Chapter 6-9 — OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES

(Legislative History: Ordinance No. 2015-003, 3/2/15)

All the powers granted to the City by Article 6 of Chapter 5 of Division 15 of the State of California Vehicle Code, pertaining to issuance of permits for loads exceeding the maximum sizes and/or weights, and for administering the rules and regulations pertaining thereto, are hereby delegated to the Chief of Police or designee.

"Designated Streets" means those city streets or portions thereof that have been designated by the Engineering and Transportation Director or designee as being open to travel by overweight vehicles pursuant to an Overweight Vehicle Permit issued under the provisions of this Chapter.

"Overweight Vehicle" means a vehicle or combination of vehicles used to haul intermodal shipping containers exceeding the maximum weight specified in theCalifornia Vehicle Code. Intermodal shipping containers under the seal of United States Customs shall not be subject to the provisions of this Chapter.

"Overweight Vehicle Permit" means a permit issued by the Chief of Police or designee to permit overweight vehicles to travel on designated streets throughout the City.

"Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection Report" means a report issued by the Chief of Police or designee following an annual inspection of overweight vehicles used to travel on designated streets throughout the City.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, corporation, public corporation, political subdivision or any department or agency thereof.

"Residential Street" means a public or private right-of-way or portion thereof providing access to one or more dwellings, as identified in the Transportation Element of the General Plan.

"Intermodal" means a type of international freight system that permits trans-shipping among sea, highway, rail, and air modes of transportation.

"Intermodal Shipping Container" means a reusable transport and storage unit, typically having four sides, a top and bottom, used for moving products and raw material.

INSPECTION PERMIT REQUIRED.

(a) No person shall operate or move an overweight vehicle upon City streets without an Overweight Vehicle Permit issued under or pursuant to this Chapter. An Overweight Vehicle Permit shall be required for each overweight vehicle moved or operated on City streets.

(b) No person shall operate or move an overweight vehicle upon City streets without a current Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection Report issued pursuant to this Chapter. A Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection Report shall be required for each overweight vehicle moved or operated on City streets.

(a) An Overweight Vehicle Permit will be issued for operation or movement of an overweight vehicle only upon designated streets. The Engineering and Transportation Director may impose special conditions regarding the use of streets and highways by an overweight vehicle when designating a street or highway pursuant to this Chapter or at any time thereafter. The Engineering and Transportation Director shall determine that special conditions are necessary to assure against undue damage to road foundations, surfaces, bridges or other structures. To the extent designated streets were previously approved by the Engineering and Transportation Director, such designated streets shall be provided to Overweight Vehicle Permit applicants on a City maintained route map.

(b) If a proposed route is not on a designated street, then the applicant must submit a route
report prepared, signed, and stamped by a registered engineer from the State of California.
The route report shall review the condition of the road structure, bridges, underground
piping or other structures and indicate whether it is safe for the travel of an overweight
vehicle. All calculations and review material shall be included in the report. If the report
indicates that any facility is unsafe for an overweight vehicle, the applicant may submit a
report for a revised route or submit plans for improvement of the identified facilities.

(c) All costs for the review by the Engineering and Transportation Director of the applicant's
proposed route shall be borne by the applicant.

(a) The Chief of Police or designee is authorized to issue an Overweight Vehicle Permit under this Chapter on an annual basis for continuous operations. The Chief of Police or designee may issue or withhold an Overweight Vehicle Permit in his or her discretion or may issue an Overweight Vehicle Permit conditioned upon any or all of the following:

(1) An undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to protect the City's
streets and bridges from damage.

(2) Required proof of financial responsibility in an amount required for compliance with
California Vehicle Code Section 16500.5.

(3) Such conditions of operation of the overweight vehicle as may be necessary to assure
against undue damage to City road foundations, surfaces, bridges or other structures.

(4) Potential negative safety or environmental impacts in the opinion of the Engineering
and Transportation Director, the Fire Marshal, or the Chief of Police.

(a) An Overweight Vehicle Permit will be issued only upon receipt of a signed and verified application which provides the company name and a vehicle description. Each Overweight Vehicle Permit application shall be accompanied with a fee as determined by the Chief of Police and approved by the City Council.

