(A) (1) The municipality, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, upon application in writing, shall issue a special regional heavy hauling permit authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination of vehicles as follows:
(a) At a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or otherwise not in conformity with R.C. §§ 4513.01 to 4513.37.
(b) Upon any highway under the jurisdiction of municipality except those highways with a condition insufficient to bear the weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles as stated in the application.
(c) Issuance of a special regional heavy hauling permit is subject to the payment of a fee established by the municipality in accordance with this section.
(2) In circumstances where a person is not eligible to receive a permit under division (A)(1) of this section, the municipality, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, upon application in writing and for good cause shown, 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 R.C. §§ 5577.01 through 5577.09, or otherwise not in conformity with R.C. §§ 4513.01 through 4513.37, upon any highway under its jurisdiction.
(B) (1) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 715.22 and 723.01, the holder of a permit issued by the Ohio Director of Transportation under R.C. § 4513.34 may move the vehicle or combination of vehicles described in the permit on any highway that is a part of the state highway system when the movement is partly within and partly without the corporate limits of the municipality. No local authority shall require any other permit or license or charge any license fee or other charge against the holder of a permit for the movement of a vehicle or combination of vehicles on any highway which is a part of the state highway system. The Ohio Director of Transportation shall not require the holder of a permit issued by the municipality to obtain a special permit for the movement of vehicles or combination of vehicles on highways within the jurisdiction of the municipality.
(2) Except as provided in R.C. § 4513.34(B)(3), permits may be issued for any period of time not to exceed one year, as the local authority in its discretion determines advisable or for the duration of any public construction project.
(C) (1) The application for a permit issued under this section shall be in the form that the municipality prescribes. The municipality may prescribe a permit fee to be imposed and collected when any permit described in this section is issued. The permit fee may be in an amount sufficient to reimburse the municipality for the administrative costs incurred in issuing the permit, and also to cover the cost of normal and expected damage caused to the roadway or a street or highway structure as the result of the operation of the nonconforming vehicle or combination of vehicles.
(2) For the purposes of this section and of rules adopted by the Director under R.C. § 4513.34, milk transported in bulk by vehicle is deemed a nondivisible load.
(3) For purposes of this section and of rules adopted by the Director under R.C. § 4513.34, three or fewer aluminum coils, transported by a vehicle, are deemed a nondivisible load. The Director shall adopt rules establishing requirements for an aluminum coil permit that are substantially similar to the requirements for a steel coil permit under O.A.C. Chapter 5501:2-1.
(D) The municipality shall issue a special regional heavy hauling permit under division (A)(1) of this section upon application and payment of the applicable fee. However, the municipality may issue or withhold a special permit specified in division (A)(2) of this section. If a permit is to be issued, the municipality may limit or prescribe conditions of operation for the vehicle and may require the posting of a bond or other security conditioned upon the sufficiency of the permit fee to compensate for damage caused to the roadway or a street or highway structure. In addition, the municipality, as a condition of issuance of an overweight permit, may require the applicant to develop and enter into a mutual agreement with the municipality to compensate for or to repair excess damage caused to the roadway by travel under the permit.
(E) Every permit issued under this section shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer or authorized agent of any authority granting the permit. No person shall violate any of the terms of a permit.
(F) The Director of Transportation may debar an applicant from applying for a special permit under this section upon a finding based on a reasonable belief that the applicant has done any of the actions specified in R.C. § 4513.34(F).
(G) Notice and procedures for debarment shall be as provided in R.C. § 4513.34(G).
(H) (1) No person shall violate the terms of a permit issued under this section that relate to gross load limits.
(2) No person shall violate the terms of a permit issued under this section that relate to axle load by more than 2,000 pounds per axle or group of axles.
(3) No person shall violate the terms of a permit issued under this section that relate to an approved route except upon order of a law enforcement officer or authorized agent of the issuing authority.
(I) A permit issued by the municipality under this section for the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles is valid for the purposes of the vehicle operation in accordance with the conditions and limitations specified on the permit. Such a permit is voidable by law enforcement only for operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles in violation of the weight, dimension, or route provisions of the permit. However, a permit is not voidable for operation in violation of a route provision of a permit if the operation is upon the order of a law enforcement officer.
