State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > California > Veh > 35550-35558

VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 35550-35558



35550.  (a) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels
on any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the
gross weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an
axle, and resting upon the roadway, shall not exceed 10,500 pounds.
   (b) The gross weight limit provided for weight bearing upon any
one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle shall not apply
to vehicles the loads of which consist of livestock.
   (c) The maximum wheel load is the lesser of the following:
   (1) The load limit established by the tire manufacturer, as molded
on at least one sidewall of the tire.
   (2) A load of 620 pounds per lateral inch of tire width, as
determined by the manufacturer's rated tire width as molded on at
least one sidewall of the tire for all axles except the steering
axle, in which case paragraph (1) applies.



35551.  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or Section
35551.5, the total gross weight in pounds imposed on the highway by
any group of two or more consecutive axles shall not exceed that
given for the respective distance in the following table:

  Distance in
  feet     between
  the extremes
  of any group
  of 2 or more
  consecutive
  _____________________________________________________
    axles   2 axles  3 axles  4 axles  5 axles  6 axles
  4 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  5 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  6 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  7 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  8 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  9.......  39,000   42,500   42,500   42,500   42,500
  10 .....  40,000   43,500   43,500   43,500   43,500
  11 .....  40,000   44,000   44,000   44,000   44,000
  12 .....  40,000   45,000   50,000   50,000   50,000
  13 .....  40,000   45,500   50,500   50,500   50,500
  14 .....  40,000   46,500   51,500   51,500   51,500
  15 .....  40,000   47,000   52,000   52,000   52,000
  16 .....  40,000   48,000   52,500   52,500   52,500
  17 .....  40,000   48,500   53,500   53,500   53,500
  18 .....  40,000   49,500   54,000   54,000   54,000
  19 .....  40,000   50,000   54,500   54,500   54,500
  20 .....  40,000   51,000   55,500   55,500   55,500
  21 .....  40,000   51,500   56,000   56,000   56,000
  22 .....  40,000   52,500   56,500   56,500   56,500
  23 .....  40,000   53,000   57,500   57,500   57,500
  24 .....  40,000   54,000   58,000   58,000   58,000
  25 .....  40,000   54,500   58,500   58,500   58,500
  26 .....  40,000   55,500   59,500   59,500   59,500
  27 .....  40,000   56,000   60,000   60,000   60,000
  28 .....  40,000   57,000   60,500   60,500   60,500
  29 .....  40,000   57,500   61,500   61,500   61,500
  30 .....  40,000   58,500   62,000   62,000   62,000
  31 .....  40,000   59,000   62,500   62,500   62,500
  32 .....  40,000   60,000   63,500   63,500   63,500
  33 .....  40,000   60,000   64,000   64,000   64,000
  34 .....  40,000   60,000   64,500   64,500   64,500
  35 .....  40,000   60,000   65,500   65,500   65,500
  36 .....  40,000   60,000   66,000   66,000   66,000
  37 .....  40,000   60,000   66,500   66,500   66,500
  38 .....  40,000   60,000   67,500   67,500   67,500
  39 .....  40,000   60,000   68,000   68,000   68,000
  40 .....  40,000   60,000   68,500   70,000   70,000
  41 .....  40,000   60,000   69,500   72,000   72,000
  42 .....  40,000   60,000   70,000   73,280   73,280
  43 .....  40,000   60,000   70,500   73,280   73,280
  44 .....  40,000   60,000   71,500   73,280   73,280
  45 .....  40,000   60,000   72,000   76,000   80,000
  46 .....  40,000   60,000   72,500   76,500   80,000
  47 .....  40,000   60,000   73,500   77,500   80,000
  48 .....  40,000   60,000   74,000   78,000   80,000
  49 .....  40,000   60,000   74,500   78,500   80,000
  50 .....  40,000   60,000   75,500   79,000   80,000
  51 .....  40,000   60,000   76,000   80,000   80,000
  52 .....  40,000   60,000   76,500   80,000   80,000
  53 .....  40,000   60,000   77,500   80,000   80,000
  54 .....  40,000   60,000   78,000   80,000   80,000
  55 .....  40,000   60,000   78,500   80,000   80,000
  56 .....  40,000   60,000   79,500   80,000   80,000
  57 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  58 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  59 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  60 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000

   (b) In addition to the weights specified in subdivision (a), two
consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000
pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles
of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more. The gross
weight of each set of tandem axles shall not exceed 34,000 pounds
and the gross weight of the two consecutive sets of tandem axles
shall not exceed 68,000 pounds.
   (c) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
   (d) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the right to
prohibit the use of any highway or any bridge or other structure
thereon in the manner and to the extent specified in Article 4
(commencing with Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with
Section 35750) of this chapter.
   (e) The gross weight limits expressed by this section and Section
35550 shall include all enforcement tolerances.



