SIZE, WEIGHT AND CLASS RESTRICTIONS

El Paso City Code tit. 12, ch. 12.40

in effect

El Paso City Code § 12.40.010 Authority to regulate use of roadways by classes of traffic.

12.40.010 - Authority to regulate use of roadways by classes of traffic. A. The traffic engineer is authorized to determine and designate those heavily traveled streets upon which shall be prohibited the use of the roadway by motor-driven cycles, bicycles, horse drawn vehicles, or other nonmotorized traffic and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof. B. When signs are so erected giving notice thereof, no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs. (Prior code § 20-130)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.020 Establishment and revision of truck routes.

12.40.020 - Establishment and revision of truck routes. The traffic engineer is authorized and required to establish truck routes and make periodic reviews of established truck routes within the city limits. The traffic engineer shall submit written recommendations to the city council for all establishment, changes, alterations, elimination and improvements of truck routes based on changing conditions and factors affecting the need for such routes in such places and in such number as may be determined to be of the greatest benefit and convenience to the public. The city council shall approve the truck routes by amendments to Section 12.88 (Schedules). (Ord. 13152 § 100, 1997; prior code § 20-131.1) (Ord. No. 17364, § 1, 7-27-2010)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.030 Large vehicles—Permit—Required.

12.40.030 - Large vehicles—Permit—Required. A. Vehicles, with or without trailers, exceeding forty-five feet in length, or eight feet in width, or thirteen feet six inches in height shall not be operated within the central traffic district; however, such vehicles may be operated within such district upon issuance of a written permit from the chief of police or his designated agent. B. Vehicles, with or without trailers, exceeding twenty-six feet in length, eight feet in width, or thirteen feet six inches in height shall not be operated on any of the streets listed in Schedule VII, Section 12.88.070; provided, however, such vehicles will be allowed to operate upon such street if such vehicle is making a pickup or delivery on such streets or must use such streets to gain the only available access to a destination where the vehicle will be making a pickup or delivery. C. Trucks, with or without trailers, including pickup trucks, exceeding an overall length of eighteen feet shall not be operated on any street or part of any street listed in Schedule VIIA, Section 12.88.071; provided, however, such trucks will be allowed to operate upon such streets if such a truck is making a pickup or delivery on such streets, or must use such streets to gain the only available access to the destination where the truck will be making a pick-up or delivery, has a point of origin or destination on that street, or must use such street to gain the only available access to that point of destination or from that point of origin. D. Vehicles with or without trailers, exceeding twenty-six feet in length, eight feet in width, or thirteen feet six inches in height shall not be operated on any of the streets listed in Schedule VIIB, Section 12.88.072, between the hours of eight p.m. and six a.m. E. Provided, further, that this section shall not apply to vehicles of a political subdivision of the state performing a function of their entity. F. Vehicles with or without trailers, exceeding forty-five feet in length, or eight feet in width, or thirteen feet six inches in height shall not be operated within the following districts; provided, however, such vehicles may be operated within such district upon issuance of a written permit from the chief of police or his designated agent: 1. South El Paso district; 2. Piedras-Alameda district. (Ord. 11071 § 2, 1992; Ord. 19057 § 2, 1992; Ord. 9559 § 1, 1988: Ord. 8207 § 1, 1984; Ord. 8148 § 1, 1984; prior code § 20-132)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.040 Large vehicles—Maximum length.

12.40.040 - Large vehicles—Maximum length. A. No person shall operate any motor vehicle, truck-tractor, trailer or semitrailer on any street or alley within the city if the length thereof exceeds the maximum length of sixty-five feet. B. Nothing herein shall abrogate the limitations on the size of vehicles operated within the central traffic district or on certain streets as provided in Section 12.40.030. (Prior code § 20-133)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.050 Large vehicles—Maximum width and height.

12.40.050 - Large vehicles—Maximum width and height. A. No person shall operate any motor vehicle, truck-tractor, trailer or semitrailer on any street or alley within the city if the width or height exceeds eight feet wide, thirteen feet six inches high as provided for by state law and with the exceptions therein. B. Nothing herein shall abrogate the limitation on the size of vehicles operated within the central traffic district or on certain streets as provided in Section 12.40.030. (Prior code § 20-134)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.060 Large vehicles—Maximum weight.

