Ventura County Municipal Code Ch. 9 Transportation Permits

The Director may issue a transportation permit under the provisions of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

To be eligible for a transportation permit, a person must be knowledgeable of and in compliance with all applicable California conditions, requirements, and laws for the use of the County roadway system and in particular movement of extralegal loads.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

It is unlawful for any person moving an extralegal load on, over, or across any County highway, to damage, collide with, or otherwise interfere in any manner whatsoever with, any property of any public utility or County property.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

(a) It is unlawful for any permittee to move an extralegal load along or across any highway, when the height, width, or weight of said load exceeds the height, width, or weight stated in the permit.

(b) When any person has violated subdivision (a) of this Section and caused property damage, the Director may revoke any transportation permit previously issued to that person and withhold from that person any other transportation permit until the person produces evidence satisfactory to the Director that each additional load to be moved complies with all dimensions and weights as shown on the application.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

It is unlawful for any person to move an extralegal load in a convoy unless that person has been issued a transportation permit authorizing movement in convoy. A convoy is a group of three (3) or more vehicles.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

Every person issued a transportation permit must carry the permit in the vehicle to which it refers at all times while the vehicle is on any County highway.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

A transportation permit is void and is automatically revoked if:

(a) The permitted dimensions and weight of the permitted load can be reduced to legal limits by repositioning or practical removal of a part, portion, or unit; or

(b) The permitted load can be repositioned to stay within legal axle or axle group weights authorized in Vehicle Code section 35551 or 35551.5.

(c) The permitted load consists of over height items transported on a conventional flat deck trailer, unless the deck is needed to support a long fragile load or a long load that would cause unbalanced axle group weights.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

(a) Other items may be moved with a permitted extralegal load, provided the other items, when combined with the permitted load, do not cause the total load to exceed the dimensions of the vehicle or permitted load, whichever is greater, and the loaded vehicle is of legal axle and gross weights.

(b) A self-propelled vehicle bearing an extralegal load may tow another vehicle that does not itself require a transportation permit, only if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The towed vehicle does not transfer weight to the towing vehicle;

(2) The combined length of the two (2) vehicles does not exceed sixty-five (65) feet;

(3) The towing vehicle is not close-coupled to the towed vehicle; and

(4) The gross weight of the towed vehicles does not exceed twenty thousand (20,000) pounds.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

(a) It is unlawful for any person, regardless of the existence of a transportation permit, to move an extralegal load under any of the following circumstances:

(1) In snow, fog, rain, or wind when visibility is restricted to less than one thousand (1,000) feet;

(2) When road surfaces are hazardous due to rain, ice, snow, or frost;

(3) When use of tire chains is mandatory;

(4) When the extralegal load consists of manufactured housing; or

(5) The velocity of the wind is such that it causes the vehicle being towed to whip or swerve from side-to-side or fail to follow substantially in the path of the towing vehicle.

(b) Any accident occurring during the wind or weather conditions described in this Section will constitute prima facie evidence of a violation of this Section.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

(a) It is unlawful for any person to move any extralegal load, regardless of the existence of a transportation permit, without first having checked the load and vehicle and verifying that it is within the limits as set forth on the permit and, at all times during the movement, verifying that the route actually being traveled is the route authorized by the permit.

(b) The vehicle and load authorized under any transportation permit are subject to inspection at any time by representatives of the County.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

(a) Acceptance of a transportation permit constitutes an agreement by the permittee to observe and comply with all of the general and specific conditions on the face of the permit and its accompaniments and constitutes an acknowledgment that the permittee has read and understands the provisions of this Chapter.

(b) The permittee of a transportation permit is responsible for all liability for injury to, or death of, any person, or damage to any property that may occur through any act or omission of either the permittee or the Department arising out of the issuance or use of the permit. In the event any claim, suit, or action is brought against the County or any of its officers, employees, or agents, by reason of or in connection with any act or omission by the permittee in connection with the permitted activity, the permittee must defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the County and its officers, employees, and agents from such claim, suit, or action.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

The

permittee must report to the Department any accident occurring while operating under a transportation permit that is required to be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles under Vehicle Code section 16000. A copy of the permit and accident report must be mailed to Public Works Agency Transportation Department, 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 #1620, within thirty (30) days of the date of the accident. Failure to mail these copies will be considered cause for revocation of any outstanding permit and denial of future permits.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

The permittee is responsible for any damage to highway appurtenances or structures resulting from the permittee's movement of an extralegal load. Cost of any repair done under the direction of the Commissioner must be borne by the permittee. In the event of damage to County facilities such as bridges, traffic signals, light standards, or other appurtenances, the permittee must file a written report with the Department within seventy-two (72) hours after such damage has been done. Failure to make this report will be considered cause for revocation of any outstanding permit and denial of future permits, pending a satisfactory arrangement with the Department for repair or replacement of the damaged facility.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

When so required by the Commissioner, a permittee must place under each dolly or wheel used in moving a building or structure, or under each wheel of a vehicle, boards or planks of adequate width and strength to carry the load without being broken, to serve as a runway for such dolly or wheel during such moving along or across any portion of any highway that has a surface other than natural soil. The moving contractor must prevent such dolly or wheel from ever revolving on or resting on such surface except upon such board, plank, or runway.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

In all cases where the Ventura County Building Code requires a relocation permit for the movement of any building or structure, the Director may not grant a transportation permit to allow movement of that building or structure until the applicant furnishes to the Director evidence that such a relocation permit has been issued for that building or structure.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

The Director may not issue a transportation permit to move any load when the weight of the load, plus the weight of the vehicle or other equipment, exceeds the weight permitted by Vehicle Code sections 35500-35796, except that if it appears to the Commissioner that the size, shape, or physical characteristics of the load or portion of the load to be moved makes it impossible or impracticable to keep within such weight limits, the Director may issue a permit to move a load on a vehicle, every wheel of which is equipped with pneumatic tires, where the Director has determined that such movement will not cause injury to the highways, bridges, or appurtenances.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

When authorized by a transportation permit, or any permit issued by California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), to move an extralegal load, the permittee must comply with all generally applicable laws regulating travel over a public highway and all posted signs or notices that restrict or control travel on a public highway, including but not limited to those that limit the speed or direction of travel, the weight that may be placed on a structure, or the width or height that may be moved on, over, or across a highway, unless the permit specifically exempts the permittee from such compliance.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

The Director may require that the moving of any extralegal load or vehicle be conducted under the supervision of any inspector to be appointed by the Commissioner, with reimbursement to the Director as provided in the fees schedule.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

(a) The Director may withhold a transportation permit when, in the Director's sole determination, the Director finds that it is not in the best interest of the general public to do so, or that it will be detrimental to public health, safety, or welfare.

(b) If a transportation permit is issued, the Director may do any of the following, at the Director's discretion:

(1) Limit the number of trips;

(2) Establish seasonal or other time limitations within which the vehicle or vehicles described in the permit may be operated on the highways indicated;

(3) Limit or prescribe conditions of operation of the vehicle or vehicles described in the permit, when necessary to assure against undue interference with traffic or damage to the road foundations, surfaces, or structures; and

(4) Require the undertaking of other security measures as may be deemed necessary to protect the highways and bridges from injury, or to prevent injury resulting from the operation of the vehicle or vehicles described in the permit.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)

(a) Before issuing a transportation permit for the movement of a vehicle or object with a rolling height of over sixteen (16) feet, the Director must require evidence or notice of approval of height clearance from the utilities having overhead lines crossing the proposed route.

(b) Utilities may give notice of approval by telephone.

(Ord. No. 4540, §§ I, II, 3-19-2019)