VEHICLE SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD; COMBINATIONS OF VEHICLES

Norfolk City Code ch. 25, art. III

in effect

Norfolk City Code § 25-121 Farm machinery and firefighting equipment exempt from certain size limitations.

Sec. 25-121. - Farm machinery and firefighting equipment exempt from certain size limitations. The limitations upon size of vehicles prescribed in sections 25-122, 25-123, 25-124, 25-126 and 25-127 shall not apply to farm machinery when such farm machinery is temporarily propelled, hauled, transported or moved upon the street by a farm machinery distributor or dealer or fertilizer distributor or by a farmer in the ordinary course of business, nor to fire-fighting equipment of any county, city, town or fire-fighting company or association; provided that any farm tractor in excess of one hundred eight (108) inches in width which is so propelled, hauled, transported or moved upon the street shall be equipped with a safety light of a type approved by the superintendent of state police, which light shall be plainly visible from the rear of such tractor. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-122 Maximum width.

Sec. 25-122. - Maximum width. No vehicle, including any load thereon, but excluding the mirror required by section 25-49, and any warning device installed on a school bus pursuant to Section 46.2-1090 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, shall exceed a total outside width as follows: (1) Passenger bus operated in the City of Norfolk when authorized under Section 46.2-1300 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended—102 inches; (2) School buses: One hundred (100) inches; (3) Other vehicles: Ninety-six (96) inches with safety devices not to exceed three (3) inches on each side of the vehicle, excluding rear view mirrors. (4) Recreational vehicles: One hundred and two (102) inches with safety devices not to exceed three (3) inches on each side of the vehicle, excluding rear view mirrors. For purposes of this section, recreational vehicle means every vehicular-type unit primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use, that either has its own motive power or is mounted on, or is towed by another vehicle. The basic entities are: travel trailer, fifth wheel trailer, camping trailer, and motor home. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 35,791, § 1, 11-14-89; Ord. No. 37,757, § 1, 9-13-94)

Norfolk City Code § 25-123 Maximum height; damage to overhead obstructions.

Sec. 25-123. - Maximum height; damage to overhead obstructions. (a) No vehicle unladen or with load shall exceed a height of thirteen (13) feet, six (6) inches. (b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require either the city, public authorities or railroad companies to provide vertical clearances of overhead bridges or structures in excess of twelve (12) feet six (6) inches, or to make any changes in the vertical clearance of existing overhead bridges or structures crossing streets. The operator or owner of vehicles operating on streets shall be held financially responsible for any damage to overhead bridges or structures that results from collisions therewith. (c) The operator or owner of any vehicle colliding with an overhead bridge or structure shall notify immediately, either in person or by telephone, the city, the public authority or railroad company owning or maintaining such overhead bridge or structure, or a police officer, of the fact of such collision, and his name, address, operator's or chauffeur's license number, and the registration number of his vehicle. Failure to give such notice immediately, either in person or by telephone, shall constitute a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-124 Maximum length of vehicles—Generally.