(R.C. § 4513.34) (Rev. 2024)
(J) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.99) (Rev. 2013)
Statutory reference:Overweight or oversized vehicles, state permit regulations, see O.A.C. Chapter 5501:2-1(A) No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on a highway with any load carried on the vehicle which extends more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the vehicle’s left side.
(R.C. § 4513.30)
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.99) (Rev. 2013)
(A) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed, loaded, or covered as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom, except that sand or other substances may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substances may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining the roadway.
(B) Except for a farm vehicle used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials or a rubbish vehicle in the process of acquiring its load, no vehicle loaded with garbage, swill, cans, bottles, waste paper, ashes, refuse, trash, rubbish, waste, wire, paper, cartons, boxes, glass, solid waste, or any other material of an unsanitary nature that is susceptible to blowing or bouncing from a moving vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the load is covered with a sufficient cover to prevent the load or any part of the load from spilling onto the highway.
(R.C. § 4513.31)
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.99) (Rev. 2013)
(A) (1) When one vehicle is towing another vehicle, the drawbar or other connection shall be of sufficient strength to pull all the weight towed thereby, and the drawbar or other connection shall not exceed 15 feet from one vehicle to the other, except the connection between any two vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered.
(2) When one vehicle is towing another and the connection consists only of a chain, rope, or cable, there shall be displayed upon such connection a white flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square.
(3) In addition to such drawbar or other connection, each trailer and each semitrailer which is not connected to a commercial tractor by means of a fifth wheel shall be coupled with stay chains or cables to the vehicle by which it is being drawn. These chains or cables shall be of sufficient size and strength to prevent the towed vehicle’s parting from the drawing vehicle in case the drawbar or other connection should break or become disengaged. In case of a loaded pole trailer, the connecting pole to the drawing vehicle shall be coupled to the drawing vehicle with stay chains or cables of sufficient size and strength to prevent the towed vehicle’s parting from the drawing vehicle.
(4) Every trailer or semitrailer, except pole and cable trailers and pole and cable dollies operated by a public utility as defined in R.C. § 5727.01, shall be equipped with a coupling device which shall be so designed and constructed that the trailer will follow substantially in the path of the vehicle drawing it, without whipping or swerving from side to side. Vehicles used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials between a local place of storage and supply and the farm, when drawn or towed on a street or highway at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less, and vehicles designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a street or highway for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less, shall have a drawbar or other connection, including the hitch mounted on the towing vehicle, which shall be of sufficient strength to pull all the weight towed thereby. Only one such vehicle used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials as provided in this section may be towed or drawn at one time except as follows:
(a) An agricultural tractor may tow or draw more than one such vehicle;
(b) A pickup truck or straight truck designed by the manufacturer to carry a load of not less than one-half ton and not more than two tons may tow or draw not more than two such vehicles that are being used to transport agricultural produce from the farm to a local place of storage. No vehicle being so towed by such a pickup truck or straight truck shall be considered to be a motor vehicle.
(R.C. § 4513.32) (Rev. 1999)
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.99) (Rev. 2013)
(C) Exception to size and weight restrictions.
(1) The size and weight provisions of this chapter and R.C. Chapter 5577 do not apply to a any of the following:
(a) A person who is engaged in the initial towing or removal of a wrecked or disabled motor vehicle from the site of an emergency on a public highway where the vehicle became wrecked or disabled to the nearest site where the vehicle can be brought into conformance with the requirements of this chapter and R.C. Chapter 5577, to the nearest storage facility, or to the nearest qualified repair facility;
(b) A person who is en route to the site of an emergency on a public highway to remove a wrecked or disabled motor vehicle;
(c) A person who is returning from delivering a wrecked or disabled motor vehicle to a site, storage facility, or repair facility as specified in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.
(2) Any subsequent towing of a wrecked or disabled vehicle shall comply with the size and weight provisions of this chapter and R.C. Chapter 5577.
(3) No court shall impose any penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99 or the civil liability established in R.C. § 5577.12 upon a person who is operating a vehicle in the manner described in division (C)(1) of this section.
