Section 31-25-3. - Maximum width.
Section 31-25-4. - Maximum height.
Section 31-25-5. - Maximum length of single vehicle and load.
Section 31-25-6. - Maximum number and length of coupled vehicles.
Section 31-25-7. - Front and rear extensions of load.
Section 31-25-8. - Pole trailers.
Section 31-25-9. - Prevention of leakage of load.
Section 31-25-10. - Fastening of load and covering.
Section 31-25-11. - Connections between coupled vehicles.
Section 31-25-12. - Flags on tow chains.
Section 31-25-12.1. - Vehicles to be towed in right lane.
Section 31-25-13. - Axle load limit.
Section 31-25-14. - Maximum weight and tandem axles.
Section 31-25-15. - Investigations as to safety of buses, trucks, and trailers.
Section 31-25-16. - Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.
Section 31-25-17. - Identification of trucks and truck-tractors.
Section 31-25-18. - Weighing of suspected overweight vehicles.
Section 31-25-19. - Removal of excess from overweight vehicles.
Section 31-25-20. - Refusal to submit to weighing or removal of excess load.
Section 31-25-21. - Power to permit excess size or weight of loads.
Section 31-25-22. - Application for excess load permit.
Section 31-25-23. - Conditions and restrictions on excess load permits.
Section 31-25-24. - Carrying and inspection of permits.
Section 31-25-25. - Seasonal weight restrictions by local authorities.
Section 31-25-26. - Prohibition of commercial vehicles by local authorities.
Section 31-25-27. - Weight restrictions.
Section 31-25-27.1. - Weight restrictions on the Veterans Memorial Parkway — East Providence.
Section 31-25-27.2. - Weight restrictions on Route 114 — Bristol.
Section 31-25-27.3. - Weight restrictions on Route 114 — Johnston.
Section 31-25-27.4. - Weight restrictions on South Main Street — Coventry.
Section 31-25-27.5. - Weight restrictions on state roadways — East Providence.
Section 31-25-27.6. - Weight restrictions on Route 15 — Armistice Boulevard — Pawtucket.
Section 31-25-27.7. - Weight restrictions on route 114 — Warren.
Section 31-25-27.8. - Weight restrictions within North Smithfield town hall area.
Section 31-25-27.9. - Weight restrictions on Smith Avenue in Smithfield.
Section 31-25-27.10. - Weight restrictions on Forest Avenue and Turner Road — Middletown.
Section 31-25-27.11. - Weight restrictions on Limerock Road — Smithfield and Lincoln.
Section 31-25-27.12. - Commercial vehicles prohibited on Chases Lane in Middletown.
Section 31-25-28. - Liability for damages from oversize or overweight.
Section 31-25-29. - Refuse-hauling vehicles — Exemption from permit.