Sec. 25-124. - Maximum length of vehicles—Generally. (a) No motor vehicle longer than forty (40) feet shall be operated on any street in the City of Norfolk. The actual length of any combination of vehicles coupled together including any load thereon shall not exceed a total of sixty (60) feet. No tolerance shall be allowed that exceeds twelve (12) inches. The director of public works, however, when good cause is shown, may issue a special permit for combinations either in excess of sixty (60) feet, including any load thereon, or where the object or objects to be carried cannot be moved otherwise. Such permits may also be issued by the director when the total number of otherwise overdimensional loads of modular housing of no more than two (2) units may be reduced by permitting the use of an overlength trailer not exceeding fifty-four (54) feet. No overall length restrictions, however, shall be imposed on any tractor truck semitrailer combinations drawing one trailer or any tractor truck semitrailer combinations when operated on any interstate or on any federal-aid primary highway as designated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. No individual semitrailer or trailer being drawn in a tractor truck semitrailer or trailer combination, however, shall exceed twenty-eight and one-half (28.5) feet in length, and no semitrailer being operated in a tractor truck semitrailer combination shall exceed forty-eight (48) feet in length, except when semitrailers have an axle spacing of not more than thirty-seven (37) feet between the rear axle of the tractor truck and the front axle of the semitrailer, such semitrailer shall be allowed not more than fifty-three (53) feet in length. The length limitations on semitrailers and trailers in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices, steps and handholds for entry and egress, rubber dock guards, flexible fender extensions, mud flaps, refrigeration units and air compressors. Such combinations shall not be denied reasonable access to terminals, facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest, except as designated, based on safety considerations, by the director of public works. Household goods carriers and any tractor truck semitrailer combination in which the semitrailer has a length of no more than twenty-eight and one-half (28.5) feet which operates generally as part of a tractor truck semitrailer combination shall not be denied reasonable access to points of loading and unloading, except as designated, based on safety considerations, by the director of public works. (b) Passenger buses longer than thirty-five (35) feet, but not longer than forty (40) feet, may be operated on the streets of the City of Norfolk when authorized pursuant to Section 46.2-1300 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. Passenger buses may exceed the forty (40) feet limitation when such excess length is caused by the projection of a front or rear safety bumper or both. Such safety bumper shall not cause the length of the bus to exceed the maximum legal limit by more than one foot in the front and one foot in the rear. "Safety bumper" means any device which may be fitted on an existing bumper or which replaces the bumper and is so constructed, treated, or manufactured to absorb energy upon impact. (c) In an emergency as provided in Section 46.21149 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the towing of disabled vehicles which cannot be separated for safety, physical, or mechanical reasons and which exceed length limitations established in Article 16 (Section 46.2-1112 et seq.) of Chapter 46 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, shall be permissible for the purpose of towing any such vehicle to the nearest facility which can make the necessary repairs but not more than fifty (50) miles from the point such vehicle was disabled. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 35,792, § 1, 11-14-89)

Norfolk City Code § 25-125 Same—Mobile homes or house trailers.

Sec. 25-125. - Same—Mobile homes or house trailers. The actual length of any combination of a towing vehicle and any mobile home or house trailer, coupled together, shall not exceed a total length of sixty (60) feet, including coupling. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 35,793, § 1, 11-14-89)

Norfolk City Code § 25-126 Extension of loads beyond front of vehicles.

Sec. 25-126. - Extension of loads beyond front of vehicles. No vehicle shall carry any load extending more than three (3) feet beyond the front thereof in the City of Norfolk. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 35,794, § 1, 11-14-89)

Norfolk City Code § 25-127 Extension of loads beyond line of fender or body.

Sec. 25-127. - Extension of loads beyond line of fender or body. (a) No vehicle shall carry any load extending more than six (6) inches beyond the line of the fender or body, provided such load shall not exceed a total outside width as prescribed by section 25-122. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, it shall be lawful for watercraft carried on vehicles to extend more than six (6) inches beyond the line of the fender or body of such vehicle provided the total width of watercraft and the carrier upon which the same is so carried does not exceed seventy-six (76) inches. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-128 Vehicles having more than one trailer, etc., attached thereto.

Sec. 25-128. - Vehicles having more than one trailer, etc., attached thereto. No motor vehicle shall be driven on any street or roadway while drawing or having attached thereto more than one motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer unless such vehicle is being operated under a special permit from the director of public works. This limitation, however, shall not apply between sunrise and sunset to farm trailers or semitrailers being moved from one farm to another farm owned or operated by the same person within a radius of ten (10) miles. This limitation also shall not apply to a combination of vehicles coupled together by a saddle mount device used to transport motor vehicles in a drive-away service when not more than two (2) saddle mounts are used. Vehicles coupled together by not more than three (3) saddle mounts shall not exceed sixty-five (65) feet when operated on any interstate highway or any federal-aid primary highway as designated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Such combinations shall have reasonable access to terminals and facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest as designed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Such use shall be in conformity with safety regulations adopted by the Superintendent of State Police. In an emergency as provided in Section 46.21149 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the towing of disabled vehicles which cannot be separated for safety, physical, or mechanical reasons and which exceed length limits established in Article 16 (Section 46.2-1112 et seq.) of Chapter 46 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, shall be permissible for the purpose of towing any such vehicle to the nearest facility which can make the necessary repairs but not more than fifty (50) miles from the point such vehicle was disabled. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 35,795, § 1, 11-14-89)

Norfolk City Code § 25-129 Maximum weight of vehicles generally.

