| Chapter 077 |
| 2024 -- H 7470 Enacted 06/12/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS |
Introduced By: Representatives Cardillo, Azzinaro, Noret, Finkelman, Shanley, Felix, Phillips, Serpa, O'Brien, and Handy |
| Date Introduced: February 02, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 31-25-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size, |
| Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 31-25-10. Fastening of load and covering. |
| (a) No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and |
| any covering on it is securely fastened so as to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, |
| detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway. |
| (b) No motor truck trailer or semitrailer which that is used for the purpose of hauling logs, |
| pulpwood, lumber, or other materials which that by their very nature may shift or roll so as to be |
| likely to fall from the vehicle, shall be operated or moved over any highway unless its load is |
| securely fastened to the vehicle by chains, cables, or other approved devices as will effectively |
| prevent the shifting of the load or any part of it falling from the vehicle. The ends of the chains, |
| cables, or other devices and any tire chains shall be tied securely, whether the vehicle is loaded or |
| unloaded, so that loose ends shall not endanger pedestrians or other vehicles encountered on the |
| highway. |
| (c) This section shall not be construed to include a truck transporting lumber, wood, or |
| sawmill wastes, when transported in a box type body with solid sides, provided that the truck is not |
| loaded higher than its side-boards. |
| (d) A person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined: |
| (1) Not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the first violation; and |
| (2) Not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for |
| any subsequent violations. |
| (e) No person shall operate a motor truck or other vehicle carrying or transporting any |
| rubbish, refuse, or other debris or loose material on any highway without first securely fastening a |
| covering on it to prevent the contents from falling to the highway. No person shall operate on any |
| highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering on it is securely fastened so |
| as to prevent that covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to |
| other users of the highway. The covering must remain in place and secured during travel on any |
| highway until the contents have been properly cleaned and purged from the vehicle. |
| (f) No person shall operate an open motor truck or other similar vehicle while carrying or |
| transporting any child under sixteen (16) years of age without securely fastening the child to prevent |
| them from becoming loose or detached in any manner. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC004411 |
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