28-1103

28-1103. Excess size and weight special
permits; definition

A. Subject to section 28-1104, subsection E, on application in writing and for good
cause, the director with respect to highways under the jurisdiction of the department and
a local authority with respect to highways under its jurisdiction may issue a special
permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination
of vehicles of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in
this article or otherwise not in conformity with this chapter on any highway under the
jurisdiction of the party granting the permit and for the maintenance of which the party
is responsible.

B. A special permit may be issued for the movement of overdimensional and
overweight loads that is subject to department rules for overdimensional and overweight
loads. The director shall adopt rules for overdimensional and overweight loads. The
director may establish fees to cover all or part of the cost of review and analysis of
requests for overdimensional and overweight load permits. The department shall collect
the fees, in addition to the special permit fee provided by this section.

C. Subject to this section, the director or local authority may issue the following
special permits that are valid for one year and that may be limited by the director or
local authority:

1. A special permit authorizing the applicant to transport a load by means of a
truck or truck tractor, a semitrailer and one full trailer combination, if all of the
following conditions are met:

(a) The combination does not exceed one hundred eleven thousand pounds of gross
vehicle weight.

(b) The axle weight limitations are subject to sections 28-1099 and 28-1100.

(c) The vehicle combination is traveling within twenty miles of the borders of this
state and an adjacent state that allows such combinations of length and gross vehicle
weight.

2. Except on the national intercity truck route network as designated by the United
States secretary of transportation as required by the surface transportation assistance
act of 1982, a special permit authorizing the applicant to transport a load by means of a
truck or truck tractor, a semitrailer and not more than two trailers if all of the
following conditions are met:

(a) The overall length of the cargo carrying unit of the vehicle combination does
not exceed ninety-five feet.

(b) The axle weight limitations conform to sections 28-1099 and 28-1100.

(c) The overall gross weight of the vehicle combination does not exceed one hundred
twenty-one thousand pounds for nine axles or one hundred twenty-three thousand five
hundred pounds for ten axles.

(d) The vehicle combination is traveling on either:

(i) Portions of an alternate state route that is located within four miles of and
extends to the border of this state and an adjacent state that allows vehicle
combinations of a truck or a truck tractor, a semitrailer and two trailers or
semitrailers.

(ii) A state route that extends at least ten miles through an Indian reservation,
does not cross the Colorado river and is located within twenty miles of and extends to
the border of this state and an adjacent state that allows two trailers or semitrailers.

3. On application in writing by an owner of a watercraft as defined in section
5-301 and on good cause shown, a special excess width permit for a fee of forty-five
dollars for each watercraft covered by the permit that:

(a) Authorizes the owner to move a vehicle loaded with the watercraft on a highway
under the jurisdiction of the issuer if all of the following conditions exist:

(i) The total outside width of the vehicle and watercraft does not exceed ten feet.

(ii) The vehicle loaded with the watercraft is otherwise in conformity with the
limitations prescribed by this chapter.

(iii) The watercraft is properly registered with the Arizona game and fish
department.

(b) Contains the watercraft registration number.

D. The director may issue a special excess width permit for the operation of a
vehicle with a reducible load only if both:

1. The load exceeds the width limitation prescribed in this section.

2. The load does not exceed ten feet in width.

E. Subject to this section and on receipt of an application, the director or local
authority shall issue a permit that is valid for one year and that authorizes the
commercial movement of recreational vehicles as defined in section 41-2142 that exceed
the size restrictions prescribed in this article. There is no limit on the number of
movements generated or the number of vehicles moved by the permittee under a permit
issued pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding section 28-1104, additional permit
requirements shall not be imposed on the commercial movement of these recreational
vehicles if the recreational vehicles comply with section 28-1093, subsection D.

F. If a local authority issues permits pursuant to this section, the local
authority shall provide to the department in a timely manner in an electronic format
prescribed by the director all current ordinances and rules of the local authority
relating to the permits. The department shall make the ordinances and rules available to
the public in an electronic format.

G. The department is immune from liability for providing to the public a local
authority's ordinances or rules relating to permits issued by the local authority
pursuant to this section if the department relies on the information submitted by the
local authority in good faith.

H. For the purposes of this section, "cargo carrying unit" means any portion of a
commercial motor vehicle combination used for the carrying of cargo, including a trailer,
a semitrailer or the cargo carrying section of a single unit truck. Cargo carrying unit
does not include the truck or truck tractor.