§ 14-23. Weight.

(a)

The total gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds, and no vehicle or combination of vehicles shall exceed its licensed gross weight.

(b)

No tire mounted on any axle attached to any vehicle or combination of vehicles shall impose a greater weight on the surface of a highway than six hundred fifty (650) pounds per inch width of tire.

(c)

The total gross weight of any single axle attached to any vehicle and equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed twenty thousand (20,000) pounds.

(d)

The total gross weight of any tandem axle steering axle attached to any vehicle and equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds. However, on any vehicle carrying forest products in their natural state, the weight limitation shall be thirty-seven thousand (37,000) pounds per tandem axle and equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires.

(e)

The total gross weight of any tridrum axle attached to any vehicle and equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed forty-two thousand (42,000) pounds.

(f)

The total gross weight of any quadrum axle attached to any vehicle and equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed fifty thousand (50,000) pounds.

(g)

The total gross weight of any single axle or any single steering axle attached to any vehicle and equipped with high pressure pneumatic, solid rubber or cushion tires shall not exceed eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds.

(h)

The total gross weight of any tandem axle or any tandem steering axle attached to any vehicle and equipped with high pressure pneumatic, solid rubber or cushion tires shall not exceed thirty-two thousand (32,000) pounds.

(i)

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section and subject to the provisions of subsections (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this section, the total gross weight of any combination of vehicles which has a tridrum axle or a quadrum axle shall not exceed eighty-eight thousand (88,000) pounds.

(j)

When by reason of the condition of the weather or other emergency, or the physical condition of any highway or its recent construction, or the making of repairs thereto, the director of public works deems it necessary, then for such time as is reasonably necessary to remedy the situation, he may prohibit the use of such highway or specify lesser gross weights than those fixed in this section in order to protect the public highways and the persons and property of the traveling public from unnecessary damage. Notice of such restrictions, prohibitions or weight reductions shall be given by the director of public works by posters at the terminal of the highway. However, failure to post such notice shall under no circumstances make either the parish or any department or employee liable for damages which may result because of such failure.

(k)

Vehicles and combinations of vehicles shall be loaded in such manner that the axle limitations set forth in subsections (c), (d), (e), (f) and (h) of this section are not exceeded. However, while operating on any parish-maintained highway, the provisions of subsections (c), (d), (e), (f) or (h) of this section shall not be deemed to have been violated unless the axle weight exceeds by more than two thousand (2,000) pounds subsections (c) and (g) of this section or more than three thousand (3,000) pounds subsections (d), (e), (f) and (h) of this section. This subsection shall in no way be construed to allow the total gross weight limits set forth in subsections (a) or (i) of this section.

(Ord. No. 7952, 5-13-85)