2017 -- S 0721

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LC002414

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD LIMITS--

MIDDLETOWN

     Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

     Date Introduced: April 06, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-25 of the General Laws entitled "Size, Weight, and Load

Limits" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-25-27.10. Weight restrictions on Forest Avenue - Middletown.

     (a) The operation of through commercial vehicles on Forest Avenue is prohibited.

     (b) For purposes of this section, a commercial vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle or

combination of vehicles used to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle:

     (1) Has a gross combination weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds (26,001

lbs.) or more, or a towed unit with a gross vehicle rating of more than ten thousand pounds

(10,000 lbs.) or more, or has a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds

(26,001 lbs.) or more; or

     (2) Is designed to transport sixteen (16) or more passengers including the driver; or

     (3) Is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with

49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F, as it may be revised from time to time.

     (c) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the use of such streets or highways by:

     (1) Any fire truck, town public works department truck, police vehicle, ambulance or

other motor truck using such streets or highways in any emergency or engaged in delivering

goods, wares, merchandising or materials to or from any residence, building or lot within the

town bordering on such streets or highways; or

     (2) Any farm vehicle as defined in §31-1-8, which is registered with farm plates pursuant

to §31-3-31.

     (d) In all instances where motor vehicle traffic is restricted or prohibited under this

section, the town administrator is directed to cause signs to be erected on such streets or highways

giving notice of such, in accordance with the manual on uniform traffic control devices.

     (e) Any driver who operates a commercial vehicle in contravention of this section shall

be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for a first violation, fifty dollars

($50.00) for a second violation, and not less than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125), but no

more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each subsequent violation.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD LIMITS--

MIDDLETOWN

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     This act would impose size and weight restrictions on through traffic on Forest Avenue,

Middletown.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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