§ 31-25-2. Vehicles exempt from limitations.
(a) The provisions of this chapter governing size, weight, and load shall not apply to:
(1) Road machinery;
(2) Farm vehicles, including farm tractors, temporarily moved upon a highway;
(3) Any vehicle owned and operated by the Rhode Island public transit authority that is designed for carrying passengers and is comprised of two (2) sections permanently joined by a hinge mechanism or an articulated joint that allows vertical and horizontal movement and a passage for riders moving from one section to the other;
(4) A vehicle operated under the terms of a special permit issued as provided in this chapter;
(5) Covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicles;
(6) Emergency vehicles with a weight limit of up to a maximum gross vehicle weight of eighty-six thousand pounds (86,000 lbs.) or less than twenty-four thousand pounds (24,000 lbs.) on a single steering axle; thirty-three thousand five hundred pounds (33,500 lbs.) on a single-drive axle; sixty-two thousand pounds (62,000 lbs.) on a tandem axle; or fifty-two thousand pounds (52,000 lbs.) on a tandem rear drive steer axle; or
(7) Natural gas vehicles up to a maximum gross vehicle weight of eighty-two thousand pounds (82,000 lbs.) by an amount that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system carried by that vehicle; and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.
(b) The provisions of this chapter governing size, weight, and load shall not apply to fire apparatus acquired by a city or town within this state prior to July 1, 1999.
(c) Nothing in this section shall permit these vehicles to travel over any structure, highway, or portion of highway that is weight restricted for the vehicle load.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 35, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 31-25-2; P.L. 1983, ch. 236, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 209, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 39, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 45, § 2; 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.