35551.5.  (a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to
combinations of vehicles which contain a trailer or semitrailer. Each
vehicle in such combination of vehicles, and every such combination
of vehicles, shall comply with either Section 35551 or with
subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of this section.
   (b) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 18,000 pounds and the gross
weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle
and resting upon the roadway, shall not exceed 9,500 pounds, except
that the gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
front steering axle of a motor vehicle shall not exceed 12,500
pounds. The gross weight limit provided for weight bearing upon any
one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle shall not apply
to vehicles the loads of which consist of livestock. The following
vehicles are exempt from the front axle weight limits specified in
this subdivision:
   (1) Trucks transporting vehicles.
   (2) Trucks transporting livestock.
   (3) Dump trucks.
   (4) Cranes.
   (5) Buses.
   (6) Transit mix concrete or cement trucks, and trucks that mix
concrete or cement at, or adjacent to, a jobsite.
   (7) Motor vehicles that are not commercial vehicles.
   (8) Vehicles operated by any public utility furnishing
electricity, gas, water, or telephone service.
   (9)  Trucks or truck tractors with a front axle at least four feet
to the rear of the foremost part of the truck or truck tractor, not
including the front bumper.
   (10) Trucks transporting garbage, rubbish, or refuse.
   (11) Trucks equipped with a fifth wheel when towing a semitrailer.
   (12) Tank trucks which have a cargo capacity of at least 1,500
gallons.
   (13) Trucks transporting bulk grains or bulk livestock feed.
   (c) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any
group of two or more consecutive axles of a vehicle in such
combination of vehicles or of such combination of vehicles where the
distance between the first and last axles of the two or more
consecutive axles is 18 feet or less shall not exceed that given for
the respective distance in the following table:

  Distance in feet                  Allowed load in
  between first and                 pounds on group
  last axles of group                  of axles
  4 ..............................      32,000
  5 ..............................      32,000
  6 ..............................      32,200
  7 ..............................      32,900
  8 ..............................      33,600
  9 ..............................      34,300
  10 .............................      35,000
  11 .............................      35,700
  12 .............................      36,400
  13 .............................      37,100
  14..............................      43,200
  15 .............................      44,000
  16 .............................      44,800
  17 .............................      45,600
  18 .............................      46,400

   (d) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any
vehicle in such combination of vehicles or of such combination of
vehicles where the distance between the first and last axles is more
than 18 feet shall not exceed that given for the respective distances
in the following table:

  Distance                            Allowed load
  in feet                               in pounds
  19...............................      47,200
  20...............................      48,000
  21...............................      48,800
  22...............................      49,600
  23...............................      50,400
  24...............................      51,200
  25...............................      55,250
  26...............................      56,100
  27...............................      56,950
  28...............................      57,800
  29...............................      58,650
  30...............................      59,500
  31...............................      60,350
  32...............................      61,200
  33...............................      62,050
  34...............................      62,900
  35...............................      63,750
  36...............................      64,600
  37...............................      65,450
  38...............................      66,300
  39...............................      68,000
  40...............................      70,000
  41...............................      72,000
  42...............................      73,280
  43...............................      73,280
  44...............................      73,280
  45...............................      73,280
  46...............................      73,280
  47...............................      73,280
  48...............................      73,280
  49...............................      73,280
  50...............................      73,280
  51...............................      73,280
  52...............................      73,600
  53...............................      74,400
  54...............................      75,200
  55...............................      76,000
  56 or over.......................      76,800


  Distance                           Allowed load
  in feet                              in pounds
  19 .............................      47,200
  20 .............................      48,000
  21 .............................      48,800
  22 .............................      49,600
  23 .............................      50,400
  24 .............................      51,200
  25 .............................      55,250
  26 .............................      56,100
  27 .............................      56,950
  28 .............................      57,800
  29 .............................      58,650
  30..............................      59,500
  31 .............................      60,350
  32 .............................      61,200
  33 .............................      62,050
  34 .............................      62,900
  35 .............................      63,750
  36 .............................      64,600
  37 .............................      65,450
  38 .............................      66,300
  39 .............................      68,000
  40 .............................      70,000
  41 .............................      72,000
  42 .............................      73,280
  43 .............................      73,280
  44 .............................      73,280
  45..............................      73,280
  46 .............................      73,280
  47 .............................      73,280
  48 .............................      73,280
  49 .............................      73,280
  50 .............................      73,280
  51 .............................      73,280
  52 .............................      73,600
  53 .............................      74,400
  54 .............................      75,200
  55 .............................      76,000
  56 or over .....................      76,800

   (e) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
   (f) The gross weight limits expressed by this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
   (g) Nothing in this section shall affect the right to prohibit the
use of any highway or any bridge or other structure thereon in the
manner and to the extent specified in Article 4 (commencing with
Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 35750) of
Chapter 5 of Division 15.
   (h) The Legislature, in enacting this section, does not intend to
increase, and this section shall not be construed to allow, statutory
weights any greater than existed prior to January 1, 1976.



35552.  (a) This section applies only to trucks and vehicle
combinations while transporting loads composed solely of logs.
   (b) One set of tandem axles of such a truck or vehicle combination
shall be deemed to be in compliance with Section 35551 if the total
gross weight of 34,000 pounds on such a set that is permitted by
Section 35551 is not exceeded by more than 1,500 pounds. In addition,
such a truck and vehicle combination that has two consecutive sets
of tandem axles shall be deemed to be in compliance with Section
35551 if such consecutive sets of tandem axles do not carry a
combined total gross weight of more than 69,000 pounds, if the total
gross weight on any one such set does not exceed 35,500 pounds, and
if the overall distance between the first and last axle of such
consecutive sets of tandem axles is 34 feet or more. All such truck
and vehicle combinations shall be subject to all other provisions of
Section 35551 or any other provision made applicable to the total
gross weight of such a truck or vehicle combination in lieu of
Section 35551.
   (c) The gross weight limits expressed in this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
   (d) If any total gross weight permitted by this section is
exceeded, the allowed weight in pounds set forth in subdivision (a)
of Section 35551 shall be the maximum permitted weight for purposes
of determining the amount of fine for such violation as specified in
the table in Section 42030; except that, whenever the violation is
for exceeding the total gross weight for two consecutive sets of
tandem axles, and if the overall distance between the first and last
axle of such sets is 34 feet or more, the allowed weight on the two
consecutive sets shall be 68,000 pounds.
   (e) This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).
   This section may be cited as the Christensen-Belotti Act.



