2025 -- H 5730
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LC001552
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS
Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Boylan, Cortvriend, Edwards, and Casey
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size, 1
Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
31-25-21. Power to permit excess size or weight of loads. 3
(a) The department of transportation, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may, 4
in its discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown for it, approve the 5
issuance of a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle, or 6
combination of vehicles, of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding eighty thousand pounds 7
(80,000 lbs.) or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of chapters 1 — 27 of this title 8
upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting the permit and for the maintenance 9
of which the party is responsible. Permits that have been issued for a full year shall not be required 10
to be renewed for the period of time for which payment has been made and the application and 11
other required documentation has been completed and filed. Provided, that neither the department 12
of transportation nor the local authorities may approve the issuance of permits for divisible loads 13
weighing in excess of the limits set by the director of the department of transportation by and 14
through the rules and regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled “rules 15
and regulations regarding overweight and oversize vehicle permits”. 16
(1) Provided, however, that for milk products, any vehicle carrying fluid milk products 17
shall be considered a load that cannot be easily dismantled or divided. 18
(b) The director of the department of transportation may enter into agreements with other 19
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states, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces providing for the reciprocal enforcement 1
of the overweight or over-dimensional vehicle permit laws of those jurisdictions entering into the 2
agreement. 3
(c) Single trip non-divisible permit fee. A fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be paid to the 4
department of transportation for the issuance of each non-divisible single trip permit. Upon 5
approval of the application, the department of transportation shall provide the approved permit. The 6
driver must possess the permit and documentation as required by the permit at all times. 7
(d) Annual construction equipment blanket permit fee. An annual fee of four hundred 8
dollars ($400) paid to the department of transportation shall exempt the payor from the necessity 9
of paying single trip permit fees for non-divisible construction equipment loads, boats, or marine 10
assets of less than one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) as found in subsection (c). 11
However, payment of the fee shall not be deemed to authorize noncompliance with the rules and 12
regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled “rules and regulations 13
regarding overweight and oversize vehicle permits”. 14
(e) Blanket construction equipment permits may be issued, as determined by the 15
department of transportation, for intrastate movement of non-divisible construction equipment 16
loads, boats or marine assets upon payment of the fee set forth in subsection (d). If used in 17
conjunction with an annual divisible load permit, the limits and requirements of the blanket 18
construction equipment permit shall supersede the requirements of the divisible load permit. The 19
driver must possess both permits and all required documentation. The duration of the blanket permit 20
may not exceed one year. The construction equipment blanket permit load shall be limited to a 21
minimum overall length of fifty-five feet (55′), a maximum overall length of eighty feet (80′), a 22
maximum width of twelve feet four inches (12′ 4″), a maximum gross weight of one hundred thirty 23
thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.), and a maximum axle weight of twenty-five thousand pounds 24
(25,000 lbs.); provided, that the department of transportation, with respect to highways under its 25
jurisdiction, may, in its discretion and upon application and for good cause shown, approve the 26
issuance of a single trip non-divisible permit authorizing the applicant to exceed one hundred thirty 27
thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) for non-divisible loads. A flashing amber light shall be in operation 28
above the highest point of the vehicle and shall be visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle; 29
and signs and red warning flags shall be affixed to all extremities. All blanket permits issued in 30
accordance with this section shall be effective during daylight and night-time hours for all over-31
dimensional moves made and travel shall be allowed on state highways. 32
(f) Permission to travel is always subject to weather and road conditions. The following 33
restrictions on travel times shall apply to all vehicles over eight feet six inches (8′ 6″) wide, over 34
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eighty feet (80′) long, or over one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.): 1
(1) Freeways and arterial roadways. 2
No travel will be allowed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. or between 3:00 3
p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 4
(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2022, ch. 178, § 1 and P.L. 2022, ch. 179, § 1.] 5
(3) Holidays. 6
Memorial Day, Victory Day, Labor Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Columbus 7
Day — No Saturday, Sunday, or Monday day or night travel. 8
Thanksgiving Day — No travel on Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week in 9
any calendar year. 10
Independence Day, Veterans Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day — No day or night 11
travel and no travel the previous night. 12
Easter Sunday. No Saturday night or Sunday travel. 13
(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-25-24. 14
(g) Construction equipment blanket Blanket permits shall not be granted for travel over the 15
following bridges: 16
Blackstone River Viaduct 750 carrying I-295 northbound and southbound over the 17
Blackstone River; 18
Kingston Road Bridge No. 403 carrying I-95 northbound and southbound over Kingston 19
Road. 20
(h) Travel of blanket permitted construction equipment permits through zones with 21
reductions in lane width such as construction zones will not be allowed. Prior to travel, blanket 22
permit holders are responsible to verify the location of construction zones and lane width 23
reductions. Locations of lane width reduction zones are available through the state department of 24
transportation’s construction office. 25
(i) Upon approval of the annual construction equipment blanket permit application, the 26
department of transportation shall provide the approved permit. The driver must possess the permit 27
and documentation as required by the permit at all times. 28
(j) Any carrier or persons found to be operating without a required permit, or in excess of 29
their permit limits, three (3) times within a one-year period shall be revoked of their ability to use 30
and receive permits within the state for up to thirty (30) days. Additional violations shall result in 31
revocation of up to ninety (90) days. 32
(k) Operation of any vehicle in excess of the requirements of any permit shall void that 33
permit and result in the imposition of fines as provided in this chapter. 34
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS
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This act would allow boats and marine assets to utilize the overweight oversize annual 1
blanket permit, that was in effect until 2022, when it was no longer allowed. It would also allow 2
for the resumption of the prior practice, which was outlawed, of permitting for boats and marine 3
asset transportation. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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