(R.C. § 5577.15) (Rev. 2020)
(A) Any police officer having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and its load is unlawful may require the driver of the vehicle to stop and submit to a weighing of it by means of a compact, self-contained, portable, sealed scale specially adapted to determining the wheel loads of vehicles on highways; a sealed scale permanently installed in a fixed location, having a load-receiving element specially adapted to determining the wheel loads of highway vehicles; a sealed scale, permanently installed in a fixed location, having a load-receiving element specially adapted to determining the combined load of all wheels on a single axle or on successive axles of a highway vehicle; or a sealed scale adapted to weighing highway vehicles, loaded or unloaded.
(B) The driver of the vehicle shall, if necessary, be directed to proceed to the nearest available sealed scales to accomplish the weighing, provided the scales are within three miles of the point where the vehicle is stopped.
(C) Any vehicle stopped in accordance with this section may be held by the police officer for a reasonable time only to accomplish the weighing as prescribed by this section.
(D) All scales used in determining the lawful weight of a vehicle and its load shall be annually compared by a municipal, county or state sealer with the state standards or standards approved by the state, and the scales shall not be sealed if they do not conform to the state standards or standards approved by the state.
(E) At each end of a permanently installed scale, there shall be a straight approach in the same plane as the platform, of sufficient length and width to insure the level positioning of vehicles during weight determinations. During determination of weight by compact, self-contained, portable, sealed scales, specially adapted to determining the wheel loads of vehicles on highways, they shall always be used on a level terrain of sufficient length and width to accommodate the entire vehicle being weighed. Such terrain shall be level, or if not level, it shall be of such elevation that the difference in elevation between the wheels on any one axle does not exceed two inches and the difference in elevation between axles being weighed does not exceed one- quarter inch per foot of the distance between such axles.
(F) In all determinations of all weights, except gross weight, by compact, self-contained, portable, sealed scales, specially adapted to determining the wheel loads of vehicles on highways, all successive axles, 12 feet or less apart, shall be weighed simultaneously by placing one such scale under the outside wheel of each such axle. In determinations of gross weight by the use of compact, self-contained, portable, sealed scales, specially adapted to determining the wheel loads of vehicles on highways, all axles shall be weighed simultaneously by placing one such scale under the outside wheel of each axle.
(G) Whenever an officer, upon weighing a vehicle and load, determines that the weight is unlawful, he or she may require the driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place and remain standing until such portion of the load is removed as is necessary to reduce the weight of the vehicle to the limit permitted under R.C. §§ 5577.01 through 5577.14 and this chapter.
(R.C. § 4513.33)
Statutory reference:Alteration of weight limits, approval of Director required, see R.C. § 4513.33(A) No person shall operate or move a traction engine, steam roller, or other vehicle, load, object or structure, whether propelled by muscular or motor power, over or upon the improved public streets, highways, bridges, or culverts in this municipality, that weighs in excess of the weights prescribed in this subchapter or R.C. §§ 5577.01 et seq., unless the person has been issued a permit under R.C. § 4513.34, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance. The prohibition in this section applies regardless of whether the weight is moved upon wheels, rollers, or otherwise. Any weight determination shall include the weight of the vehicle, object, structure, contrivance, and load.
(R.C. § 5577.02) (Rev. 2022)
(B) Whoever violates the weight provisions of this section shall be fined $80 for the first 2,000 pounds, or fraction thereof, of overload; for overloads in excess of 2,000 pounds, but not in excess of 5,000 pounds, such person shall be fined $100, and in addition thereto $1 per 100 pounds of overload; for overloads in excess of 5,000 pounds but not in excess of 10,000 pounds, such person shall be fined $130, and in addition thereto $2 per 100 pounds of overload, or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both. For all overloads in excess of 10,000 pounds, such person shall be fined $160, and in addition thereto $3 per 100 pounds of overload, or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both. Whoever violates the weight provisions of vehicle and load relating to gross load limits shall be fined not less than $100. No penalty prescribed in this division (B)(2) shall be imposed on any vehicle combination if the overload on any one axle does not exceed 1,000 pounds, and if the immediately preceding or following axle, excepting the front axle of the vehicle combination, is underloaded by the same or greater amount. For purposes of this division (B)(2), two axles on one vehicle less than eight feet apart shall be considered as one axle.
