2024 -- S 2947

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LC004539

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

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

     Introduced By: Senators Britto, Ciccone, LaMountain, F. Lombardi, Raptakis,
McKenney, Burke, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: April 02, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Dept. of Transportation)

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 is used for the purpose of hauling logs,

pulpwood, lumber, or other materials which 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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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

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

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     This act would add "loose material" to the contents of a vehicle that must be covered by a

covering that must remain in place until the vehicle's contents are purged from the vehicle.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004539

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