AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS (Authorizes a blanket permit and fee to allow the movement of self-propelled cranes which are in excess of size and weight load requirements, to move on state highways.)

H7381

2026 -- H 7381
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LC003198
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

Introduced By:
Representatives Cortvriend, Speakman, Donovan, Finkelman, Edwards,
and Fellela

Date Introduced:
January 28, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size,
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Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-25-21. Power to permit excess size or weight of loads.
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(a) The department of transportation, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may,
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in its discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown for it, approve the
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issuance of a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle, or
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combination of vehicles, of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding eighty thousand pounds
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(80,000 lbs.) or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of chapters 1 — 27 of this title
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upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting the permit and for the maintenance
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of which the party is responsible. Permits that have been issued for a full year shall not be required
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to be renewed for the period of time for which payment has been made and the application and
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other required documentation has been completed and filed. Provided, that neither the department
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of transportation nor the local authorities may approve the issuance of permits for divisible loads
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weighing in excess of the limits set by the director of the department of transportation by and
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through the rules and regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled “rules
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and regulations regarding overweight and oversize vehicle permits”.
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(1) Provided, however, that for milk products, any vehicle carrying fluid milk products
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shall be considered a load that cannot be easily dismantled or divided.
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(b) The director of the department of transportation may enter into agreements with other

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states, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces providing for the reciprocal enforcement
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of the overweight or over-dimensional vehicle permit laws of those jurisdictions entering into the
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agreement.
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(c)
Single trip non-divisible permit fee.
A fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be paid to
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the department of transportation for the issuance of each non-divisible single trip permit. Upon
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approval of the application, the department of transportation shall provide the approved permit. The
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driver must possess the permit and documentation as required by the permit at all times.
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(d)
Annual blanket permit fee.
An annual fee of four hundred dollars ($400) paid to the
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department of transportation shall exempt the payor from the necessity of paying single trip permit
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fees for non-divisible construction equipment loads, boats, or marine assets of less than one
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hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) as found in subsection (c). However, payment of the
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fee shall not be deemed to authorize noncompliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by
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the department of transportation entitled “rules and regulations regarding overweight and oversize
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vehicle permits”.
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(e) Blanket permits may be issued, as determined by the department of transportation, for
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intrastate movement of non-divisible construction equipment loads, boats, or marine assets upon
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payment of the fee set forth in subsection (d). If used in conjunction with an annual divisible load
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permit, the limits and requirements of the blanket permit shall supersede the requirements of the
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divisible load permit. The driver must possess both permits and all required documentation. The
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duration of the blanket permit may not exceed one year. The blanket permit load shall be limited
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to a minimum overall length of fifty-five feet (55′), a maximum overall length of eighty feet (80′),
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a maximum width of twelve feet four inches (12′ 4″), a maximum gross weight of one hundred
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thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.), and a maximum axle weight of twenty-five thousand pounds
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(25,000 lbs.); provided, that the department of transportation, with respect to highways under its
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jurisdiction, may, in its discretion and upon application and for good cause shown, approve the
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issuance of a single trip non-divisible permit authorizing the applicant to exceed one hundred thirty
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thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) for non-divisible loads. A flashing amber light shall be in operation
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above the highest point of the vehicle and shall be visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle;
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and signs and red warning flags shall be affixed to all extremities. All blanket permits issued in
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accordance with this section shall be effective during daylight and night-time hours for all over-
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dimensional moves made and travel shall be allowed on state highways. The specifically described
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vehicle must be certified originally by the manufacturer to possess the braking and carrying
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capacity for the weight specified on the application.
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(f) Permission to travel is always subject to weather and road conditions. The following

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restrictions on travel times shall apply to all vehicles over eight feet six inches (8′ 6″) wide, over
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eighty feet (80′) long, or over one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.):
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(1)
Freeways and arterial roadways.
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No travel will be allowed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. or between 3:00
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p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2022, ch. 178, § 1 and P.L. 2022, ch. 179, § 1.]
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(3)
Holidays.
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Memorial Day, Victory Day, Labor Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Columbus
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Day — No Saturday, Sunday, or Monday day or night travel.
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Thanksgiving Day — No travel on Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week in
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any calendar year.
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Independence Day, Veterans Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day — No day or night
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travel and no travel the previous night.
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Easter Sunday. No Saturday night or Sunday travel.
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(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-25-24.
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(g) Blanket permits shall not be granted for travel over the following bridges:
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Blackstone River Viaduct 750 carrying I-295 northbound and southbound over the
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Blackstone River;
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Kingston Road Bridge No. 403 carrying I-95 northbound and southbound over Kingston
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Road.
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(h) Travel of blanket permits through zones with reductions in lane width such as
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construction zones will not be allowed. Prior to travel, blanket permit holders are responsible to
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verify the location of construction zones and lane width reductions. Locations of lane width
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reduction zones are available through the state department of transportation’s construction office.
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(i) Upon approval of the annual blanket permit application, the department of transportation
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shall provide the approved permit. The driver must possess the permit and documentation as
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required by the permit at all times.
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(j) Any carrier or persons found to be operating without a required permit, or in excess of
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their permit limits, three (3) times within a one-year period shall be revoked of their ability to use
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and receive permits within the state for up to thirty (30) days. Additional violations shall result in
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revocation of up to ninety (90) days.
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(k) Operation of any vehicle in excess of the requirements of any permit shall void that
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permit and result in the imposition of fines as provided in this chapter.
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(l)(1) Annual self-propelled crane blanket permit and fee. An annual self-propelled crane

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blanket permit allows movement of cranes, without restricting movement other than requiring
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cranes to abide by posted bridge limits. This permit shall be obtained only by operators of self-
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propelled cranes. Separate permits are required for each crane and are not transferable. A fee of
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four hundred dollars ($400) paid to the department of transportation shall exempt the payor from
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the necessity of obtaining and paying single trip permit fees.
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(2) The following provisions shall apply:
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(i) Permits shall have duration of one year from the effective date.
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(ii) Self-propelled cranes with an annual blanket permit may move twenty-four (24) hours
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a day, Monday through Sunday without escort.
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(iii) The annual blanket permit holder is required and responsible for obtaining current
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travel restrictions prior to movement with blanket permits.
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(iv) Payment of the annual fee shall not be deemed to authorize noncompliance with the
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rules and regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled "rules and
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regulations regarding overweight and oversized vehicle permits" (290-RICR-40-00-1).
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS
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This act would authorize the department of transportation to issue a blanket permit to and
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collect a fee from operators to allow the movement of self-propelled cranes on state roads and
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highways, which cranes are in excess of size and weight load requirements.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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