§ 31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall insert in the registration card issued for a vehicle the gross weight for which it is registered. If it is a truck tractor to be used for propelling semi-trailers, he or she shall separately insert the total permissible gross weight of the truck tractor and semi-trailers to be propelled by it. It shall be unlawful for any carrier to operate or permit to be operated any vehicle or combination of vehicles of a gross weight in excess of that registered by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, permitted by the department of transportation, or in excess of the limitations set forth in this chapter.
(b) For the purposes of this chapter, “carrier” means and includes any company or person who furthers their commercial or private enterprise by use of the vehicle.
(c)(1) Penalties for violations of this section will be calculated on the legal weight in comparison to the actual weight and shall be heard and adjudicated at the traffic tribunal.
(2) The overweight penalties for vehicles with ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight or less shall be eighty-five dollars ($85.00) per thousand pounds overweight or portion of it.
(3) The overweight penalties for vehicles exceeding ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per five hundred pounds (500 lbs.) overweight or portion of it.
(4) The overweight penalty for vehicles being operated in excess of one hundred four thousand, eight hundred pounds (104,800 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be one thousand twenty-five dollars ($1,025) in addition to the penalties enumerated in subsection (c)(3) of this section.
(5) The overweight penalty for vehicles being operated in excess of one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) in addition to the penalties enumerated in subsection (c)(3) of this section.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 35, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 31-25-16; P.L. 1983, ch. 213, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 437, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 445, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 287, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 126, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 218, art. 6, § 13; P.L. 2002, ch. 58, § 5; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 12, § 11; P.L. 2022, ch. 178, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 179, § 1, effective June 27, 2022.
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.