(a) Authority. Pursuant to W.Va. Code § 17C-17-11, Council may, in the exercise of its discretion and upon application duly made, issue a special permit authorizing the applicant to move or operate a licensed mobile home or house trailer which is overlength, overwidth or overheight, along, upon, over and across the streets of this city.
(b) Legal dimensions. A mobile home or house trailer, including its towing vehicle, whose overall dimensions do not exceed the statutory limits given below may be operated over city streets without a special permit.
Combination length | 50 feet |
Mobile home length | No regulation |
Width | 8 feet |
Height | 12 feet 6 inches |
(c) Permit information.
(1) A permit to move a mobile home over legal dimensions may be obtained at the office of the City Manager, 108 North Main Street, Philippi, West Virginia, 26416.
(2) Maximum over dimension permit limitations.
Combination length | 85 feet |
Mobile home length | 70 feet |
Width | 14 feet |
Height | 12 feet 6 inches |
(3) A. A permit may be obtained either by letter, in person, by telephone or telegraph.
B. The following information must be furnished with permit application: name, address and telephone number of applicant; driver’s name and address; description of mobile home, including make, year, model, serial number, license number, overall length and width; description of towing vehicle, including capacity, make, year, model and license number; name and address of insurance company and expiration date of insurance; description of routes to be traveled.
(4) The cost of all oversize mobile home permits shall be $5 for each trip.
(d) Travel regulations.
(1) Travel shall be only over routes designated in the permit.
(2) All movements must be made between the hours from dawn to dusk, week days only. No travel will be permitted for weekends, holidays or night time; except there should be no movement through the city during the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and from the hours of 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
(3) The movement of 14-foot wide mobile homes is restricted to streets designated by Council.
(4) Manufacturers, distribution and sales organizations, of 14-foot wide mobile homes shall make application to the City Manager to determine a possible route for delivery of mobile homes to the point of destination.
(5) Permits in advance are legal for five days and must be carried in the towing vehicle.
(6) Notwithstanding the issuance of a permit, mobile homes of greater than legal dimension shall not be moved at any time when driving conditions are hazardous due to disturbance of road surfaces and/or visibility by natural phenomena such as snow, ice, fog, excessive rain and the like.
(e) Manufacturing regulations.
(1) Fourteen-foot wide mobile homes will not be permitted except those which are manufactured with a 33-foot minimum overhang which extends from the outside of the wheels to the extreme outer limits of the mobile home. This will reduce the use of pavement width by extending the overhanging portion of the mobile home over the shoulder area.
(2) Fourteen-foot wide mobile homes must be constructed with a three axle undercarriage equipped with three complete sets of brakes and ten-ply tires 8-14.5 minimum size is required. A spare wheel and tire must be carried.
(3) All mobile homes shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the vehicle, and shall be so designed that they can be capable of application by the driver of the towing vehicle; also connected so that in case of brake loss in the towing vehicle, the brakes will be automatically applied.
(f) Safety regulations. The permit applicant shall maintain and operate all equipment covered by the permit in accordance with all applicable laws of the city. On all two lane highways, mobile homes up to and including 12-foot wide shall have an escort vehicle at the front of the towing vehicle. On expressways of four or more lanes, with the exception of interstate highways, units in excess of 12 feet wide shall have escort vehicle at rear. All other highways will require a pilot and escort vehicle at front and rear of mobile homes over 12 feet wide.
(3) A. The towing vehicle and the escort vehicles must be marked at the appropriate location with a sign containing the message, “OVERSIZE LOAD AHEAD”. Each sign shall not be less than six feet in length and 12 feet in height, with letters which shall be at least 12 inches high, black in color, on a yellow background.
B. These signs shall also be placed to the rear of the mobile home and shall be so mounted that the bottom of the sign shall not be less than six feet above the roadway. The signs may be removable devices made of durable material.
(4) The towing vehicle and mobile home shall be flagged both front and rear with six red flags, not less than 16 inches square and made of plastic or cloth, which shall be placed as follows: one at each end of the front bumper of the towing vehicle, and one on each of the top corners of the mobile home.
(5) Towing and escort vehicles shall be equipped with four-way amber flashing lights spaced not less than six feet above the roadway. All running lights must be burning while on the highway.
(6) Towing and escort vehicles shall have two-way radio communications.
(7) When one-way streets or narrow bridges or restrictive structures are encountered, the driver of the escort vehicles shall, if oncoming traffic is present, act as a flagman at the end of the structure to ensure the safe passage of mobile homes and traffic over or through the constricted area.
(8) The tow bar must be located in such a position that the center of the socket of the coupler shall not be less than 20 inches from the ground.
(9) The towing vehicle of all mobile homes must be of a capacity of at least one ton for mobile homes up to 12-foot wide and of two ton capacity for 14-foot wide mobile homes with four speed transmission and dual drive wheels.
(10) The driver of a towing vehicle shall not permit a buildup of traffic to the rear exceeding five vehicles if the roadway will permit pull-off of towing vehicle or passing.
(11) Driver of towing vehicles on 14-foot wide mobile homes must have a minimum of two years experience in towing oversize mobile homes.
(12) Movers of all mobile homes which will require parking restrictions, or impede the normal flow of traffic in any way through the municipality will notify the local authorities prior to movement. The municipality may require police escort.
(13) The towing vehicle or mobile homes shall be equipped with safety chains and brake load devices of sufficient strength to hold all weights being towed.
(14) All towing vehicles moving mobile homes of greater than legal dimensions shall stop at all truck weighing stations, either platform or portable, and submit the combination of vehicles to any inspection deemed to be necessary to determine if they are in compliance with these regulations and applicable highway laws.
(15) The maximum speed of vehicles towing mobile homes shall be 40 miles per hour, with the exception of multiple-lane highways it shall be 45 miles per hour.
(16) A multiple trip permit may be issued in the discretion of the Council for the operation of mobile homes with widths not exceeding 14 feet and not exceeding the gross weight limit as set forth in W.Va. Code § 17C-17-11, as amended. Such permits shall be issued subject to the following conditions: a book of coupons containing no less than five or more than 20 shall be attached to each permit. Each coupon shall be issued in the following form and manner:
Date __________________________ Coupon No.______________________________ ______________________________________, Applicant, Is Hereby Granted Permit No. __________ Validation No. ______________ To Move __________ Wide Mobile Home Overall Length ______________ Ser. ________________ Lic. ____________________ Tow Truck _________________ Ton_________________ Lic. ____________________ From ______________________ To _________________ Rts. ____________________ Dates to Travel ___________________________________________________________ |
(g) Additional restrictions. The City Manager reserves the right to place such additional restrictions and exceptions on the movement of mobile homes of greater than legal dimensions as may be deemed necessary. Any such restrictions imposed by the issuing agency will be recorded on the face of the permit. The City Manager reserves the right to deny and permit within the exercise of this discretion and in the event of violation of state laws or any provisions of these regulations, the permit may be cancelled.