(A) The department may issue permits for the operation of motor vehicles, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, boats, or any other vehicle transporting a nondivisible load, whose gross weight including load, height, width or length exceeds the limits prescribed by this chapter or which in other respects fail to comply with the requirements of this chapter. Permits may be issued by the department for stated periods, special purposes and unusual conditions, and upon such terms in the interest of the public safety and the preservation of the highways as the department may require.
(B) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the department may, at the request of an applicant, issue a single-trip permit regardless of the type of vehicle or equipment being transported that exceeds the weight or dimension limits established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load. A single-trip permit shall cost $60 for each overweight or overdimensional permit requested.
(C) (1) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the department may, at the request of an applicant, issue an annual permit regardless of the type of vehicle or equipment being transported that exceeds the weight or dimension limits established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load.
(2) The vehicle operating under a permit issued under this section shall not exceed 16 feet in width exclusive of usual and ordinary overhang, 120 feet in length including a towing vehicle and trailer combination, 13 feet 6 inches in height, or 160,000 pounds.
(3) Except as provided in divisions (D), (G) and (H) of this section, an annual permit for loads less than or equal to 14 feet in width shall cost $250. An annual permit for loads exceeding 14 feet in width shall cost $500.
(D) An annual permit to transport farm equipment less than 14 feet in width shall cost $80. An annual permit to transport farm equipment that exceeds 14 feet in width from a dealership to a farm, from a farm to a dealership, or from a dealership to a dealership shall cost $150.
(E) Permits issued under this section shall be for nondivisible loads and shall be valid statewide; however, the department may, as a condition of issuing an annual or single-trip permit, limit the overdimensional vehicle to specified routes, exclude certain highways, or even cancel an applicant's permit if an unreasonable risk of accident or an unreasonable impedance of the flow of traffic would result from the presence of the overweight or overdimensional vehicle. A person who applies for, and accepts, a permit issued under this section is acknowledging that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is not guaranteeing safe passage of vehicles by issuing the permit. A person who applies for, and accepts, a permit issued under this section agrees to measure all clearance of highway structures, both laterally and vertically, prior to passage of the person's vehicles along the routes specified in the permit. A person who applies for, and accepts, a permit issued under this section is classified as a bare licensee whose duty is to assume sole risk involved in using Kentucky's highways without warranty of accuracy.
(F) The Department shall promulgate administrative regulations under KRS Chapter 13A to establish requirements for escort vehicles, safety markings, and other safety restrictions governing the operation of an overweight or overdimensional vehicle. The department shall provide each applicant for an annual or single-trip permit issued under this section a copy of all restrictions associated with the overweight or overdimensional permit at no charge to the applicant. The Department shall be prohibited from raising the permit fee established in division (B) and (C) of this section by levying additional fees for an overweight or overdimensional permit through the administrative regulation process.
(G) (1) Notwithstanding KRS 189.269, the department may, at the request of an applicant who is a transporter of manufactured housing, issue an annual permit that exceeds the weight or dimension limits established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load.
(2) The vehicle operated shall not exceed 16 feet in width exclusive of usual and ordinary overhang, 120 feet in length including a towing vehicle and trailer combination, 15 feet in height, or 160,000 pounds.
(3) The cost for an annual permit issued under this subsection shall be:
(a) One thousand five hundred dollars for loads greater than 14 feet in width or greater than 13 feet six inches in height; and
(b) Five hundred dollars for loads less than or equal to 14 feet in width and less than or equal to 13 feet six inches in height.
(4) The holder of a permit issued under this subsection shall, when transporting a manufactured home:
(a) Abide by all escort requirements, safety markings, and other safety restrictions governing overweight and overdimensional vehicles; and
(b) Equip each truck operating under a permit with global positioning system technology that keeps a record of locations traveled. The travel records of trucks operating under a permit shall be open to inspection by the Transportation Cabinet.
(5) Any person with a permit under this subsection who operates a vehicle greater than 13 feet six inches in height while operating in a restricted area designated by the Transportation Cabinet shall be fined $1,000.
(H) The Cabinet shall not issue an annual permit under this section if the person applying for the permit is eligible for an annual permit issued under KRS 189.2716 or 189.2717.
(I) The Department may require the applicant to give bond, with the approved surety, to indemnify the state or counties against damage to highways or bridges resulting from use by the applicant. The operation of vehicles, in accordance with the terms of the permit issued under this section shall not constitute a violation of this chapter if the operator has the permit, or an authenticated copy of it, in his or her possession.
(J) Any person transporting a parade float which exceeds the dimensional limits on a highway over which it is transported shall be required to obtain a permit as required in division (B) of this section. If the float is being used in conjunction with a parade to be held within the boundaries of the commonwealth, no fee shall be assessed by the department to issue the permit.
(K) A person shall not operate any vehicle in violation of the terms of the permit issued under this section.
(KRS 189.270) Penalty, see § 70.99 (B), (CC)