2020 -- H 7413

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LC004156

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

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

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Caldwell, McEntee, Casimiro, and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2020

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-25-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size,

Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     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; or

     (8) Any vehicle owned or operated by a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation used

exclusively for civic, patriotic, veteran, historic or educational parades, events, displays, or

educational purposes.

     (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.

     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

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     This act would amend the vehicle size, weight, and load limit act by allowing Rhode

Island nonprofit corporations to operate oversized vehicles on holidays and weekends in order to

participate in parades and other civic, patriotic, historic and educational events and displays.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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