12.40.060 - Large vehicles—Maximum weight. A. No person shall operate any motor vehicle, truck-tractor, trailer or semitrailer on any street or alley within the city if the weight thereof exceeds the maximum weight established by state law. B. Nothing herein shall abrogate the limitations on the size of vehicles operated within the central traffic district or on certain streets as provided in Section 12.40.030. C. The police department shall have the authority to weigh trucks which are traveling within the confines of the city which may exceed the legal load limit established by state law for roads and bridges. (Prior code § 20-134.1)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.070 Maximum vehicle weights allowed on certain bridges and streets.

12.40.070 - Maximum vehicle weights allowed on certain bridges and streets. No person shall drive any vehicle on that part of the following described bridges or streets if such vehicle, with its load and any trailer or attachment, has a gross weight in excess of the amounts hereinafter set forth: A. The bridge immediately south of the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge across the Rio Grande, extending from Paisano Drive, across the river, to the property of the El Paso Brick Company and McNutt Road in New Mexico, with a load limit of eighteen thousand pounds gross vehicle weight; B. Courchesne Bridge across the Rio Grande with a load limit of twenty-one thousand pounds tandem axle weight; C. Borderland Bridge across the Rio Grande with a load limit of seventeen thousand pounds tandem axle weight; D. Country Club Road (FM 260) between Doniphan Drive and the city limits with a roadway load limit of fifty-eight thousand four hundred twenty pounds gross vehicle weight; E. Westside Drive (FM 260) between Country Club Road and the city limits with a roadway load of fifty-eight thousand four hundred twenty pounds gross vehicle weight; F. Gibson Veck Road between Frontera Road and the city limits with a roadway load limit of seven thousand pounds gross vehicle weight; G. First Avenue bridge over the Franklin Canal between Coles Street and Cypress Street with a load limit of twelve thousand five hundred pounds gross vehicle weight. (Ord. 15696 § 1, 2004; Ord. 11758 §§ 1, 2, 1994: prior code § 20-135)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.080 Large vehicles—Permit—Considerations in refusing permit.

12.40.080 - Large vehicles—Permit—Considerations in refusing permit. Whenever in the traffic ordinances a permit from the chief of police is required for the operation of a vehicle on any street or alley or in any district, such permit shall be given or refused by the chief of police according to whether he considers such operation will be reasonably consistent with the public safety, considering the following: the size, nature and condition of the vehicle, the length of the route, the amount and character of traffic to be expected upon the route on the date and during the hours when the vehicle is to be operated on the route, the necessity for such operation, and any other factor reasonably bearing on the safety of the operation. (Prior code § 20-131)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.090 Vehicles restricted to truck routes—Exceptions.

12.40.090 - Vehicles restricted to truck routes—Exceptions. A. Vehicles whose origin or destination lies outside the city limits, which dimensions exceed those stated in Section 12.40.030 B., shall use the streets and parts of streets listed in Schedule VIII, Section 12.88.080 and no others. B. Any operator of such vehicle may deviate from such truck routes as provided in subsection (A) of this section provided that he or she utilizes the most direct route to and from the truck routes, and does so for the purpose of making a pick-up and/or delivery in the course of business. Any operator found deviating from the truck routes as provided for herein is presumed to not be in compliance with the truck route ordinance. The presumption is rebuttable and proof of compliance is a defense to a citation under this code section. C. Provided further that this section shall not apply to vehicles of a political subdivision of the state performing a function of their entity. D. Any operator of a vehicle whose dimensions exceed those stated in Section 12.40.030(B) who is required by Texas state law to take a test conducted by the Department of Public Safety, may deviate from the truck routes as provided in subsections A and B of this section for the purpose of traveling to and from a Texas Department of Public Safety testing office and for the purpose of taking a driving test conducted by a Texas Department of Public Safety officer. No vehicle exempt under this section shall transport any hazardous materials or flammable liquids while deviating from truck routes. E. 1. Vehicles with or without trailers exceeding twenty-six feet in length, eight feet in width or thirteen feet six inches in height shall not be operated on Country Club Drive within the city limits of El Paso, Texas. 2. No such vehicle shall be operated on the road heretofore a section of State Farm-to-Market Road 260 from State Highway 20 to its intersection of State Highway 178 (Artcraft Road) at Farm-to-Market Road 260, a distance of approximately 4.5 miles. 3. The prohibition of this subsection shall not apply to city, county, state or federal governmental vehicles or any vehicle of a political subdivision of the state. (Ord. 13739 § 1, 1998; Ord. 13561 § 2, 1998; Ord. 10103 § 1, 1990; prior code § 20-136) (Ord. No. 17364, § 2, 7-27-2010)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.100 Vehicles transporting hazardous materials—Restriction to certain routes.