(R.C. § 5577.99(A)) (Rev. 1997)
(A) Weight of load; width of tire. No person, firm or corporation shall transport over the improved public streets, alleys, intercounty highways, state highways, bridges or culverts in this municipality, in any vehicle propelled by muscular, motor or other power, any burden, including weight of vehicle and load, greater than the following:
(1) (a) In vehicles having metal tires three inches or less in width, a load of 500 pounds for each inch of the total width of the tire on all wheels;
(b) When the tires on such vehicles exceed three inches in width, an additional load of 800 pounds shall be permitted for each inch by which the total width of the tires on all wheels exceeds 12 inches.
(2) In vehicles having tires of rubber or other similar substance, for each inch of the total width of tires on all wheels, as follows:
Tire Width (in inches) Load Limit (in pounds)
3 450
3.5 450
4 500
5 600
6 and over 650
(3) The total width of tires on all wheels shall be, in the case of solid tires of rubber or other similar substance, the actual width in inches of all such tires between the flanges at the base of the tires, but in no event shall that portion of tire coming in contact with the road surface be less than two-thirds the width so measured between the flanges.
(4) In the case of pneumatic tires, of rubber or other similar substance, the total width of tires on all wheels shall be the actual width of all such tires, measured at the widest portion thereof when inflated and not bearing a load.
(5) In no event shall the load, including the proportionate weight of vehicle that can be concentrated on any wheel, exceed 650 pounds to each inch in width of the tread as defined in this division (A) for solid tires, or each inch in the actual diameter of pneumatic tires measured when inflated and not bearing a load.
(R.C. § 5577.03)
(B) Vehicles with pneumatic tires, load limits.
(1) The maximum wheel load of any one wheel of any vehicle, load, object or structure operated or moved upon improved public highways, streets, bridges or culverts shall not exceed 650 pounds per inch width of pneumatic tire, measured as prescribed by division (A) of this section.
(2) The weight of the vehicle and load imposed upon a road surface that is part of the interstate system by vehicles with pneumatic tires shall not exceed any of the following weight limitations:
(a) On any one axle, 20,000 pounds;
(b) On any tandem axle, 34,000 pounds;
(c) On any two or more consecutive axles, the maximum weight as determined by application of the formula provided in division (B)(3) of this section.
(3) (a) For purposes of division (B)(2)(c) of this section, the maximum gross weight on any two or more consecutive axles shall be determined by application of the following formula: W = 500[(LN/–1) + 12N + 36]
(b) In this formula, W equals the overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, L equals the distance in rounded whole feet between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and N equals the number of axles in the group under consideration. However, two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each, provided the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
(4) Except as provided in division (B)(9) of this section, the weight of vehicle and load imposed upon a road surface that is not part of the interstate system by vehicles with pneumatic tires shall not exceed any of the following weight limitations:
(a) On any one axle, 20,000 pounds.
(b) On any two successive axles:
1. Spaced four feet or less apart, and weighed simultaneously, 24,000 pounds;
2. Spaced more than four feet apart, and weighed simultaneously, 34,000 pounds, plus 1,000 pounds per foot or fraction thereof, over four feet, not to exceed 40,000 pounds.
(c) On any three successive load-bearing axles designed to equalize the load between such axles and spaced so that each such axle of the three-axle group is more than four feet from the next axle in the three-axle group and so that the spacing between the first axle and the third axle in the three-axle group is no more than nine feet, and with such load-bearing three-axle group weighed simultaneously as a unit:
1. A weight of 48,000 pounds, with the total weight of the vehicle and load not exceeding 38,000 pounds plus an additional 900 pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle;
2. As an alternative to division (B)(4)(c)1. of this section, 42,500 pounds, if part of a six- axle vehicle combination with at least 20 feet of spacing between the front axle and rearmost axle, with the total weight of the vehicle and load not exceeding 54,000 pounds plus an additional 600 pounds per each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle.
(d) The total weight of the vehicle and load utilizing any combination of axles, other than as provided for three-axle groups in division (B)(4) of this section, shall not exceed 38,000 pounds plus an additional 900 pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle.
(5) Notwithstanding divisions (B)(2) and (B)(4) of this section, the maximum overall gross weight of a vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface shall not exceed 80,000 pounds.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a vehicle is towing another vehicle, such drawbar or other connection shall be of a length such as will limit the spacing between nearest axles of the respective vehicles to a distance not in excess of 12.5 feet.
