§ 1400. Permit to operate in excess of weight and size limits; State highways
(a) A person owning or operating a traction engine, tractor, trailer, motor truck, or
other motor vehicle that desires to operate it over State highways or class 1 town
highways in excess of the weight and size limits provided by this subchapter shall
apply to the Commissioner for a permit. In the Commissioner’s discretion, with or
without hearing, the Commissioner may issue to the person a permit authorizing the
person to operate the traction engine, tractor, trailer, motor truck, or other motor
vehicle upon State highways and class 1 town highways as the Commissioner may designate
and containing the regulation subject to which the traction engine, tractor, trailer,
motor truck, or other motor vehicle is to be operated. The permit shall not be granted
until satisfactory proof is furnished to the Commissioner that the traction engine,
tractor, trailer, motor truck, or other motor vehicle has been registered and the
prescribed fee paid for a gross weight equal to a maximum legal load limit for its
class. No additional registration fee shall be payable to authorize the use of the
traction engine, tractor, trailer, motor truck, or other motor vehicle in accordance
with the terms of the permit. The approval may be withdrawn for cause and may be withdrawn
without cause any time after March 31 next following the date of issuance. When approval
is withdrawn for cause or on March 31, the Commissioner shall immediately revoke the
permit; when approval is withdrawn otherwise, the Commissioner shall revoke the permit
within one month after withdrawal.
(b) The provisions of this section shall apply to any vehicle registered in another state,
provided the vehicle meets all weight and size requirements of this State and is registered
or holds a permit in the other state for the weight that the permit is sought.
(c) In addition, the Commissioner may issue permits to operate vehicles in excess of the
size limits provided by this subchapter for operation over any class 2, class 3, or
class 4 town highways except when the dimensions are such that blanket permits cannot
be issued under the duly adopted rules of the Commissioner. In those instances, permits
under section 1400a of this title shall be obtained.
(d) [Repealed.]
(e) Notwithstanding any other statute or rule to the contrary, overweight permits shall
not be issued to vehicles registered in another state or province, unless that state
or province issues similar permits on a reciprocal basis to vehicles registered in
Vermont. (Amended 1961, No. 281, § 6; 1969, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 25, 1970; 1975, No. 232 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. April 7, 1976; 1987, No. 91, § 8, eff. June 22, 1987; 1989, No. 121, § 20d; 1993, No. 27, § 7, eff. May 19, 1993; 1993, No. 186 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1995, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. April 25, 1996; 1999, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 14; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 18; 2015, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 73; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 296, eff. July 1, 2024.)