ARTICLE 3. Limit Changes on State Highways [35650. - 35655.6.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 3.

in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35650. Section 35650.

The Department of Transportation, whenever it determines after an engineering investigation that any highway under its jurisdiction will with safety to itself sustain vehicles and loads weighing more than the maximum weight limits set forth in this code, shall have authority to declare and to fix a weight limit for the highway greater than the maximum weight limit set forth in this code. Thereafter it shall be lawful to operate or move vehicles and loads of a gross weight upon the highways designated, equal to but not in excess of the maximum weight limit fixed by the department.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35651. Section 35651.

Whenever in the judgment of the Department of Transportation any state highway will not with safety to itself sustain the maximum weights permitted under this code for the highway, the department shall determine, after a public hearing, the maximum weight which the highway will sustain.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35652. Section 35652.

The Department of Transportation shall give notice of the time and place of the hearing by posting a notice in the county seat of each county in which any affected portion of the highway is located and shall also post copies of the notice at intervals of not more than one mile along said highway and a notice at each end of the affected portion thereof. Notice of the hearing shall be given for not less than 10 days and the hearing shall be had at the county seat of the county in which the affected highway is situated or at some other place convenient to the portion of the highway affected.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35653. Section 35653.

The hearing shall be conducted by one or more engineers appointed by the Director of Transportation. The engineers shall hear all evidence presented at the time and place mentioned in the notice and shall report findings made in writing to the Director of Transportation. Upon the basis of the findings, the Director of Transportation shall declare in writing the maximum weight which can be maintained with safety upon the state highway. In no event shall the weight be less than 16,000 pounds.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35654. Section 35654.

Following the declaration of maximum weight as provided in this article, the Department of Transportation shall erect suitable signs at each end of the affected portion of the highway and at such other points as the department deems necessary to give adequate notice of the weight limits.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35655. Section 35655.

(a) No person shall drive a vehicle on any state highway when the weight of the vehicle and load is greater than the maximum weight which the highway will sustain. Violations of this subdivision shall be punished in accordance with the schedule of fines set forth in Section 42030. (b) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation with respect to signs erected under Section 35654, proof of the determination and the maximum weight by the Department of Transportation and the existence of the signs constitutes prima facie evidence of the maximum weight which the state highway will sustain.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35655.5. Section 35655.5.

(a) Notwithstanding this article or any other provision of law, no vehicle, as described in Sections 410 and 655, with a gross weight of 9,000 pounds or more, shall be operated on the segment of Interstate Route 580 (I-580) that is located between Grand Avenue in the City of Oakland and the city limits of the City of San Leandro. This subdivision does not apply to passenger buses or paratransit vehicles. (b) The Department of Transportation shall erect suitable signs at each end of the portion of highway described in subdivision (a) and at any other points that the department deems necessary to give adequate notice of the weight limit imposed under this section.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 35655.6. Section 35655.6.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a person shall not drive a commercial vehicle with three or more axles, or a gross vehicle weight or a combined gross weight of 9,000 pounds or more, on the segment of State Route 2 (SR-2) that is located between Interstate Route 210 (I-210) in the City of La Canada Flintridge and County Route N4 (Big Pine Highway) in the County of Los Angeles. (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any of the following vehicles: (1) An authorized emergency vehicle. (2) A vehicle operated by a publicly or privately owned public utility. (3) A vehicle operated by a government agency. (4) A transit bus servicing facilities accessible only from that portion of State Route 2 specified in subdivision (a). (5) A tow truck providing assistance to a vehicle that is accessible only from that portion of State Route 2 specified in subdivision (a). (6) A commercial vehicle making deliveries to or from, or servicing, property that is either of the following: (A) Located within the city limits of the City of La Canada Flintridge. (B) Is accessible only from the portion of State Route 2 specified in subdivision (a). (7) A commercial vehicle involved in a motion picture, commercial, or television production conducting motion picture, commercial, or television production activities in areas that are accessible only from that portion of State Route 2 specified in subdivision (a). (c) A person who violates this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 42030 or one thousand dollars ($1,000), whichever is greater. (d) The Department of Transportation shall erect suitable signs at each end of the portion of State Route 2 specified in subdivision (a) and any other points that the department deems necessary to give adequate notice of the prohibition pursuant to this section.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026