35553.  The provisions of this article shall not apply to any
vehicle in the immediate vicinity of an unloading or loading area
while actually preparing for or in the process of unloading or
loading, provided any overload is incidental to and necessitated by
such action; and provided that such action does not occur on a bridge
or highway structure.
   This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the national system of interstate and defense highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).



35554.  Notwithstanding Section 35550, the gross weight on any one
axle of a bus shall not exceed 20,500 pounds.



35555.  (a) During the period commencing September 15 of each year
and ending March 15 of the following year, the weight limitations of
Section 35551 do not apply to any cotton module mover or any truck
tractor pulling a semitrailer that is a cotton module mover, when
operated as follows:
   (1) Laterally across a state highway at grade of the state
highway.
   (2) Upon any county highway within the Counties of Butte, Colusa,
Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside,
Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus,
Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba, except as prohibited or
limited on county highways or portions thereof by resolution of the
county board of supervisors having jurisdiction.
   (b) A cotton module mover may be operated upon a state highway
within the counties and during the period set forth in subdivision
(a) if all of the following are met:
   (1) The operator is in possession of a driver's license of the
class required for operation of the mover.
   (2) The mover is operated in compliance with Sections 24002 and
24012; Article 1 (commencing with Section 24250) of, Article 3
(commencing with Section 24600) of, Article 4 (commencing with
Section 24800) of, Article 5 (commencing with Section 24950) of,
Article 6 (commencing with 25100) of, Article 9 (commencing with
25350) of, Article 11 (commencing with 25450) of, Chapter 2 of
Division 12; and Article 2 (commencing with 26450) and Article 3
(commencing with 26502) of Chapter 3 of Division 12.
   (3) The mover does not exceed the maximum allowable gross axle
weight for tandem axles set forth in Section 35551 by more than 6,000
pounds.
   (4) The operator of a mover that exceeds the maximum allowable
gross axle weight for tandem axle vehicles as set forth in Section
35551 shall possess a commercial driver's license as defined in
subdivision (a) of Section 15210.
   (c) This section does not apply to those highways designated by
the United States Department of Transportation as national network
routes.


35557.  (a) Only upon request to, and approval by, and in accordance
with regulations adopted by, the Director of Food and Agriculture,
all of the following are available for inspection by district
attorneys and are subject to legal process for admission in any
criminal or civil proceeding arising out of a violation of this
chapter:
   (1) Vehicle weight certificates issued on or after January 1,
1984, pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 12700), Chapter
7.3 (commencing with Section 12740), and Chapter 7.7 (commencing with
Section 12770) of Division 5 of the Business and Professions Code.
   (2) Other records of vehicle weight relating to those
certificates.
   (3) Copies of those certificates and records.
   (b) All certificates, records, and copies thereof, issued before
January 1, 1984, shall not be available for inspection and are not
admissible in any criminal or civil proceedings arising out of a
violation of this chapter.


35558.  Any person or business which has an axle weight scale at its
loading facilities shall, upon the request of the driver, weigh any
load being transported for that person or business before the vehicle
leaves the loading facility. In a port facility, this requirement
only applies if the scale is located in outbound lanes. The request
to weigh shall be based upon a reasonable assumption that the load is
overweight.


State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > California > Veh > 35550-35558

VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 35550-35558



35550.  (a) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels
on any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the
gross weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an
axle, and resting upon the roadway, shall not exceed 10,500 pounds.
   (b) The gross weight limit provided for weight bearing upon any
one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle shall not apply
to vehicles the loads of which consist of livestock.
   (c) The maximum wheel load is the lesser of the following:
   (1) The load limit established by the tire manufacturer, as molded
on at least one sidewall of the tire.
   (2) A load of 620 pounds per lateral inch of tire width, as
determined by the manufacturer's rated tire width as molded on at
least one sidewall of the tire for all axles except the steering
axle, in which case paragraph (1) applies.



35551.  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or Section
35551.5, the total gross weight in pounds imposed on the highway by
any group of two or more consecutive axles shall not exceed that
given for the respective distance in the following table:

  Distance in
  feet     between
  the extremes
  of any group
  of 2 or more
  consecutive
  _____________________________________________________
    axles   2 axles  3 axles  4 axles  5 axles  6 axles
  4 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  5 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  6 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  7 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  8 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  9.......  39,000   42,500   42,500   42,500   42,500
  10 .....  40,000   43,500   43,500   43,500   43,500
  11 .....  40,000   44,000   44,000   44,000   44,000
  12 .....  40,000   45,000   50,000   50,000   50,000
  13 .....  40,000   45,500   50,500   50,500   50,500
  14 .....  40,000   46,500   51,500   51,500   51,500
  15 .....  40,000   47,000   52,000   52,000   52,000
  16 .....  40,000   48,000   52,500   52,500   52,500
  17 .....  40,000   48,500   53,500   53,500   53,500
  18 .....  40,000   49,500   54,000   54,000   54,000
  19 .....  40,000   50,000   54,500   54,500   54,500
  20 .....  40,000   51,000   55,500   55,500   55,500
  21 .....  40,000   51,500   56,000   56,000   56,000
  22 .....  40,000   52,500   56,500   56,500   56,500
  23 .....  40,000   53,000   57,500   57,500   57,500
  24 .....  40,000   54,000   58,000   58,000   58,000
  25 .....  40,000   54,500   58,500   58,500   58,500
  26 .....  40,000   55,500   59,500   59,500   59,500
  27 .....  40,000   56,000   60,000   60,000   60,000
  28 .....  40,000   57,000   60,500   60,500   60,500
  29 .....  40,000   57,500   61,500   61,500   61,500
  30 .....  40,000   58,500   62,000   62,000   62,000
  31 .....  40,000   59,000   62,500   62,500   62,500
  32 .....  40,000   60,000   63,500   63,500   63,500
  33 .....  40,000   60,000   64,000   64,000   64,000
  34 .....  40,000   60,000   64,500   64,500   64,500
  35 .....  40,000   60,000   65,500   65,500   65,500
  36 .....  40,000   60,000   66,000   66,000   66,000
  37 .....  40,000   60,000   66,500   66,500   66,500
  38 .....  40,000   60,000   67,500   67,500   67,500
  39 .....  40,000   60,000   68,000   68,000   68,000
  40 .....  40,000   60,000   68,500   70,000   70,000
  41 .....  40,000   60,000   69,500   72,000   72,000
  42 .....  40,000   60,000   70,000   73,280   73,280
  43 .....  40,000   60,000   70,500   73,280   73,280
  44 .....  40,000   60,000   71,500   73,280   73,280
  45 .....  40,000   60,000   72,000   76,000   80,000
  46 .....  40,000   60,000   72,500   76,500   80,000
  47 .....  40,000   60,000   73,500   77,500   80,000
  48 .....  40,000   60,000   74,000   78,000   80,000
  49 .....  40,000   60,000   74,500   78,500   80,000
  50 .....  40,000   60,000   75,500   79,000   80,000
  51 .....  40,000   60,000   76,000   80,000   80,000
  52 .....  40,000   60,000   76,500   80,000   80,000
  53 .....  40,000   60,000   77,500   80,000   80,000
  54 .....  40,000   60,000   78,000   80,000   80,000
  55 .....  40,000   60,000   78,500   80,000   80,000
  56 .....  40,000   60,000   79,500   80,000   80,000
  57 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  58 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  59 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  60 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000

   (b) In addition to the weights specified in subdivision (a), two
consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000
pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles
of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more. The gross
weight of each set of tandem axles shall not exceed 34,000 pounds
and the gross weight of the two consecutive sets of tandem axles
shall not exceed 68,000 pounds.
   (c) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
   (d) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the right to
prohibit the use of any highway or any bridge or other structure
thereon in the manner and to the extent specified in Article 4
(commencing with Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with
Section 35750) of this chapter.
   (e) The gross weight limits expressed by this section and Section
35550 shall include all enforcement tolerances.



35551.5.  (a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to
combinations of vehicles which contain a trailer or semitrailer. Each
vehicle in such combination of vehicles, and every such combination
of vehicles, shall comply with either Section 35551 or with
subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of this section.
   (b) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 18,000 pounds and the gross
weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle
and resting upon the roadway, shall not exceed 9,500 pounds, except
that the gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
front steering axle of a motor vehicle shall not exceed 12,500
pounds. The gross weight limit provided for weight bearing upon any
one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle shall not apply
to vehicles the loads of which consist of livestock. The following
vehicles are exempt from the front axle weight limits specified in
this subdivision:
   (1) Trucks transporting vehicles.
   (2) Trucks transporting livestock.
   (3) Dump trucks.
   (4) Cranes.
   (5) Buses.
   (6) Transit mix concrete or cement trucks, and trucks that mix
concrete or cement at, or adjacent to, a jobsite.
   (7) Motor vehicles that are not commercial vehicles.
   (8) Vehicles operated by any public utility furnishing
electricity, gas, water, or telephone service.
   (9)  Trucks or truck tractors with a front axle at least four feet
to the rear of the foremost part of the truck or truck tractor, not
including the front bumper.
   (10) Trucks transporting garbage, rubbish, or refuse.
   (11) Trucks equipped with a fifth wheel when towing a semitrailer.
   (12) Tank trucks which have a cargo capacity of at least 1,500
gallons.
   (13) Trucks transporting bulk grains or bulk livestock feed.
   (c) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any
group of two or more consecutive axles of a vehicle in such
combination of vehicles or of such combination of vehicles where the
distance between the first and last axles of the two or more
consecutive axles is 18 feet or less shall not exceed that given for
the respective distance in the following table:

  Distance in feet                  Allowed load in
  between first and                 pounds on group
  last axles of group                  of axles
  4 ..............................      32,000
  5 ..............................      32,000
  6 ..............................      32,200
  7 ..............................      32,900
  8 ..............................      33,600
  9 ..............................      34,300
  10 .............................      35,000
  11 .............................      35,700
  12 .............................      36,400
  13 .............................      37,100
  14..............................      43,200
  15 .............................      44,000
  16 .............................      44,800
  17 .............................      45,600
  18 .............................      46,400

   (d) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any
vehicle in such combination of vehicles or of such combination of
vehicles where the distance between the first and last axles is more
than 18 feet shall not exceed that given for the respective distances
in the following table:

  Distance                            Allowed load
  in feet                               in pounds
  19...............................      47,200
  20...............................      48,000
  21...............................      48,800
  22...............................      49,600
  23...............................      50,400
  24...............................      51,200
  25...............................      55,250
  26...............................      56,100
  27...............................      56,950
  28...............................      57,800
  29...............................      58,650
  30...............................      59,500
  31...............................      60,350
  32...............................      61,200
  33...............................      62,050
  34...............................      62,900
  35...............................      63,750
  36...............................      64,600
  37...............................      65,450
  38...............................      66,300
  39...............................      68,000
  40...............................      70,000
  41...............................      72,000
  42...............................      73,280
  43...............................      73,280
  44...............................      73,280
  45...............................      73,280
  46...............................      73,280
  47...............................      73,280
  48...............................      73,280
  49...............................      73,280
  50...............................      73,280
  51...............................      73,280
  52...............................      73,600
  53...............................      74,400
  54...............................      75,200
  55...............................      76,000
  56 or over.......................      76,800


  Distance                           Allowed load
  in feet                              in pounds
  19 .............................      47,200
  20 .............................      48,000
  21 .............................      48,800
  22 .............................      49,600
  23 .............................      50,400
  24 .............................      51,200
  25 .............................      55,250
  26 .............................      56,100
  27 .............................      56,950
  28 .............................      57,800
  29 .............................      58,650
  30..............................      59,500
  31 .............................      60,350
  32 .............................      61,200
  33 .............................      62,050
  34 .............................      62,900
  35 .............................      63,750
  36 .............................      64,600
  37 .............................      65,450
  38 .............................      66,300
  39 .............................      68,000
  40 .............................      70,000
  41 .............................      72,000
  42 .............................      73,280
  43 .............................      73,280
  44 .............................      73,280
  45..............................      73,280
  46 .............................      73,280
  47 .............................      73,280
  48 .............................      73,280
  49 .............................      73,280
  50 .............................      73,280
  51 .............................      73,280
  52 .............................      73,600
  53 .............................      74,400
  54 .............................      75,200
  55 .............................      76,000
  56 or over .....................      76,800

   (e) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
   (f) The gross weight limits expressed by this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
   (g) Nothing in this section shall affect the right to prohibit the
use of any highway or any bridge or other structure thereon in the
manner and to the extent specified in Article 4 (commencing with
Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 35750) of
Chapter 5 of Division 15.
   (h) The Legislature, in enacting this section, does not intend to
increase, and this section shall not be construed to allow, statutory
weights any greater than existed prior to January 1, 1976.



35552.  (a) This section applies only to trucks and vehicle
combinations while transporting loads composed solely of logs.
   (b) One set of tandem axles of such a truck or vehicle combination
shall be deemed to be in compliance with Section 35551 if the total
gross weight of 34,000 pounds on such a set that is permitted by
Section 35551 is not exceeded by more than 1,500 pounds. In addition,
such a truck and vehicle combination that has two consecutive sets
of tandem axles shall be deemed to be in compliance with Section
35551 if such consecutive sets of tandem axles do not carry a
combined total gross weight of more than 69,000 pounds, if the total
gross weight on any one such set does not exceed 35,500 pounds, and
if the overall distance between the first and last axle of such
consecutive sets of tandem axles is 34 feet or more. All such truck
and vehicle combinations shall be subject to all other provisions of
Section 35551 or any other provision made applicable to the total
gross weight of such a truck or vehicle combination in lieu of
Section 35551.
   (c) The gross weight limits expressed in this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
   (d) If any total gross weight permitted by this section is
exceeded, the allowed weight in pounds set forth in subdivision (a)
of Section 35551 shall be the maximum permitted weight for purposes
of determining the amount of fine for such violation as specified in
the table in Section 42030; except that, whenever the violation is
for exceeding the total gross weight for two consecutive sets of
tandem axles, and if the overall distance between the first and last
axle of such sets is 34 feet or more, the allowed weight on the two
consecutive sets shall be 68,000 pounds.
   (e) This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).
   This section may be cited as the Christensen-Belotti Act.



35553.  The provisions of this article shall not apply to any
vehicle in the immediate vicinity of an unloading or loading area
while actually preparing for or in the process of unloading or
loading, provided any overload is incidental to and necessitated by
such action; and provided that such action does not occur on a bridge
or highway structure.
   This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the national system of interstate and defense highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).



35554.  Notwithstanding Section 35550, the gross weight on any one
axle of a bus shall not exceed 20,500 pounds.



35555.  (a) During the period commencing September 15 of each year
and ending March 15 of the following year, the weight limitations of
Section 35551 do not apply to any cotton module mover or any truck
tractor pulling a semitrailer that is a cotton module mover, when
operated as follows:
   (1) Laterally across a state highway at grade of the state
highway.
   (2) Upon any county highway within the Counties of Butte, Colusa,
Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside,
Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus,
Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba, except as prohibited or
limited on county highways or portions thereof by resolution of the
county board of supervisors having jurisdiction.
   (b) A cotton module mover may be operated upon a state highway
within the counties and during the period set forth in subdivision
(a) if all of the following are met:
   (1) The operator is in possession of a driver's license of the
class required for operation of the mover.
   (2) The mover is operated in compliance with Sections 24002 and
24012; Article 1 (commencing with Section 24250) of, Article 3
(commencing with Section 24600) of, Article 4 (commencing with
Section 24800) of, Article 5 (commencing with Section 24950) of,
Article 6 (commencing with 25100) of, Article 9 (commencing with
25350) of, Article 11 (commencing with 25450) of, Chapter 2 of
Division 12; and Article 2 (commencing with 26450) and Article 3
(commencing with 26502) of Chapter 3 of Division 12.
   (3) The mover does not exceed the maximum allowable gross axle
weight for tandem axles set forth in Section 35551 by more than 6,000
pounds.
   (4) The operator of a mover that exceeds the maximum allowable
gross axle weight for tandem axle vehicles as set forth in Section
35551 shall possess a commercial driver's license as defined in
subdivision (a) of Section 15210.
   (c) This section does not apply to those highways designated by
the United States Department of Transportation as national network
routes.