Sec. 25-129. - Maximum weight of vehicles generally. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Single axle" means an assembly of two (2) or more wheels whose centers are in one transverse vertical plane or may be included between two (2) parallel transverse vertical planes forty (40) inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle. (2) "Tandem axle" means any two (2) or more consecutive axles whose centers are more than forty (40) inches but not more than ninety-six (96) inches apart, and are individually attached to and/or articulated from a common attachment to the vehicle including a connecting mechanism designated to equalize the load between axles. (3) "Single axle weight" means the total weight transmitted to the street by all wheels whose centers may be included between two (2) parallel transverse vertical planes forty (40) inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle. (4) "Tandem axle weight" means the total weight transmitted to the street or roadway by two (2) or more consecutive axles whose centers may be included between parallel transverse vertical planes spaced more than forty (40) inches and not more than ninety-six (96) inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle. (5) "Group of axles" means any two (2) or more consecutive axles located under a vehicle or combination. (b) The maximum gross weight and axle weight to be permitted on the streets of the City of Norfolk shall be in accordance with the provisions of this section. (c) The single axle weight of any vehicle or combination shall not exceed twenty thousand (20,000) pounds, nor shall it exceed six hundred fifty (650) pounds per inch, width of tire, measured in contact with the surface of the street or roadway. (d) The tandem axle weight of any vehicle or combination shall not exceed thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds, and no one axle of such tandem unit shall exceed the weight permitted for a single axle. Furthermore, the weight imposed on the street or roadway by two (2) or more consecutive axles, individually attached to the vehicle and spaced not less than forty (40) inches nor more than ninety-six (96) inches apart, shall not exceed thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds and no one axle of such unit shall exceed the weight permitted for a single axle. (e) Except as provided in Section 46.2-1128 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the gross weight imposed on the street or roadway by a vehicle or combination shall not exceed the maximum weight given for the respective distance between the first and last axle of the vehicle or combination, nor shall any two (2) or more consecutive axles exceed the maximum weight given, when measured longitudinally to the next highest foot as set forth in the following table: Distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two or more consecutive | Maximum weight in pounds on any group of axles 2 axles | 3 axles | 4 axles | 5 axles | 6 axles 4 | 34,000 5 | 34,000 6 | 34,000 7 | 34,000 8 | 34,000 | 34,000 9 | 39,000 | 42,500 10 | 40,000 | 43,500 11 | 44,000 12 | 45,000 | 50,000 13 | 45,000 | 50,500 14 | 46,500 | 51,500 15 | 47,000 | 52,000 16 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 17 | 48,500 | 53,500 | 58,500 18 | 49,500 | 54,000 | 59,000 19 | 50,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 20 | 51,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 21 | 51,500 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 22 | 52,500 | 56,500 | 61,500 | 67,000 23 | 53,000 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 24 | 54,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 25 | 54,500 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 26 | 55,500 | 59,500 | 64,000 | 69,500 27 | 56,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 28 | 57,000 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 29 | 57,500 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 30 | 58,500 | 62,000 | 66,500 | 71,000 31 | 59,000 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 32 | 60,000 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 33 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 34 | 64,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 35 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 36 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 37 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 38 | 67,500 | 72,000 | 77,000 39 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 40 | 68,500 | 71,000 | 78,000 2 axles | 3 axles | 4 axles | 5 axles | 6 axles 41 | 69,500 | 73,000 | 78,500 42 | 70,000 | 74,000 | 79,000 43 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 44 | 71,500 | 75,500 45 | 72,000 | 76,000 46 | 72,500 | 76,500 47 | 73,500 | 77,500 48 | 74,000 | 78,000 49 | 74,500 | 78,500 50 | 75,500 | 79,000 51 | 76,000 | 80,000 (f) No motor vehicle or combination of vehicles shall travel on an Interstate Highway in the Commonwealth of Virginia with (i) a single axle weight in excess of twenty thousand (20,000) pounds, or (ii) a tandem axle weight in excess of thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds, or (iii) a gross weight, based on axle spacing, greater than that permitted in Section 46.2-1126 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, or (iv) a gross weight, regardless of axle spacing, in excess of eighty (80,000) pounds, unless otherwise permitted by the proper authority. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 35,796, § 1, 11-14-89; Ord. No. 37,758, § 1, 9-13-94)

