2025 -- H 5730

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LC001552

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

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

     Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Boylan, Cortvriend, Edwards, and Casey

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size,

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

     31-25-21. Power to permit excess size or weight of loads.

     (a) The department of transportation, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may,

in its discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown for it, approve the

issuance of a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle, or

combination of vehicles, of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding eighty thousand pounds

(80,000 lbs.) or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of chapters 1 — 27 of this title

upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting the permit and for the maintenance

of which the party is responsible. Permits that have been issued for a full year shall not be required

to be renewed for the period of time for which payment has been made and the application and

other required documentation has been completed and filed. Provided, that neither the department

of transportation nor the local authorities may approve the issuance of permits for divisible loads

weighing in excess of the limits set by the director of the department of transportation by and

through the rules and regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled “rules

and regulations regarding overweight and oversize vehicle permits”.

     (1) Provided, however, that for milk products, any vehicle carrying fluid milk products

shall be considered a load that cannot be easily dismantled or divided.

     (b) The director of the department of transportation may enter into agreements with other

states, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces providing for the reciprocal enforcement

of the overweight or over-dimensional vehicle permit laws of those jurisdictions entering into the

agreement.

     (c) Single trip non-divisible permit fee. A fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be paid to the

department of transportation for the issuance of each non-divisible single trip permit. Upon

approval of the application, the department of transportation shall provide the approved permit. The

driver must possess the permit and documentation as required by the permit at all times.

     (d) Annual construction equipment blanket permit fee. An annual fee of four hundred

dollars ($400) paid to the department of transportation shall exempt the payor from the necessity

of paying single trip permit fees for non-divisible construction equipment loads, boats, or marine

assets of less than one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) as found in subsection (c).

However, payment of the fee shall not be deemed to authorize noncompliance with the rules and

regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled “rules and regulations

regarding overweight and oversize vehicle permits”.

     (e) Blanket construction equipment permits may be issued, as determined by the

department of transportation, for intrastate movement of non-divisible construction equipment

loads, boats or marine assets upon payment of the fee set forth in subsection (d). If used in

conjunction with an annual divisible load permit, the limits and requirements of the blanket

construction equipment permit shall supersede the requirements of the divisible load permit. The

driver must possess both permits and all required documentation. The duration of the blanket permit

may not exceed one year. The construction equipment blanket permit load shall be limited to a

minimum overall length of fifty-five feet (55′), a maximum overall length of eighty feet (80′), a

maximum width of twelve feet four inches (12′ 4″), a maximum gross weight of one hundred thirty

thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.), and a maximum axle weight of twenty-five thousand pounds

(25,000 lbs.); provided, that the department of transportation, with respect to highways under its

jurisdiction, may, in its discretion and upon application and for good cause shown, approve the

issuance of a single trip non-divisible permit authorizing the applicant to exceed one hundred thirty

thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) for non-divisible loads. A flashing amber light shall be in operation

above the highest point of the vehicle and shall be visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle;

and signs and red warning flags shall be affixed to all extremities. All blanket permits issued in

accordance with this section shall be effective during daylight and night-time hours for all over-

dimensional moves made and travel shall be allowed on state highways.

     (f) Permission to travel is always subject to weather and road conditions. The following

restrictions on travel times shall apply to all vehicles over eight feet six inches (8′ 6″) wide, over

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eighty feet (80′) long, or over one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.):

     (1) Freeways and arterial roadways.

     No travel will be allowed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. or between 3:00

p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

     (2) [Deleted by P.L. 2022, ch. 178, § 1 and P.L. 2022, ch. 179, § 1.]

     (3) Holidays.

     Memorial Day, Victory Day, Labor Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Columbus

Day — No Saturday, Sunday, or Monday day or night travel.

     Thanksgiving Day — No travel on Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week in

any calendar year.

     Independence Day, Veterans Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day — No day or night

travel and no travel the previous night.

     Easter Sunday. No Saturday night or Sunday travel.

     (4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-25-24.

     (g) Construction equipment blanket Blanket permits shall not be granted for travel over the

following bridges:

     Blackstone River Viaduct 750 carrying I-295 northbound and southbound over the

Blackstone River;

     Kingston Road Bridge No. 403 carrying I-95 northbound and southbound over Kingston

Road.

     (h) Travel of blanket permitted construction equipment permits through zones with

reductions in lane width such as construction zones will not be allowed. Prior to travel, blanket

permit holders are responsible to verify the location of construction zones and lane width

reductions. Locations of lane width reduction zones are available through the state department of

transportation’s construction office.

     (i) Upon approval of the annual construction equipment blanket permit application, the

department of transportation shall provide the approved permit. The driver must possess the permit

and documentation as required by the permit at all times.

     (j) Any carrier or persons found to be operating without a required permit, or in excess of

their permit limits, three (3) times within a one-year period shall be revoked of their ability to use

and receive permits within the state for up to thirty (30) days. Additional violations shall result in

revocation of up to ninety (90) days.

     (k) Operation of any vehicle in excess of the requirements of any permit shall void that

permit and result in the imposition of fines as provided in this chapter.

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     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 AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

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     This act would allow boats and marine assets to utilize the overweight oversize annual

blanket permit, that was in effect until 2022, when it was no longer allowed. It would also allow

for the resumption of the prior practice, which was outlawed, of permitting for boats and marine

asset transportation.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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