35557.  (a) Only upon request to, and approval by, and in accordance
with regulations adopted by, the Director of Food and Agriculture,
all of the following are available for inspection by district
attorneys and are subject to legal process for admission in any
criminal or civil proceeding arising out of a violation of this
chapter:
   (1) Vehicle weight certificates issued on or after January 1,
1984, pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 12700), Chapter
7.3 (commencing with Section 12740), and Chapter 7.7 (commencing with
Section 12770) of Division 5 of the Business and Professions Code.
   (2) Other records of vehicle weight relating to those
certificates.
   (3) Copies of those certificates and records.
   (b) All certificates, records, and copies thereof, issued before
January 1, 1984, shall not be available for inspection and are not
admissible in any criminal or civil proceedings arising out of a
violation of this chapter.


35558.  Any person or business which has an axle weight scale at its
loading facilities shall, upon the request of the driver, weigh any
load being transported for that person or business before the vehicle
leaves the loading facility. In a port facility, this requirement
only applies if the scale is located in outbound lanes. The request
to weigh shall be based upon a reasonable assumption that the load is
overweight.



State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > California > Veh > 35550-35558

VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 35550-35558



35550.  (a) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels
on any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the
gross weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an
axle, and resting upon the roadway, shall not exceed 10,500 pounds.
   (b) The gross weight limit provided for weight bearing upon any
one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle shall not apply
to vehicles the loads of which consist of livestock.
   (c) The maximum wheel load is the lesser of the following:
   (1) The load limit established by the tire manufacturer, as molded
on at least one sidewall of the tire.
   (2) A load of 620 pounds per lateral inch of tire width, as
determined by the manufacturer's rated tire width as molded on at
least one sidewall of the tire for all axles except the steering
axle, in which case paragraph (1) applies.



35551.  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or Section
35551.5, the total gross weight in pounds imposed on the highway by
any group of two or more consecutive axles shall not exceed that
given for the respective distance in the following table:

  Distance in
  feet     between
  the extremes
  of any group
  of 2 or more
  consecutive
  _____________________________________________________
    axles   2 axles  3 axles  4 axles  5 axles  6 axles
  4 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  5 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  6 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  7 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  8 ......  34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000   34,000
  9.......  39,000   42,500   42,500   42,500   42,500
  10 .....  40,000   43,500   43,500   43,500   43,500
  11 .....  40,000   44,000   44,000   44,000   44,000
  12 .....  40,000   45,000   50,000   50,000   50,000
  13 .....  40,000   45,500   50,500   50,500   50,500
  14 .....  40,000   46,500   51,500   51,500   51,500
  15 .....  40,000   47,000   52,000   52,000   52,000
  16 .....  40,000   48,000   52,500   52,500   52,500
  17 .....  40,000   48,500   53,500   53,500   53,500
  18 .....  40,000   49,500   54,000   54,000   54,000
  19 .....  40,000   50,000   54,500   54,500   54,500
  20 .....  40,000   51,000   55,500   55,500   55,500
  21 .....  40,000   51,500   56,000   56,000   56,000
  22 .....  40,000   52,500   56,500   56,500   56,500
  23 .....  40,000   53,000   57,500   57,500   57,500
  24 .....  40,000   54,000   58,000   58,000   58,000
  25 .....  40,000   54,500   58,500   58,500   58,500
  26 .....  40,000   55,500   59,500   59,500   59,500
  27 .....  40,000   56,000   60,000   60,000   60,000
  28 .....  40,000   57,000   60,500   60,500   60,500
  29 .....  40,000   57,500   61,500   61,500   61,500
  30 .....  40,000   58,500   62,000   62,000   62,000
  31 .....  40,000   59,000   62,500   62,500   62,500
  32 .....  40,000   60,000   63,500   63,500   63,500
  33 .....  40,000   60,000   64,000   64,000   64,000
  34 .....  40,000   60,000   64,500   64,500   64,500
  35 .....  40,000   60,000   65,500   65,500   65,500
  36 .....  40,000   60,000   66,000   66,000   66,000
  37 .....  40,000   60,000   66,500   66,500   66,500
  38 .....  40,000   60,000   67,500   67,500   67,500
  39 .....  40,000   60,000   68,000   68,000   68,000
  40 .....  40,000   60,000   68,500   70,000   70,000
  41 .....  40,000   60,000   69,500   72,000   72,000
  42 .....  40,000   60,000   70,000   73,280   73,280
  43 .....  40,000   60,000   70,500   73,280   73,280
  44 .....  40,000   60,000   71,500   73,280   73,280
  45 .....  40,000   60,000   72,000   76,000   80,000
  46 .....  40,000   60,000   72,500   76,500   80,000
  47 .....  40,000   60,000   73,500   77,500   80,000
  48 .....  40,000   60,000   74,000   78,000   80,000
  49 .....  40,000   60,000   74,500   78,500   80,000
  50 .....  40,000   60,000   75,500   79,000   80,000
  51 .....  40,000   60,000   76,000   80,000   80,000
  52 .....  40,000   60,000   76,500   80,000   80,000
  53 .....  40,000   60,000   77,500   80,000   80,000
  54 .....  40,000   60,000   78,000   80,000   80,000
  55 .....  40,000   60,000   78,500   80,000   80,000
  56 .....  40,000   60,000   79,500   80,000   80,000
  57 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  58 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  59 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000
  60 .....  40,000   60,000   80,000   80,000   80,000