Norfolk City Code § 25-130 Exceptions to section 25-129.

Sec. 25-130. - Exceptions to section 25-129. The provisions of section 25-129 shall not apply to a vehicle designed for towing disabled vehicles, when towing such vehicle in an emergency in such manner that a part of the combined weight of the two (2) vehicles rests upon an axle or axles of the towing vehicle, provided the towed and towing vehicles each are within the weight limits prescribed in section 25-129. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to permit the violation of any lawfully established load limit on any bridge. For the purpose of this section, "emergency" shall include towing disabled inoperative vehicles to places designated by owners. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-131 Weight limits on bridges and culverts.

Sec. 25-131. - Weight limits on bridges and culverts. (a) In order to protect the public safety, the city manager is hereby authorized to establish gross weight limits for bridges and culverts within the City of Norfolk and is hereby authorized to erect signs setting forth such weight limits. Such weight limits shall be established based upon an engineering and traffic study made by the department of public works. (b) No vehicle shall cross any bridge or culvert within the city if the gross weight of such vehicle is greater than the amount posted for the bridge or culvert as its carrying capacity. (c) Signs stating the carrying capacity shall be erected and maintained near each end of the bridge or culvert on the approaches to such bridge or culvert. Whenever the weight capacity of any structure on the street is reduced below the weight limit permitted on the street of which it is a part, a sign indicating that there is a restricted structure must be placed in advance of the last alternate route on the street upon which there is a restricted structure. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 35,797, § 1, 11-14-89)

Norfolk City Code § 25-131.1 Penalty for violation of sections 25-129 and 25-131; record of conviction, etc., forwarded to department.

Sec. 25-131.1. - Penalty for violation of sections 25-129 and 25-131; record of conviction, etc., forwarded to department. Any person violating the provisions of sections 25-129 and 25-131 shall be subject to a civil penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a processing fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) in addition to any liquidated damages and weighing fees imposed by Chapter 46.2 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. Upon collection by the City of Norfolk, civil penalties, processing fees, liquidated damages and weighing fees shall be paid into the treasury of the City of Norfolk and allocated to the funds appropriated by the City of Norfolk for the construction and maintenance of roads under its jurisdiction. The penalties, damages and fees hereinabove specified shall be in addition to any other liability which may be legally fixed against the owner, operator or other person charged with the weight violation for damage to a highway or bridge attributable to such weight violation. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 34,109, § 1, 7-29-86; Ord. No. 35,798, § 1, 11-14-89; Ord. No. 40,837, § 1, 9-24-02)

Norfolk City Code § 25-132 Special permits for oversize and overweight vehicles—Generally.

