2021 -- H 5126

========

LC000400

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD LIMITS --

MIDDLETOWN

     Introduced By: Representatives Ruggiero, Cortvriend, and Abney

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2021

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-25-27.10 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size,

Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-25-27.10. Weight restrictions on Forest Avenue -- Middletown Weight restrictions

on Forest Avenue and Turner Road -- Middletown.

     (a) The operation of through commercial vehicles on Forest Avenue and Turner Road is

prohibited.

     (b) For purposes of this section, a commercial vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle or

combination of vehicles used to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle:

     (1) Has a gross combination weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds (26,001 lbs.)

or more, or a towed unit with a gross vehicle rating of more than ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.)

or more, or has a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds (26,001 lbs.) or

more; or

     (2) Is designed to transport sixteen (16) or more passengers including the driver; or

     (3) Is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with

49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F, as it may be revised from time to time.

     (c) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the use of such streets or highways by:

     (1) Any fire truck, town public works department truck, police vehicle, ambulance, school

bus, bus serving the area, or other motor truck using such streets or highways in any emergency or

engaged in delivering goods, wares, merchandising or materials to or from any residence, building

or lot within the town bordering on such streets or highways; or

     (2) Any farm vehicle as defined in § 31-1-8, which is registered with farm plates pursuant

to § 31-3-31.

     (d) In all instances where motor vehicle traffic is restricted or prohibited under this section,

the town administrator is directed to cause signs to be erected on such streets or highways giving

notice of such, in accordance with the manual on uniform traffic control devices.

     (e) Any driver who operates a commercial vehicle in contravention of this section shall be

subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for a first violation, fifty dollars

($50.00) for a second violation, and not less than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125), but no

more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each subsequent violation.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC000400

========

LC000400 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD LIMITS --

MIDDLETOWN

***

     This act would prohibit the operation of through commercial vehicles on Turner Road in

Middletown.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC000400

========

LC000400 - Page 3 of 3