   (b) In addition to the weights specified in subdivision (a), two
consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000
pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles
of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more. The gross
weight of each set of tandem axles shall not exceed 34,000 pounds
and the gross weight of the two consecutive sets of tandem axles
shall not exceed 68,000 pounds.
   (c) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
   (d) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the right to
prohibit the use of any highway or any bridge or other structure
thereon in the manner and to the extent specified in Article 4
(commencing with Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with
Section 35750) of this chapter.
   (e) The gross weight limits expressed by this section and Section
35550 shall include all enforcement tolerances.



35551.5.  (a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to
combinations of vehicles which contain a trailer or semitrailer. Each
vehicle in such combination of vehicles, and every such combination
of vehicles, shall comply with either Section 35551 or with
subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of this section.
   (b) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 18,000 pounds and the gross
weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle
and resting upon the roadway, shall not exceed 9,500 pounds, except
that the gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
front steering axle of a motor vehicle shall not exceed 12,500
pounds. The gross weight limit provided for weight bearing upon any
one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle shall not apply
to vehicles the loads of which consist of livestock. The following
vehicles are exempt from the front axle weight limits specified in
this subdivision:
   (1) Trucks transporting vehicles.
   (2) Trucks transporting livestock.
   (3) Dump trucks.
   (4) Cranes.
   (5) Buses.
   (6) Transit mix concrete or cement trucks, and trucks that mix
concrete or cement at, or adjacent to, a jobsite.
   (7) Motor vehicles that are not commercial vehicles.
   (8) Vehicles operated by any public utility furnishing
electricity, gas, water, or telephone service.
   (9)  Trucks or truck tractors with a front axle at least four feet
to the rear of the foremost part of the truck or truck tractor, not
including the front bumper.
   (10) Trucks transporting garbage, rubbish, or refuse.
   (11) Trucks equipped with a fifth wheel when towing a semitrailer.
   (12) Tank trucks which have a cargo capacity of at least 1,500
gallons.
   (13) Trucks transporting bulk grains or bulk livestock feed.
   (c) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any
group of two or more consecutive axles of a vehicle in such
combination of vehicles or of such combination of vehicles where the
distance between the first and last axles of the two or more
consecutive axles is 18 feet or less shall not exceed that given for
the respective distance in the following table:

  Distance in feet                  Allowed load in
  between first and                 pounds on group
  last axles of group                  of axles
  4 ..............................      32,000
  5 ..............................      32,000
  6 ..............................      32,200
  7 ..............................      32,900
  8 ..............................      33,600
  9 ..............................      34,300
  10 .............................      35,000
  11 .............................      35,700
  12 .............................      36,400
  13 .............................      37,100
  14..............................      43,200
  15 .............................      44,000
  16 .............................      44,800
  17 .............................      45,600
  18 .............................      46,400

   (d) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any
vehicle in such combination of vehicles or of such combination of
vehicles where the distance between the first and last axles is more
than 18 feet shall not exceed that given for the respective distances
in the following table:

  Distance                            Allowed load
  in feet                               in pounds
  19...............................      47,200
  20...............................      48,000
  21...............................      48,800
  22...............................      49,600
  23...............................      50,400
  24...............................      51,200
  25...............................      55,250
  26...............................      56,100
  27...............................      56,950
  28...............................      57,800
  29...............................      58,650
  30...............................      59,500
  31...............................      60,350
  32...............................      61,200
  33...............................      62,050
  34...............................      62,900
  35...............................      63,750
  36...............................      64,600
  37...............................      65,450
  38...............................      66,300
  39...............................      68,000
  40...............................      70,000
  41...............................      72,000
  42...............................      73,280
  43...............................      73,280
  44...............................      73,280
  45...............................      73,280
  46...............................      73,280
  47...............................      73,280
  48...............................      73,280
  49...............................      73,280
  50...............................      73,280
  51...............................      73,280
  52...............................      73,600
  53...............................      74,400
  54...............................      75,200
  55...............................      76,000
  56 or over.......................      76,800


  Distance                           Allowed load
  in feet                              in pounds
  19 .............................      47,200
  20 .............................      48,000
  21 .............................      48,800
  22 .............................      49,600
  23 .............................      50,400
  24 .............................      51,200
  25 .............................      55,250
  26 .............................      56,100
  27 .............................      56,950
  28 .............................      57,800
  29 .............................      58,650
  30..............................      59,500
  31 .............................      60,350
  32 .............................      61,200
  33 .............................      62,050
  34 .............................      62,900
  35 .............................      63,750
  36 .............................      64,600
  37 .............................      65,450
  38 .............................      66,300
  39 .............................      68,000
  40 .............................      70,000
  41 .............................      72,000
  42 .............................      73,280
  43 .............................      73,280
  44 .............................      73,280
  45..............................      73,280
  46 .............................      73,280
  47 .............................      73,280
  48 .............................      73,280
  49 .............................      73,280
  50 .............................      73,280
  51 .............................      73,280
  52 .............................      73,600
  53 .............................      74,400
  54 .............................      75,200
  55 .............................      76,000
  56 or over .....................      76,800

   (e) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
   (f) The gross weight limits expressed by this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
   (g) Nothing in this section shall affect the right to prohibit the
use of any highway or any bridge or other structure thereon in the
manner and to the extent specified in Article 4 (commencing with
Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 35750) of
Chapter 5 of Division 15.
   (h) The Legislature, in enacting this section, does not intend to
increase, and this section shall not be construed to allow, statutory
weights any greater than existed prior to January 1, 1976.