Sec. 25-132. - Special permits for oversize and overweight vehicles—Generally. (a) The director of public works of the city may, in his discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown therefor, issue a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle, a mobile home, a utility building or mobile crane upon the highways and streets of the city of a size or weight exceeding the maximum specified in this article. The director may, in his discretion, issue an annual permit for oversized and overweight three (3) or more axle vehicles, mobile homes, utility buildings and mobile cranes. Every such permit may designate the route to be traversed and contain any other restrictions or conditions deemed necessary by the director of public works. Upon the issuance of such a permit, the city shall charge and the applicant shall pay to the city a fee as follows: (1) A single-trip permit fee per vehicle, mobile home, utility building or mobile crane of ninety dollars ($90.00). (2) An annual permit fee (unlimited trips per vehicle, mobile home or utility building) for oversized and overweight three (3) or more axle vehicles, mobile homes or utility buildings shall be three hundred fifteen dollars ($315.00) per vehicle, mobile home or utility building. The annual permit fee for mobile cranes shall be as follows: the fee shall be three hundred fifteen dollars ($315.00) per crane; provided, however, that such fees shall not be applicable to the city, state, United States of America, or any department, division bureau or agency thereof. (b) Special permits to operate or move a vehicle upon the streets of the city of a weight exceeding the maximum specified in this article shall be granted without costs where the vehicle is hauling or carrying containerized cargo in a sealed, seagoing container bound to or from a state seaport and has been or will be transported by marine shipment provided the single axle weight does not exceed twenty thousand (20,000) pounds, the tandem axle weight does not exceed thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds and the gross weight does not exceed seventy-eight thousand (78,000) pounds; and provided the contents of such seagoing container are not changed from the time it is loaded by the consignor or his agents to the time it is delivered to the consignee or his agents. It is further determined and declared that cargo moving in vehicles conforming to specifications shown in this subsection but exceeding axle and gross weight limitations shown in this subsection shall be considered irreducible and eligible for permits under regulations of the state highway and transportation commission. (c) However, the director of public works, upon application in writing made by the owner or operator of three-axle trucks hauling road construction materials and having a gross weight not exceeding forty-three thousand nine hundred (43,900) pounds, a single axle weight not exceeding twenty thousand (20,000) pounds, and a tandem axle weight not exceeding thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds, shall issue to such owner or operator, without cost, a permit in writing authorizing the operation of such vehicles upon the streets of the city. No such permit shall designate the route to be traversed nor contain restrictions or conditions not applicable to other vehicles in their general use of the streets. (d) Further, the director of public works, upon application in writing made by the owner or operator of three-axle vehicles used exclusively for the mixing of concrete in transit or at a project site or for transporting necessary components to produce concrete immediately upon arrival at the project site, and having a gross weight not exceeding sixty thousand (60,000) pounds, a single axle weight not exceeding twenty thousand (20,000) pounds, and a tandem axle weight not exceeding forty thousand (40,000) pounds, shall issue to such owner or operator, without cost, a permit in writing authorizing the operation of such vehicles upon the streets of the city. No such permit shall be issued authorizing the operation of the vehicles enumerated in this subsection for a distance of more than twenty-five (25) miles from a batching plant; however, the said permit shall not designate the route to be traversed nor contain restrictions or conditions not applicable to other vehicles in their general use of the highways. Each vehicle, when loaded according to the provisions of a permit issued under this section, shall be operated at a reduced speed. The reduced speed limit is to be ten (10) miles per hour slower than the legal speed limit in fifty-five (55), forty-five (45) and thirty-five (35) miles per hour speed limit zones. (e) However, the director of public works, upon application in writing made by the owners or operators of motor vehicles not exceeding the axle and gross weight limitations as set forth in section 25-129 shall issue, without cost, a permit authorizing the operation of such motor vehicles on the streets of the city, to transport items arriving at a state port by ship from overseas points of origin and consigned to an assembly plant in this state, on motor vehicles that do not exceed the height limitation set forth in section 25-123 by more than one and one-half (1½) feet and not exceeding the length limitation as set forth in section 25-124 by more than three (3) feet. The director of public works may designate the routes such permittees must use from the port to the assembly plant. (f) Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any officers. (g) Vehicles possessing a valid Virginia Department of Transportation Oversize Load Hauling Permit which are traveling north or south on Northampton Boulevard (Va. State Rt. 13) between I-64 and City of Norfolk/Virginia Beach City boundary line shall not be required to obtain a City of Norfolk overweight permit pursuant to Section 25-132 provided that the height of the vehicle is no greater than fourteen (14) feet three (3) inches and that the vehicle travel route is limited to on and off movements from I-64 via Northampton Boulevard to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach City boundary line. City of Norfolk permits shall be required when vehicles exceed the above conditions. (h) The City of Norfolk Moving and Hauling Permit Manual, dated July 1, 1998, or as thereafter amended, is hereby incorporated by reference. (i) It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provisions of this section, the terms and conditions of any special permit issued hereunder, or any terms and conditions of The City of Norfolk Moving and Hauling Permit Manual. "Person" is defined as any individual, employee, operator, firm, owner, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, governmental body, municipal corporation, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, agent, or other legal entity. A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 32,148, § 1, 2-8-83; Ord. No. 33,103, § 1, 9-18-84; Ord. No. 37,279, § 1, 6-8-93; Ord. No. 38,477, § 1, 7-30-96; Ord. No. 39,189, § 1, 5-26-98; Ord. No. 39,398, § 1, 12-8-98; Ord. No. 39,505, §§ 1, 2, 3-9-99; Ord. No. 43,852, § 1, 5-18-10; Ord. No. 47,229, § 29, 5-22-18, eff. 7-1-18)