(7) As used in division (B)(2) of this section, TANDEM AXLE means two or more consecutive axles whose centers may be included between parallel transverse vertical planes spaced more than 40 inches but not more than 96 inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.
(8) This division (B) does not apply to passenger bus type vehicles operated by a regional transit authority pursuant to R.C. §§ 306.30 through 306.54.
(9) Either division (B)(2) or (B)(4) of this section applies to the weight of a vehicle and its load imposed upon any road surface that is not a part of the interstate system by vehicles with pneumatic tires. As between divisions (B)(2) and (B)(4) of this section, only the division that yields the highest total gross vehicle weight limit shall be applied to any such vehicle. Once that division has been determined, only the limits contained in the subdivisions of that division shall apply to that vehicle.
(R.C. § 5577.04) (Rev. 2002)
(C) Axle and wheel load, gross weights and towing connection length for solid rubber tires.
(1) No vehicle, load, object or structure having a maximum axle load greater than 16,000 pounds when such vehicle is equipped with solid rubber tires shall be operated or moved upon the improved public highways, streets, bridges or culverts. The maximum wheel load of any one wheel of such vehicle shall not exceed 650 pounds per inch width of tire, measured as prescribed by division (A) of this section, nor shall any solid tire or rubber or other resilient material, on any wheel of any such vehicle, be less than one inch thick when measure from the top of the flanges of the tire channel.
(2) The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by any two successive axles, spaces four feet or less apart, shall not exceed 19,000 pounds for solid tires; or by any two successive axles spaced more than four feet but less than eight feet apart, shall not exceed 24,000 pounds for solid tires; or by any two successive axles, spaced eight feet or more apart, shall not exceed 28,000 pounds for solid tires; nor shall the total weight of vehicle and load exceed, for solid rubber tires, 28,000 pounds plus an additional 600 pounds for each foot or fraction thereof of spacing between the front axle and the rear-most axle of the vehicle; nor shall the weight of the vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by any vehicle equipped with solid rubber tires exceed 80% of the permissible weight of vehicle and load as provided for pneumatic tires.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a vehicle is towing another vehicle, such drawbar or other connection shall be of a length such as will limit the spacing between the nearest axles of the respective vehicles to a distance not in excess of 12.5 feet. If the provisions of this division (C) are held to exceed the weight limitations or other provisions set forth in the “Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1958", 72 Stat. 902, 23 U.S.C. § 127, this division (C) shall become null and void to the extent of such inconsistency.
(R.C. § 5577.041)
(D) Penalties.
(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on a second or subsequent offense, such person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 5577.99(C)) (Rev. 2005)
(2) Whoever violates the weight provisions of this section shall be punished as set forth in § 74.55(B).
(E) Modification of load limits. The load limits established in this section may be modified or waived upon special permission granted as provided in R.C. § 4513.34 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(Rev. 1999)
(A) No vehicle shall be operated upon the public highways, streets, bridges, and culverts within this municipality whose dimensions exceed those specified in this section.
(B) No such vehicle shall have a width:
(1) In excess of 104 inches for passenger bus type vehicles operated exclusively within the municipality.
(2) In excess of 102 inches, excluding such safety devices as are required by law, for passenger bus type vehicles operated over freeways, and such other state roads with minimum pavement widths of 22 feet, except those roads or portions of roads over which operation of 102-inch buses is prohibited by order of the Director of Transportation.
(3) In excess of 132 inches for traction engines.
(4) In excess of 102 inches for recreational vehicles, excluding safety devices and retracted awnings and other appurtenances of six inches or less in width and except that the Director may prohibit the operation of 102-inch recreational vehicles on designated state highways or portions of highways.
(5) In excess of 102 inches, including load, for all other vehicles, except that the Director may prohibit the operation of 102-inch vehicles on such state highways or portions of state highways as the Director designates.
(C) No such vehicle shall have a length:
(1) In excess of 66 feet for passenger bus type vehicles and articulated passenger bus type vehicles operated by a regional transit authority pursuant to R.C. §§ 306.30 through 306.54.
(2) In excess of 45 feet for all other passenger bus type vehicles.
(3) In excess of 53 feet for any semitrailer when operated in a commercial tractor-semitrailer combination, with or without load, except that the Director may prohibit the operation of any such commercial tractor-semitrailer combination on such state highways or portions of state highways as the Director designates.
