§ 27-35-108 - Authority to weigh vehicles and require removal of excess loads.
27-35-108. Authority to weigh vehicles and require removal of excess loads.
(a) (1) Any police officer having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful is authorized to require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing, by means of either portable or stationary scales, and may require that the vehicle be driven to the nearest public scales in the event the scales are within two (2) miles.
(2) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to vehicles owned and operated by the State of Arkansas or any city or county of this state.
(b) (1) Whenever an officer, upon weighing a vehicle and load as provided in subsection (a) of this section, determines that the weight is unlawful, the officer may require the driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place and remain standing until such portion of the load is removed as may be necessary to reduce the gross weight of the vehicle to the limit permitted under this chapter.
(2) All material so unloaded shall be cared for by the owner or operator of the vehicle at the risk of the owner or operator.
(c) Any driver of a vehicle who fails or refuses to stop and submit the vehicle and load to a weighing, or who fails or refuses when directed by an officer upon a weighing of the vehicle to stop the vehicle and otherwise comply with the provisions of this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) It shall also be the duty of county sheriffs or any other state or local police officers to enforce, or to cooperate in enforcing, the weight limits specified in this chapter or authorized on any public way in this state and to prevent overloading of vehicles or other violations of the traffic laws upon the public highways within their respective jurisdictions.