Norfolk City Code § 25-132.1 Same—For vehicle hauling Virginia-grown farm produce.

Sec. 25-132.1. - Same—For vehicle hauling Virginia-grown farm produce. (a) In addition to the permits provided for in section 25-132, the director of public works, upon application in writing made by the owner or operator of a three-axle vehicle used for hauling farm produce grown in this state and having a gross weight not exceeding fifty thousand (50,000) pounds, a single axle weight not exceeding twenty thousand (20,000) pounds, and a tandem axle weight not exceeding thirty-six thousand (36,000) pounds, or any four-axle combination hauling state-grown produce, a tandem axle weight of thirty-six thousand (36,000) pounds and otherwise in conformity with the provisions of section 25-129, shall issue to such owner or operator, without cost, a permit in writing authorizing the operation of such vehicle upon the streets. No such permit shall designate the route to be traversed nor contain restrictions or conditions not applicable to other vehicles in their general use of the streets. (b) Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any officer and it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the terms or conditions of such special permit. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-133 Same—Restrictions as to travel on federal-aid highway.

Sec. 25-133. - Same—Restrictions as to travel on federal-aid highway. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 25-132, any permit heretofore or hereafter issued by the director of public works pursuant to such section may be restricted so as to prevent travel on any federal-aid highway, if the continuation of travel on such highway would result in a loss of federal-aid funds. Before any such permit is so restricted, notice in writing must be given to the permittee.

Norfolk City Code § 25-134 Weighing vehicles; unloading excess load.

Sec. 25-134. - Weighing vehicles; unloading excess load. (a) Any officer authorized to enforce the law under this article, having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful, is authorized to weigh the same. If the place where the vehicle is stopped is ten (10) miles or less from a permanent weighing station, the officer may, and upon demand of the driver shall, require the vehicle to proceed to such station; if the distance to the nearest permanent weighing station is more than ten (10) miles, such vehicle may be weighed by loadometers. Any operator who fails or refuses to drive his vehicle to such permanent weighing station or upon such scales or loadometers upon the request and direction of the officer so to do shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), which penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties prescribed for exceeding the maximum weight permitted or for any other violation. Should the officer find that the weight of any vehicle and its load is greater than that permitted by this article or that the weight of the load carried in or on such vehicle is greater than that which the vehicle is licensed to carry under the provisions of this article, he may require the driver to unload, at the nearest place where the property unloaded may be stored or transferred to another vehicle, such portion of the load as may be necessary to decrease the gross weight of the vehicle to the maximum therefor permitted by this article. Any property so unloaded shall be stored or cared for by the owner or operator of the overweight vehicle at the risk of such owner or operator. If the driver of an overloaded vehicle is convicted, forfeits bail or purchases an increased license as a result of such weighing, the court in addition to all other penalties shall assess and collect a weighing fee of two dollars ($2.00) from the owner or operator of the vehicle and shall forward such fee to the city treasurer. (b) In any court or legal proceedings in which any question arises as to the calibration or accuracy of any such scales at permanent weighing stations or loadometers, a certificate, executed and signed under oath by the inspector calibrating or testing such device as to its accuracy as well as to the accuracy of the test weights used in such test, and stating the time of such test, type of test and results of testing, shall be admissible when attested by one such inspector who executed and signed it as evidence of the facts therein stated and the results of such testing. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-134.1 Liquidated damages for violation of weight limits; forfeiture of vehicle and cargo.