12.40.100 - Vehicles transporting hazardous materials—Restriction to certain routes. Vehicles, with or without trailers, transporting hazardous materials, as defined in 49 C.F.R. Section 171.8, or any amendments thereto, shall be operated upon those streets and parts of streets listed in Schedule IX, Section 12.88.110. (Ord. 11701 § 1, 1993)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.110 Vehicles transporting hazardous materials—Authority to leave special truck routes.

12.40.110 - Vehicles transporting hazardous materials—Authority to leave special truck routes. Vehicles, with or without trailers, carrying hazardous materials, as defined in Section 12.40.100, may leave the routes defined in Section IX, Section 12.88.110, only by the shortest route to pick up and deliver any hazardous material. Vehicles carrying flammable liquids that are hazardous materials, as defined in Section 12.40.100, that leave the routes to deliver to any retail or bulk oil station any flammable liquid, other than petroleum gases, shall be equipped with inside valves as described in provisions of this code regulating the installation and operation of refineries and wholesale or bulk oil stations handling flammable liquids and the construction and operation of tank trucks handling such flammable liquids within the limits of the city, and provided further, such vehicle shall meet any requirement set forth in this title or any other ordinance regulating or pertaining to the transportation of flammable liquids, unless inconsistent with the provisions of federal or state law. (Ord. 11701 § 2, 1993)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.120 Vehicles transporting flammable liquids—Inside valves and safety devices required.

12.40.120 - Vehicles transporting flammable liquids—Inside valves and safety devices required. No vehicle, with or without trailer, shall be permitted to unload flammable liquids in classes 1, 2 or 3 as provided in the provisions referred to in Section 12.40.100 hereof within the limits of the city unless such vehicle and/or trailer is equipped with inside valves and other safety devices as required in any ordinance of this city. (Prior code § 20-139)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.130 Vehicles operated with unsecured loads.

12.40.130 - Vehicles operated with unsecured loads. No person shall operate, or cause to be operated, on any public street or public alley, any vehicle loaded in such a manner with any article or articles, that when said vehicle is in motion, any article or articles are likely to fall upon any public street or public alley. (Ord. 9168, 1987: prior code § 20-140)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.140 Vehicles laden with sand—Restricted to use of certain streets—Exception.

12.40.140 - Vehicles laden with sand—Restricted to use of certain streets—Exception. A. All vehicles with or without trailers, exceeding a total gross weight of twenty thousand pounds and which transport sand, gravel, rock, earth, quarried materials or other particles in bulk shall use the streets and parts of streets listed in Schedule VIII, Section 12.88.080, and no others; provided, however, they may leave such routes only by the nearest route to make pickups or deliveries from the above described vehicles, and shall return to such prescribed route by the shortest route possible. B. Verification of pickups or deliveries shall be made by the vehicle operator, upon the request of any law enforcement officer for the city by presenting for inspection to the officer, a shipping order, bill of lading, contract or other instrument specifying the date, address and name of the company or individual requesting or directing the pickup or delivery. C. For the purpose of this section the gross vehicle weight may be determined by the law enforcement officer from a visual inspection of the vehicle registration receipt which is required by Article 6701d-11, Section 5(a), Vernon's Annotated Texas Statutes, to be carried at all times on any such vehicle. (Prior code § 20-140.1)

El Paso City Code § 12.40.150 Vehicles laden with sand—Removal of spilled materials.

12.40.150 - Vehicles laden with sand—Removal of spilled materials. Every person operating any vehicle from which any particles or materials described in Section 12.40.130 having knowledge or notice that such particles or materials have fallen or are thrown upon any paved public street or paved public alley, shall immediately remove, or cause to be removed, such particles or material from the street or alley. (Prior code § 20-141)

Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT12VETR_CH12.40SIWECLREFetched: 10/28/2026