(4) In excess of 28.5 feet for any semitrailer or trailer when operated in a commercial tractor-semitrailer- trailer or commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination, except that the Director may prohibit the operation of any such commercial tractor-semitrailer-trailer or commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination on such state highways or portions of state highways as the Director designates.
(5) (a) In excess of 97 feet for drive-away saddlemount vehicle transporter combinations and drive- away saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter combinations when operated on any interstate, United States route, or state route, including reasonable access travel on all other roadways for a distance not to exceed one road mile from any interstate, United States route, or state route, not to exceed three saddlemounted vehicles, but which may include one fullmount;
(b) In excess of 75 feet for drive-away saddlemount vehicle transporter combinations and drive- away saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter combinations when operated on any roadway not designated as an interstate, United States route, or state route, not to exceed three saddlemounted vehicles, but which may include one fullmount.
(6) In excess of 65 feet for any other combination of vehicles coupled together, with or without load, except as provided in division (C)(3) and (C)(4), and in division (E) below.
(7) In excess of 45 feet for recreational vehicles.
(8) In excess of 50 feet for all other vehicles, except trailers and semitrailers, with or without load.
(D) No such vehicle shall have a height in excess of 13.5 feet, with or without load.
(E) An automobile transporter or boat transporter shall be allowed a length of 65 feet, and a stinger-steered automobile transporter or stinger-steered boat transporter shall be allowed a length of 75 feet, except that the load thereon may extend no more than four feet beyond the rear of such vehicles and may extend no more than three feet beyond the front of such vehicles, and except further that the Director may prohibit the operation of a stinger-steered automobile transporter, stinger-steered boat transporter, or a B-train assembly on any state highway or portion of any state highway that the Director designates.
(F) (1) The widths prescribed in division (B) of this section shall not include side mirrors, turn signal lamps, marker lamps, handholds for cab entry and egress, flexible fender extensions, mud flaps, splash and spray suppressant devices, and load-induced tire bulge.
(2) The widths prescribed in division (B)(5) of this section shall not include automatic covering devices, tarp and tarp hardware, and tiedown assemblies, provided these safety devices do not extend more than three inches from either side of the vehicle.
(3) The lengths prescribed in divisions (C)(2) through (C)(7) shall not include safety devices, bumpers attached to the front or rear of such bus or combination, non-property carrying devices or components that do not extend more than 24 inches beyond the rear of the vehicle and are needed for loading or unloading, B-train assembly used between the first and second semitrailer of a commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination, energy conservation devices as provided in any regulations adopted by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, or any noncargo-carrying refrigerator equipment attached to the front of trailers and semitrailers. In special cases, vehicles that dimensions exceed those prescribed by this section may operate in accordance with rules adopted by the Director.
(G) (1) This section does not apply to fire engines, fire trucks, or other vehicles or apparatus belonging to the municipality or to the volunteer fire department thereof or used by such department in the discharge of its functions. This section does not apply to vehicles and pole trailers used in the transportation of wooden and metal poles, nor to the transportation of pipes or well-drilling equipment, nor to farm machinery and equipment.
(2) The owner or operator of any vehicle, machinery, or equipment not specifically enumerated in this section but the dimensions of which exceed the dimensions provided by this section, when operating the same on the highways and streets of the municipality, shall comply with the rules of the Director governing such movement. Any person adversely affected shall have the same right of appeal as provided in R.C. Chapter 119.
(3) This section does not require the municipality or any railroad or other private corporation to provide sufficient vertical clearance to permit the operation of such vehicle, or to make any changes in or about existing structures now crossing streets, roads, and other public thoroughfares.
(H) As used in this section, RECREATIONAL VEHICLE has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
(R.C. § 5577.05) (Rev. 2014)
(I) No person shall violate any rule or regulation promulgated by the Director of Transportation in accordance with R.C. § 5577.05.
(R.C. § 5577.06)
(J) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on a second or subsequent offense, such person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 5577.99(C)) (Rev. 2005)
(A) No person shall issue or aid in issuing any bill of lading or other document of like nature in lieu thereof, which bill or document is to accompany a shipment of goods or property by truck, trailer, semitrailer, commercial tractor, or any other commercial vehicle used for the transportation of property, the gross weight of which, with load, exceeds three tons, with intent to defraud by misrepresentation thereon the weight of such goods of property to be so transported.
