HB303: Overweight permits; Issuance for haulers of farm animal feed.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-1144.2 as follows:
§ 46.2-1144.2. Overweight permits for haulers of farm animal feed.
The Commissioner, upon written application and payment of an annual fee of $265 by the owner or operator of certain vehicles used exclusively for hauling farm animal feed, shall issue overweight permits for operation of said vehicles. Permits shall be issued under this section only for specially designed, five-axle tractor-trailer combinations with bulk feed compartments and at least 51 feet of axle spacing between the first and last axle. Such permits shall not be combined with any other overweight permits or extension of weight limits.
The overweight permit fees shall be dedicated to and deposited into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund.
The Commissioner may also assess a separate application fee for applications pursuant to this section that covers the administrative expenses of the Department. Funds from the application fee are to be designated as specified in § 46.2-1149.3.
No permit issued under this section shall authorize a tandem axle weight of more than 37,400 pounds or a total gross weight in excess of 84,000 pounds. Permits issued under this section shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. No permit issued under this section shall designate the route to be traversed or contain restrictions or conditions not applicable to other vehicles in their general use of the highways. However, no such permit shall authorize violation of any weight limitation, promulgated and posted in accordance with § 46.2-1130, applicable to bridges or culverts.