Sec. 25-134.1. - Liquidated damages for violation of weight limits; forfeiture of vehicle and cargo. (a) Upon conviction of any person for violation of any weight limit as provided in this article, the court shall assess liquidated damages. The amount of those damages for each pound of excess weight over the prescribed axle weight limits shall be one cent ($0.01) per pound for an excess weight which does not exceed four thousand (4,000) pounds, ten cents ($0.10) per pound for an excess between four thousand one (4,001) pounds and eight thousand (8,000) pounds, twenty cents ($0.20) per pound for an excess between eight thousand one (8,001) pounds and twelve thousand (12,000) pounds, thirty cents ($0.30) per pound for an excess more than twelve thousand one (12,001) pounds. For each pound of excess weight over the prescribed gross weight limit provided in section 25-129, the amount of those damages shall be one cent ($0.01) per pound for an excess which does not exceed four thousand (4,000) pounds, five cents ($0.05) per pound for an excess between four thousand one (4,001) and eight thousand (8,000) pounds, ten cents ($0.10) per pound for an excess between eight thousand one (8,001) and twelve thousand (12,000) pounds, fifteen cents ($0.15) per pound for an excess more than twelve thousand one (12,001) pounds. If a person has no prior violation under the motor vehicle weight laws, and the excess weight does not exceed two thousand five hundred (2,500) pounds, the general district court may waive the liquidated damages against such person. Such assessment shall be entered by the court as a judgment for the city, the entry of which shall constitute a lien upon the overweight vehicle. Such sums shall be paid to the city treasurer or collected by the city attorney and forwarded to the city treasurer and allocated to the fund appropriated for the construction and maintenance of city streets. If the gross weight of the vehicle exceeds lawful limits by at least twenty-five (25) percent but no more than fifty (50) percent, the amount of the liquidated damages shall be two (2) times the amount provided for in the foregoing provisions of this section; if the gross weight of the vehicle exceeds lawful limits by more than fifty (50) percent, the amount of the liquidated damages shall be three (3) times the amount provided for in the foregoing provisions of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to pickup or panel trucks. (b) Any officer authorized to make arrests and weigh vehicles under the provisions of this article may for a period of twenty-four (24) hours without a court order and thereafter upon a written order of the court either before or after conviction hold the vehicle involved in the overweight violation, provided the same is not registered with the division of motor vehicles, until the amount assessed, if after conviction or subject to be assessed, if before conviction, together with the cost of holding or storing of the vehicle, be paid, or until a bond by or on behalf of the offending person is given for payment as the court may direct of the amount assessed or to be assessed with surety approved by the court or its clerk. (c) In the event the amount so assessed is not paid or no bond is given as provided hereinabove, the vehicle in the overweight violation shall be stored in a place of security, as may be designated by the owner or operator of the vehicle. If no place is designated, the officer making the arrest shall designate the place of storage. The owner or operator shall be afforded the right of unloading and removing the cargo from such vehicle. The risk and cost of such storage shall be borne by the owner or operator of such vehicle. (d) If within sixty (60) days from the time of the conviction for the overweight violation, the offending party does not pay the assessment imposed by this section, together with the cost of storing such vehicle and cargo, if the cargo is not removed as herein provided, the vehicle and cargo shall be forfeited to the city and sold to satisfy the assessment and cost of storage. (e) Upon receipt of a copy of the judgment entered for such assessment and notification of the failure of such person to pay the amount assessed, together with the payment of cost of holding such vehicle under this section, the police department of the city may thereafter deny the offending person the right to operate a motor vehicle or vehicles upon the streets of the city until such assessment has been paid. (f) The charges hereinabove specified shall be in addition to any other liability which may be legally fixed against such owner or operator for damage to a highway or bridge attributable to such weight violation. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80; Ord. No. 37,759, § 1, 9-13-94; Ord. No. 40,843, § 1, 9-24-02)

