(a) Weight Restricted; Definitions. No traction engine, steam roller or other vehicle, load, object or structure, whether propelled by muscular or motor power, not including vehicles run upon stationary rails or tracks, fire engines, fire trucks or other vehicles or apparatus belonging to or used by any municipal or volunteer fire department in the discharge of its functions, shall be operated or moved over or upon the improved public streets, highways, bridges or culverts in the City, upon wheels, rollers or otherwise, weighing in excess of the weights prescribed in this chapter, including the weight of the vehicle, object, structure or contrivance and load, except upon special permission, granted as provided by law or ordinance.
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be construed to mean the following:
(1) "Axle" shall mean one or more load-carrying wheels mounted in a single transverse vertical plane.
(2) "Spacing between axles" shall mean the distance between any two successive such planes.
(3) "Maximum axle load" shall mean the gross weight of vehicle and load imposed by any axle upon the road surface.
(4) "Maximum wheel load" shall mean the proportionate gross weight of vehicle and load imposed by any wheel upon the road surface.
(5) "Vehicle" shall mean any single vehicle when not in combination, or any combination of vehicles.
(6) "Load limit" shall mean that weight capable of being placed on any truck, trailer, semitrailer or pole trailer in terms of property or goods for the purpose of transporting same whether defined by State regulations or otherwise.
(Ord. 89-1976. Passed 8-27-76.)
(7) "Bus" shall mean every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than nine passengers and used for the transportation of persons with or without compensation.
(Ord. 29-1977. Passed 4-25-77.)
(b) Weight of Load on Highways, Bridges; Width of Tire Prescribed. No person shall transport over the improved streets, alleys, intercounty highways, State highways, bridges or culverts, 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 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 twelve inches.
(2) In vehicles having tires of rubber or other similar substances, for each inch of total width of tires on all wheels, as follows:
A. For tires three inches in width, a load of 450 pounds;
B. For tires three and one-half inches in width, a load of 450 pounds;
C. For tires four inches in width, a load of 500 pounds;
D. For tires five inches in width, a load of 600 pounds;
E. For tires six inches and over in width, a load of 650 pounds.
The total width of tires on all wheels shall be, in 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 the tire coming in contact with the road surface be less than two-thirds of the width so measured between the flanges.
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 sure tires, measured at the widest portion thereon when inflated and not bearing a load.
In 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.
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 section for solid tires, or each inch in the actual diameter of pneumatic tires measured when inflated and not bearing a load. (Ord. 126-1962. Passed 1-28-63.)
(c) Weight Limits; For Pneumatic Tires. No vehicle, load, object, or structure having a maximum axle load greater than twenty thousand pounds shall be operated or moved upon improved public highways, streets, bridges, or culverts. The maximum wheel load of any one wheel of any such vehicle shall not exceed 650 pounds per inch width of pneumatic tire, measured as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 5577.03.
(1) The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by vehicles with pneumatic tires shall not exceed the following:
A. By any two successive axles, spaced four feet or less apart, and weighed simultaneously, 24,000 pounds;
B. By any two successive axles, 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.
(2) The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by vehicles with pneumatic tires, by 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 of the three-axle group is no more than nine feet, shall be computed using either of the following methods:
A. Such load-bearing three-axle group shall be weighed simultaneously as a unit and shall not exceed 48,000 pounds. The total weight of vehicle and load 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 provided, that the total weight of the vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface shall not exceed 80,000 pounds.
B. Such load-bearing three-axle group shall be weighed simultaneously as a unit and shall not exceed 42,500 pounds. The total weight of vehicle and load of a six-axle vehicle combination, with at least twenty feet of spacing between the front axle and rearmost axle, shall not exceed 54,000 pounds plus an additional 600 pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle, provided, that the total weight of the vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface shall not exceed 80,000 pounds.
The total weight of vehicle and load utilizing any combination of axles, other than as provided for three-axle groups in subsection (c)(2) hereof, shall not exceed 38,000 pounds plus an additional 900 pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and rearmost axle of the vehicle, provided that the total weight of a vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by vehicles with pneumatic tires shall not exceed 80,000 pounds.
(d) Weight Limits for Solid Rubber Tires. 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 any such vehicle shall not exceed 650 pounds per inch width of tire, measured as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 5577.03, nor shall any solid tire of rubber or other resilient material, on any wheel of any such vehicle, be less than one inch thick when measured from the top of the flanges of the tire channel.
The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by any two successive axles, spaced 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 betweeen the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle; nor shall the weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by any vehicle equipped with solid rubber tires, exceed eighty percent (80%) of the permissible weight of vehicle and load as provided for pneumatic tires.
(e) 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 shall limit the spacing between nearest axles of the respective vehicles to a distance not in excess of twelve feet and six inches.