(B) Any driver or operator of a commercial car, trailer or semitrailer may obtain from any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association, including the owner, lessee, or operator of such commercial car, trailer or semitrailer, owning and operating sealed scales in this state, a written “statement of gross vehicle weight” showing the gross weight of the vehicle including the cargo on the vehicle, the name and address of the person issuing the statement, and the date and place where the vehicle and its cargo were weighed. The driver or operator of the commercial car, trailer or semitrailer shall retain such statement of gross vehicle weight on his or her person, and any law enforcement officer may request that such driver or operator exhibit it to him or her. If, upon examining the statement of gross vehicle weight, the law enforcement officer has reason to believe that the information contained therein is correct in every respect, he or she shall indorse it with his or her name and the date and place where it was exhibited to him or her. The law enforcement officer may then permit such driver or operator to proceed without weighing by a law enforcement officer. No person shall willfully issue a written statement of gross vehicle weight and knowingly give any false information in such statement.
(R.C. § 5577.10)
(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not less than 30 days nor more than six months, or both.
(R.C. § 5577.99(D))
(A) No person shall drive or operate, or cause to be driven or operated, any commercial car, trailer, or semitrailer, used for the transportation of goods or property, the gross weight of which, with load, exceeds three tons, upon the public highways, streets, bridges, and culverts within the municipality, unless such vehicle is equipped with suitable metal protectors or substantial flexible flaps on the rearmost wheels of such vehicle or combination of vehicles to prevent, as far as practicable, the wheels from throwing dirt, water, or other materials on the windshields of following vehicles. Such protectors or flaps shall have a ground clearance of not more than one-third of the distance from the center of the rearmost axle to the center of the flaps under any conditions of loading of the vehicle, and they shall be at least as wide as the tires they are protecting. If the vehicle is so designed and constructed that such requirements are accomplished by means of fenders, body construction, or other means of enclosure, then no such protectors or flaps are required. Rear wheels not covered at the top by fenders, bodies, or other parts of the vehicle shall be covered at the top by protective means extending at least to the center line of the rearmost axle.
(R.C. § 5577.11) (Rev. 2001)
(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than $25.
(R.C. § 5577.99(E))
Any person violating any law relating to or regulating the use of the improved public roads shall be liable for all damage resulting to any such street, highway, bridge or culvert by reason of such violation. In case of any injury to such street, highway, bridge or culvert, such damages shall be collected by civil action for recovery of such damages brought by the proper authorities of the municipality. All damages collected under this section shall be paid into the treasury of the municipality and credited to any fund for the repairs of streets, highways, roads, bridges or culverts.
(R.C. § 5577.12)
(A) As used in this section:
COAL TRUCK. Means a truck transporting coal from the site where it is mined when the truck is operated in accordance with this section.
FARM COMMODITIES. Includes livestock, bulk milk, corn, soybeans, tobacco and wheat.
FARM MACHINERY. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
FARM TRUCK. Means a truck used in the transportation from a farm of farm commodities when the truck is operated in accordance with this section.
LOG TRUCK. Means a truck used in the transportation of timber from the site of its cutting when the truck is operated in accordance with this section.
SOLID WASTE. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 3743.01.
SOLID WASTE HAUL VEHICLE. Means a vehicle hauling solid waste for which a bill of lading has not been issued.
(B) (1) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the following vehicles under the described conditions may exceed by no more than 7.5% the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, shall be imposed:
(a) A coal truck transporting coal, from the place of production to the first point of delivery where title to the coal is transferred;
(b) A farm truck or farm machinery transporting farm commodities, from the place of production to the first point of delivery where the commodities are weighed and title to the commodities is transferred;
(c) A log truck transporting timber, from the site of its cutting to the first point of delivery where the timber is transferred;
(d) A solid waste haul vehicle hauling solid waste, from the place of production to the first point of delivery where the solid waste is disposed of or title to the solid waste is transferred.
(2) In addition, if any of the vehicles listed in division (B)(1) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division does not exceed by more than 7.5% the gross vehicle weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and does not exceed the wheel or axle- load limits of those sections by more than 7.5%, no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, for a wheel or axle overload shall be imposed.