(b) A Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection Report will be completed only upon receipt of a signed and verified application that provides the company name and a vehicle description.

(a) Every Overweight Vehicle Permit issued pursuant to this Chapter shall provide the following:

(1) The maximum allowable gross weight as determined by the capacities of the axle groups, according to the table of gross weights per axle group in Section 35551(a) of the California Vehicle Code. The maximum weight permitted by a truck tractor/semi- trailer combination is the sum of the capacities of the front steering axle (20,000 pounds max.), the drive axle group and the rear tri-axle group (chassis), up to the limit of 95,000 pounds.

(2) Overweight Vehicle Permits shall be issued for the movement of intermodal shipping containers only.

(3) Each person issued an Overweight Vehicle Permit shall agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the City, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers from any loss, liability, damage, claims, expenses or cost resulting from or arising out of the issuance of an Overweight Vehicle Permit and the use of City streets whether designated or non-designated. Each such person shall further agree to be responsible for all injuries or death of persons and for all damages to property of every kind caused by or resulting from or arising out of the issuance of an Overweight Vehicle Permit and the use of City roadways, whether designated or non-designated.

(4) No detour from a designated route may be made without prior permission of the Chief of Police or designee. No route shall be on a residential street.

(5) Every overweight vehicle permitted under this Chapter and each Overweight Vehicle Permit issued pursuant hereto shall be subject to inspection by the Chief of Police or designee and any peace officer at any time it is on a City street for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of the Overweight Vehicle Permit.

(6) The Overweight Vehicle Permit applicant shall furnish the Chief of Police or designee with evidence that each driver of an overweight vehicle has completed training in the operation of an overweight vehicle.

(7) The person issued an Overweight Vehicle Permit shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Chief of Police or designee that the overweight vehicle has undergone a safety inspection by a governmental agency having jurisdiction within 90 days preceding the issuance of the Overweight Vehicle Permit and at least once each 90 days during the period when the Overweight Vehicle Permit is valid.

(8) Each person to whom an Overweight Vehicle Permit is issued shall at all times comply with all laws, ordinances, conditions, rules and regulations of all Federal, State and local governmental authorities having jurisdiction over the operation and maintenance of the overweight vehicle.

(a) The Chief of Police or designee may revoke an Overweight Vehicle Permit issued to a person, if the person, the person's employee or agent violates any Overweight Vehicle Permit conditions or any provisions of this Chapter. The Overweight Vehicle Permit may be revoked for up to 90 days. Nothing contained in this Chapter shall be deemed or construed as limiting the power of a peace officer to issue a citation for or otherwise enforce violations of law with respect to operation of an overweight vehicle upon designated City streets following discovery of a violation of an Overweight Vehicle Permit condition.

(b) Any person who has had an Overweight Vehicle Permit revoked pursuant to subsection (a) may file with the City Manager a written appeal within 10 days of such revocation, setting forth in detail the facts supporting the person's appeal. The City Manager shall appoint a Hearing Officer who shall hear the appeal within 30 days from the date of the filing. The Hearing Officer shall make a ruling on the appeal within 30 days of the close of the hearing. The Hearing Officer's determination shall be final.

The Chief of Police or designee may adopt, repeal, amend and modify administrative regulations implementing the provisions of this Chapter, including, but not limited to, operating requirements, trailer requirements, driver requirements, and any other matter deemed necessary for the effective administration of this Chapter.

No overweight vehicle shall be operated or moved upon any designated City street without displaying a placard approved by the Chief of Police or designee identifying the overweight vehicle as one for which an Overweight Vehicle Permit has been issued pursuant to this Chapter. A copy of the Overweight Vehicle Permit shall be kept in the overweight vehicle at all times and shall be presented to any peace officer upon demand.

(a) An Overweight Vehicle Permit issued pursuant to this Chapter shall be in addition to, and obtained prior to, applying for any other permit that may be required by law for the operation or movement of an overweight vehicle upon public streets.

(b) A Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection Report shall be completed by the Chief of Police or designee following an inspection to ensure the safe operation or movement of an overweight vehicle upon public streets. Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection Reports shall be issued annually.