(a) The maximum wheel load of any one wheel of any vehicle, trackless trolley, load, object, or structure operated or moved upon improved public highways, streets, bridges, or culverts shall not exceed six hundred fifty pounds per inch width of pneumatic tire, measured as prescribed by Section 5577.03 of the Revised Code.
(b) The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface of any part of the interstate system or, except as permitted by subsection (d) hereof, 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:
(1) On any one axle, twenty thousand pounds;
(2) On any tandem axle, thirty-four thousand pounds;
(3) On any two or more consecutive axles, the maximum weight as determined by application of the formula provided in subsection (c) hereof.
(c) For purposes of division (B)(3) 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/N-1) + 12N + 36).
In this formula, W equals the overall gross weight of any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest five hundred pounds, L equals the distance in 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 thirty-four thousand pounds each, provided the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six feet or more.
(d) Through June 30, 1996, as an alternative to subsection (b) hereof, 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 the following:
(1) By any two successive axles, spaced four feet or less apart, and weighed simultaneously, twenty-four thousand pounds;
(2) By any two successive axles, spaced more than four feet apart, and weighed simultaneously, thirty-four thousand pounds, plus one thousand pounds per foot, or fraction thereof, over four feet, not to exceed forty thousand pounds.
(e) The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon a road surface that is not part of the interstate system 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:
(1) Such load-bearing three-axle group shall be weighed simultaneously as a unit and shall not exceed forty-eight thousand pounds. The total weight of vehicle and load shall not exceed thirty-eight thousand pounds plus an additional nine hundred pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle.
(2) Such load-bearing three-axle group shall be weighed simultaneously as a unit and shall not exceed forty-two thousand five hundred 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 fifty-four thousand pounds plus an additional six hundred pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle.
The total weight of vehicle and load utilizing any combination of axles, other than as provided for three-axle groups in this subsection, shall not exceed thirty-eight thousand pounds plus an additional nine hundred pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and rearmost axle of the vehicle.
(f) Notwithstanding subsections (b), (d) and (e) hereof, the maximum overall gross weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds.
(g) 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 twelve feet and six inches.
(h) As used in this section, "tandem axle" means two consecutive axles whose centers may be included between parallel transverse vertical planes spaced more than forty inches but not more than ninety-six inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.
(i) This section does not apply to passenger bus type vehicles operated by a regional transit authority pursuant to Ohio R.C. 306.30 to 306.54.
(Ord. 1994-44. Passed 6-27-94.)
(j) Whoever violates the weight provisions of Section 339.12 shall be fined eighty dollars ($80.00) for the first two thousand pounds, or fraction thereof, of overload; for overloads in excess of two thousand pounds, but not in excess of five thousand pounds, such person shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00), and in addition thereto one dollar ($1.00) per one hundred pounds of overload; for overloads in excess of five thousand pounds but not in excess of ten thousand pounds, such person shall be fined one hundred thirty dollars ($130.00) and in addition thereto two dollars ($2.00) per one hundred pounds of overload. For all overloads in excess of ten thousand pounds such person shall be fined one hundred sixty dollars ($160.00), and in addition thereto three dollars ($3.00) per one hundred pounds of overload. Whoever violates the weight provisions of vehicle and load relating to gross load limits shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars. No penalty prescribed in this subsection shall be imposed on any vehicle combination if the overload on any axle does not exceed one thousand pounds, and if the immediately preceding or following axle, excepting the front axle of the vehicle combination is underloaded by the same or a greater amount. For purposes of this subsection, two axles on one vehicle less than eight feet apart shall be considered as one axle. Whoever violates Section 339.12 shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor.
(Ord. 1988-84. Passed 8-22-88.)
(Ord. 1988-84. Passed 8-22-88.)