Norfolk City Code § 25-135 Securing loads generally.

Sec. 25-135. - Securing loads generally. No vehicle shall be operated or moved on any street, highway or other public thoroughfare unless such vehicle is so constructed, covered or secured to prevent any of its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom; provided, however, that sand or any substance for increasing traction during times of snow and ice may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substance may be applied to any street, highway or other public thoroughfare in the cleaning or maintaining of the same by the city. (Code 1958, § 29-779; Ord. No. 32,468, § 1, 7-26-83)

Norfolk City Code § 25-136 Securing loads which are susceptible to shifting or rolling.

Sec. 25-136. - Securing loads which are susceptible to shifting or rolling. (1) No vehicle which is designed or used for the purpose of hauling logs, poles or lumber, barrels, hogsheads or other materials or containers which, by their very nature, may shift or roll, shall be operated or moved over any highway unless its load is securely fastened by adequate log chains, metal cables, nylon webbing, steel straps or other restraining devices, so as to prevent the shifting or falling of such load from the vehicle; provided, however, that tobacco hogsheads may, in lieu of chains or metal cables, be secured by manila or hemp rope of such strength as to fasten securely the hogshead against shifting, falling or rolling, and in any case of not less than five-eighths inch in diameter. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to release the owner or operator from liability for failure to use reasonable care in securing or fastening such load from shifting or falling. (Code 1958, § 29-780)

Norfolk City Code § 25-137 Flag or light at end of projecting load.

Sec. 25-137. - Flag or light at end of projecting load. Whenever the load on any vehicle shall extend more than four (4) feet beyond the rear of the bed or body thereof, there shall be displayed, at the end of such load in such position as to be clearly visible at all times from the rear of such load, a red flag not less than twelve (12) inches, both in length and width, except that, between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, there shall be displayed, at the end of such load, a red light plainly visible in clear weather at least five hundred (500) feet to the sides and the rear of such vehicle. (Code 1958, § 29-776)

Norfolk City Code § 25-138 Connection between vehicles—Generally.

Sec. 25-138. - Connection between vehicles—Generally. The connection between any two (2) vehicles one of which is towing or drawing the other on a street shall consist of a fifth wheel, drawbar or other similar device not to exceed ten (10) feet in length from one vehicle to the other and such two (2) vehicles shall in addition to such drawbar or other similar device be equipped at all times when so operated on the street with an emergency chain. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-139 Same—In case of breakdown.

Sec. 25-139. - Same—In case of breakdown. The provisions of section 25-138 shall not apply in case of a bona fide emergency resulting from a mechanical breakdown or an accident when such vehicle is being towed from the scene of the breakdown or accident to the nearest garage or repair shop which can furnish the required service. In any such case such connection may consist solely of a chain rope or cable of not over fifteen (15) feet in length between vehicles; provided that a licensed operator shall be at the controls of the towed vehicle to brake, steer and control the lights thereof. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Norfolk City Code § 25-140 Towing unlicensed or uninspected motor vehicle.

Sec. 25-140. - Towing unlicensed or uninspected motor vehicle. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit towing an unlicensed motor vehicle or motor vehicle which has not been inspected. (Ord. No. 30,729, § 1, 7-29-80)

Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH25MOVECO_ARTIIIVESIWELOCOVEFetched: 11/1/2026