35552.  (a) This section applies only to trucks and vehicle
combinations while transporting loads composed solely of logs.
   (b) One set of tandem axles of such a truck or vehicle combination
shall be deemed to be in compliance with Section 35551 if the total
gross weight of 34,000 pounds on such a set that is permitted by
Section 35551 is not exceeded by more than 1,500 pounds. In addition,
such a truck and vehicle combination that has two consecutive sets
of tandem axles shall be deemed to be in compliance with Section
35551 if such consecutive sets of tandem axles do not carry a
combined total gross weight of more than 69,000 pounds, if the total
gross weight on any one such set does not exceed 35,500 pounds, and
if the overall distance between the first and last axle of such
consecutive sets of tandem axles is 34 feet or more. All such truck
and vehicle combinations shall be subject to all other provisions of
Section 35551 or any other provision made applicable to the total
gross weight of such a truck or vehicle combination in lieu of
Section 35551.
   (c) The gross weight limits expressed in this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
   (d) If any total gross weight permitted by this section is
exceeded, the allowed weight in pounds set forth in subdivision (a)
of Section 35551 shall be the maximum permitted weight for purposes
of determining the amount of fine for such violation as specified in
the table in Section 42030; except that, whenever the violation is
for exceeding the total gross weight for two consecutive sets of
tandem axles, and if the overall distance between the first and last
axle of such sets is 34 feet or more, the allowed weight on the two
consecutive sets shall be 68,000 pounds.
   (e) This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).
   This section may be cited as the Christensen-Belotti Act.



35553.  The provisions of this article shall not apply to any
vehicle in the immediate vicinity of an unloading or loading area
while actually preparing for or in the process of unloading or
loading, provided any overload is incidental to and necessitated by
such action; and provided that such action does not occur on a bridge
or highway structure.
   This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the national system of interstate and defense highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).



35554.  Notwithstanding Section 35550, the gross weight on any one
axle of a bus shall not exceed 20,500 pounds.



35555.  (a) During the period commencing September 15 of each year
and ending March 15 of the following year, the weight limitations of
Section 35551 do not apply to any cotton module mover or any truck
tractor pulling a semitrailer that is a cotton module mover, when
operated as follows:
   (1) Laterally across a state highway at grade of the state
highway.
   (2) Upon any county highway within the Counties of Butte, Colusa,
Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside,
Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus,
Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba, except as prohibited or
limited on county highways or portions thereof by resolution of the
county board of supervisors having jurisdiction.
   (b) A cotton module mover may be operated upon a state highway
within the counties and during the period set forth in subdivision
(a) if all of the following are met:
   (1) The operator is in possession of a driver's license of the
class required for operation of the mover.
   (2) The mover is operated in compliance with Sections 24002 and
24012; Article 1 (commencing with Section 24250) of, Article 3
(commencing with Section 24600) of, Article 4 (commencing with
Section 24800) of, Article 5 (commencing with Section 24950) of,
Article 6 (commencing with 25100) of, Article 9 (commencing with
25350) of, Article 11 (commencing with 25450) of, Chapter 2 of
Division 12; and Article 2 (commencing with 26450) and Article 3
(commencing with 26502) of Chapter 3 of Division 12.
   (3) The mover does not exceed the maximum allowable gross axle
weight for tandem axles set forth in Section 35551 by more than 6,000
pounds.
   (4) The operator of a mover that exceeds the maximum allowable
gross axle weight for tandem axle vehicles as set forth in Section
35551 shall possess a commercial driver's license as defined in
subdivision (a) of Section 15210.
   (c) This section does not apply to those highways designated by
the United States Department of Transportation as national network
routes.


35557.  (a) Only upon request to, and approval by, and in accordance
with regulations adopted by, the Director of Food and Agriculture,
all of the following are available for inspection by district
attorneys and are subject to legal process for admission in any
criminal or civil proceeding arising out of a violation of this
chapter:
   (1) Vehicle weight certificates issued on or after January 1,
1984, pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 12700), Chapter
7.3 (commencing with Section 12740), and Chapter 7.7 (commencing with
Section 12770) of Division 5 of the Business and Professions Code.
   (2) Other records of vehicle weight relating to those
certificates.
   (3) Copies of those certificates and records.
   (b) All certificates, records, and copies thereof, issued before
January 1, 1984, shall not be available for inspection and are not
admissible in any criminal or civil proceedings arising out of a
violation of this chapter.


35558.  Any person or business which has an axle weight scale at its
loading facilities shall, upon the request of the driver, weigh any
load being transported for that person or business before the vehicle
leaves the loading facility. In a port facility, this requirement
only applies if the scale is located in outbound lanes. The request
to weigh shall be based upon a reasonable assumption that the load is
overweight.