La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 14.32 Annual Extralegal Load Permits and Special Extralegal Load Permits

The public works director, or designated representative, is authorized to issue annual extralegal load permits that are valid for the balance of the calendar year in which the permit is issued. The annual permit is valid for use by any transport vehicle owned by the person or entity named on the permit. There is no limit to the number of times a valid permit may be used provided each extralegal load complies with the requirements of this chapter. The wet signature original annual extralegal load permit must be present on the transport vehicle during the entire course of the move.

The public works director, or designated representative, is authorized to issue special extralegal load permits for variance loads. Given the atypical nature of variance loads, the public works director shall carefully evaluate the potential impacts to the existing infrastructure prior to issuing a special extralegal load permit and require the permit applicant to pay for any and all expenses associated that may be required to accommodate the proposed move of the variance load.

(Ord. 421 § 1, 2005)

Whenever in this chapter the words or phrases defined in this section are used, they shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the following definitions:

"Extralegal load" means a single unit or an assembled item which, due to its design, cannot be reasonably reduced or dismantled in size or weight so that it can be legally transported as a load without a permit as required by Section 35780 of the California Vehicle Code. A vehicle or its load is considered an extralegal load when:

1. The total width of the vehicle, or its load exceeds one hundred two (102) inches, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 35100 of the California Vehicle Code.

2. The total height of the vehicle, or its load, exceeds fourteen (14) feet measured from the surface upon which the vehicle stands, except double-deck buses, which may be up to fourteen (14) feet, three (3) inches.

3. The total length exceeds seventy-five (75) feet, or a single non-articulating vehicle exceeds forty (40) feet.

4. The total weight exceeds eighty thousand (80,000) pounds (forty (40) tons).

"Variance load" means a large extralegal load. The threshold criteria defining a variance load is an extralegal load that exceeds any of the following criteria:

1. The width exceeds fifteen (15) feet; or

2. The height exceeds sixteen (16) feet; or

3. The overall length exceeds one hundred ten (110) feet, or one hundred thirty-five (135) feet with steerable rear axles; or

4. The weight exceeds the Caltrans Purple Weight Chart.

(Ord. 421 § 1, 2005)

The fee is set at the maximum allowed by the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS). The public works director is authorized to issue replacement annual permits for lost originals upon receipt of a sworn affidavit from the permittee stating the original permit is unaccounted for and no longer available for use on a transport vehicle as a valid permit. The fee for the replacement permit shall be equal to the cost of issuing a standard extralegal load permit.

(Ord. 421 § 1, 2005)

The annual extralegal load permit is not valid for transporting variance loads. A special extralegal load permit shall be acquired prior to transporting a variance load on city-owned public streets.

(Ord. 421 § 1, 2005)

The fee for a special extralegal load shall be the same as charged for a single standard extralegal load permit, plus time and material costs incurred by the city to accommodate the proposed move.

(Ord. 421 § 1, 2005)