189.270 Special permits to exceed limits.
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a nondivisible load, whose gross weight including load, height, width, or length
exceeds the limits prescribed by this chapter or which in other respects fail to
comply with the requirements of this chapter. Permits may be issued by the
department for stated periods, special purposes, and unusual conditions, and upon
terms in the interest of public safety and the preservation of the highways as the
department may require. (2) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, the department may, at the request of an applicant, issue a single-trip permit regardless of the type of vehicle or
equipment being transported that exceeds the weight or dimension limits
established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load. A
single-trip permit shall cost sixty dollars ($60) for each overweight or
overdimensional permit requested. (3) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, the department may, at the request of an applicant, issue an annual permit regardless of the type of vehicle or
equipment being transported that exceeds the weight or dimension limits
established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load. The
vehicle shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet in width exclusive of usual and ordinary
overhang, one hundred twenty (120) feet in length including a towing vehicle and
trailer combination, thirteen (13) feet six (6) inches in height, or one hundred sixty
thousand (160,000) pounds. Except as provided in subsections (4) and (7) of this
section, an annual permit for loads less than fourteen (14) feet in width shall cost
two hundred fifty dollars ($250). An annual permit for loads exceeding fourteen
(14) feet in width shall cost five hundred dollars ($500). (4) An annual permit to transport farm equipment less than fourteen (14) feet in width shall cost eighty dollars ($80). An annual permit to transport farm equipment that
exceeds fourteen (14) feet in width from a dealership to a farm or from a farm to a
dealership shall cost one hundred fifty dollars ($150). (5) Permits issued under this section shall be for nondivisible loads and shall be valid statewide; however, the department may, as a condition of issuing an annual or
single-trip permit, limit the overweight or overdimensional vehicle to specified
routes, exclude certain highways, or even cancel an applicant's permit if an
unreasonable risk of accident or an unreasonable impedance of the flow of traffic
would result from the presence of the overweight or overdimensional vehicle. A
person who applies for, and accepts, a permit issued under this section is
acknowledging that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is not guaranteeing safe
passage of vehicles by issuing the permit. A person who applies for, and accepts, a
permit issued under this section agrees to measure all clearances of highway
structures, both laterally and vertically, prior to passage of the person's vehicles
along the routes specified in the permit. A person who applies for, and accepts, a
permit issued under this section is classified as a bare licensee whose duty is to assume sole risk involved in using Kentucky's highways without warranty of
accuracy. (6) Subject to the limitations of subsection (11) of this section, the department shall promulgate administrative regulations under KRS Chapter 13A to establish
requirements for escort vehicles, safety markings, and other safety restrictions
governing the operation of an overweight or overdimensional vehicle. The
department shall provide each applicant for an annual or single-trip permit issued
under this section a copy of all restrictions associated with the overweight or
overdimensional permit at no charge to the applicant. The department shall be
prohibited from raising the permit fee established in subsections (2) and (3) of this
section by levying additional fees for an overweight or overdimensional permit
through the administrative regulation process. (7) The cabinet shall not issue an annual permit under this section if the person applying for the permit is eligible for an annual permit issued under KRS 189.2715
or 189.2717. (8) The department may require the applicant to give bond, with approved surety, to indemnify the state or counties against damage to highways or bridges resulting
from use by the applicant. The operation of vehicles in accordance with the terms of
the permit issued under this section shall not constitute a violation of this chapter if
the operator has the permit, or an authenticated copy of it, in his possession. (9) Any person transporting a parade float which exceeds the dimensional limits on a highway over which it is transported shall be required to obtain a permit as required
in subsection (2) of this section. If the float is being used in conjunction with a
parade to be held within the boundaries of the Commonwealth, a fee shall not be
assessed by the department to issue the permit. (10) A person shall not operate any vehicle in violation of the terms of the permit issued under this section. (11) (a) The cabinet shall not promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to this section that restrict the time or days of the week when a permit holder may
operate on the highway, except that travel may be limited from 6 a.m. to 9
a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition to the
restrictions established in this paragraph, any manufactured home being
transported by permit issued under this section shall not travel on any highway
after daylight hours Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sunday. (b) The cabinet shall allow a permit holder who has obtained a permit to transport equipment to a work site to return to the permit holder's place of business
immediately after work is completed at the job site, subject to the limitations
of paragraph (a) of this subsection. Effective: June 20, 2005
History: Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 166, sec. 1, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 2003 Ky. Acts ch. 30, sec. 2, effective June 24, 2003. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts
ch. 306, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 356, sec. 1,
effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 7, effective July 15,
1994.