(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (3) below:
(1) No vehicle, trackless trolley, load, object or structure having a maximum axle load greater than 16,000 pounds when such vehicle is equipped with solid rubber tires, or greater than 9,000 pounds when such vehicle is equipped with pneumatic tires, 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 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.
(2) 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, nor 24,000 pounds for pneumatic 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 nor 32,000 pounds for pneumatic tires; or by any two successive axles, spaced eight feet or more apart, shall not exceed 28,000 pounds for solid tires, nor 38,000 pounds for pneumatic 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 rearmost axle of the vehicle, nor 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 for pneumatic tires; nor shall the weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface by any vehicle exceed 78,000 pounds for pneumatic tires; nor shall the weight of vehicle and load exceed, for solid tires, 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, the 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 feet 6 inches. If the provisions of this section should be held to exceed the weight limitations or provisions set forth in the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, this section shall become null and void to the extent of the inconsistency. (ORC 5577.041)
(b) (1) Whenever in the judgment of the Mayor or other administrative officer, charged with the control of traffic, any highway, street, or part thereof, would be injured or damaged by general use by vehicles having solid tires or by vehicles exceeding in gross weight or in weight per inch of tire width, over the limits which he shall determine to be safe for such highway, street or part thereof, he shall erect appropriate traffic signs prohibiting the operation of vehicles having solid tires, or indicating and designating such weight limits, and it shall be unlawful to operate over such highway, street or part thereof any vehicle having solid tires or exceeding such weight limits without securing a permit.
(2) The Mayor has determined that a 10,000 pound weight limit be placed on all residential City streets, due to the cost of repairs for damage done by such vehicles to City street. (1993 Code 74.43)
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.