(C) If any of the vehicles listed in division (B)(1) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division exceeds the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, by more than the percentage allowance of either divisions (B)(1) or (B)(2) of this section, both of the following apply without regard to the allowance provided by this division (B) of this section:
(1) The applicable penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;
(2) The civil liability imposed by R.C. § 5577.12, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(D) (1) Division (B) of this section does not apply to the operation of a farm truck, log truck, or farm machinery transporting farm commodities during the months of February and March.
(2) Regardless of when the operation occurs, division (B) of this section does not apply to the operation of a vehicle on either of the following:
(a) A highway that is part of the interstate system;
(b) A highway, road, or bridge that is subject to reduced maximum weights under R.C. § 4513.33, 5577.07, 5577.071, 5577.08, 5577.09, or 5591.42, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(R.C. § 5577.042) (Rev. 2012)
(E) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the following vehicles under the described conditions may exceed by no more than 7.5% the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, shall be imposed:
(1) A surface mining truck transporting minerals from the place where the minerals are loaded to any of the following:
(a) The construction site where the minerals are discharged;
(b) The place where title to the minerals is transferred;
(c) The place of processing.
(2) A vehicle transporting hot mix asphalt material from the place where the material is first mixed to the paving site where the material is discharged;
(3) A vehicle transporting concrete from the place where the material is first mixed to the site where the material is discharged;
(4) A vehicle transporting manure, turf, sod, or silage from the site where the material is first produced to the first place of delivery;
(5) A vehicle transporting chips, sawdust, mulch, bark, pulpwood, biomass, or firewood from the site where the product is first produced or harvested to first point where the product is transferred.
(F) In addition, if any of the vehicles listed in division (E) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division do not exceed by more than 7.5% the gross vehicle weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and do not exceed the wheel or axle-load limits of those sections by more than 7.5%, no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, for a wheel or axle overload shall be imposed.
(G) If any of the vehicles listed in division (E) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division exceed the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, by more than the percentage allowance of either divisions (E) or (F) of this section, both of the following apply without regard to the allowance provided by division (E) or (F) of this section:
(1) The applicable penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;
(2) The civil liability imposed by R.C. § 5577.12, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(H) Divisions (E) and (F) of this section do not apply to the operation of a vehicle listed in division (E) of this section on either of the following:
(1) A highway that is part of the interstate system;
(2) A highway, road, or bridge that is subject to reduced maximum weights under R.C. § 4513.33, 5577.07, 5577.071, 5577.08, 5577.09, or 5591.42, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(R.C. § 5577.043) (Rev. 2012)
(I) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, a vehicle fueled solely by compressed natural gas or liquid natural gas or powered primarily by means of an electric battery may exceed by not more than 2,000 pounds the gross vehicle weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or the axle load limits of those sections.
(J) If a vehicle described in division (I) of this section exceeds the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, by more than the allowance provided for in division (I) of this section, both of the following apply:
(1) The applicable penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;
(2) The civil liability imposed by R.C. § 5577.12, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(K) Division (I) of this section does not apply to the operation of a vehicle on a highway, road, or bridge that is subject to reduced maximum weights under R.C. § 4513.33, 5577.07, 5577.071, 5577.08, 5577.09, or 5591.42, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(R.C. § 5577.044) (Rev. 2024)
(L) Fire engine weight exemptions.
(1) As used in this division (L), FIRE ENGINE means a fire engine, fire truck, or other vehicle or apparatus belonging to or used by any municipal, township, or volunteer fire department, while in the discharge of its functions.
(2) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, a person may do both of the following without a written permit issued under R.C. § 4513.34, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance:
(a) Operate a two-axle fire engine, with a front axle maximum weight of 24,000 pounds and a rear axle maximum weight of 33,500 pounds and a minimum wheelbase of 15 feet, on all roadways in the state;
(b) Operate a fire engine with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 86,000 pounds on the interstate highway system and within one road mile of an interstate highway system entrance or exit ramp.
(3) Notwithstanding R.C. § 4513.34, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, for any fire engine that requires a permit, the Ohio Director of Transportation or local authority shall do both of the following:
(a) Issue the permit at no cost to the municipal, township, or volunteer fire department;
(b) Issue a permit that expires five years after the date of issuance.
(R.C. § 5577.045) (Rev. 2022)