As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed to them:
Commercial motor vehicle.
A motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used to
transport persons or property that has a gross combination weight
rating of 26,001 or more pounds, including a towed unit with a gross
vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds; has a gross vehicle
weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds; is designed to transport 16
or more passengers, including the driver; or is transporting hazardous
materials and is required to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. part 172,
subpart F.
Motor vehicle.
Any vehicle that is self-propelled, or a vehicle that is
propelled by electric power from overhead trolley wires.
Pole trailer.
Any vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by
another vehicle and secured to the other vehicle by means of a reach,
pole or boom or other security device to the towing vehicle and ordinarily
used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads, such as poles,
pipes, or structural members capable generally of sustaining themselves
as beams between the supporting connection.
Semi-trailer.
Any vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole
trailer, designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and to transport
persons or property and constructed so that part of the vehicle’s
weight and load rests on or is carried by another vehicle.
Trailer.
Any vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole
trailer, designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and to transport
persons or property and constructed so that no part of the vehicle’s
weight and load rests on the motor vehicle.
Truck-tractor.
Any motor vehicle designed or used primarily for drawing
other vehicles, and not so constructed as to carry a load other than
a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
Vehicle.
A device that can be used to transport or draw persons or
property on a highway. The term does not include a device exclusively
used on stationary rails or tracks or a manufactured housing, as that
term is defined by the Texas Manufactured Housing Standards Act.
(Ordinance O-03-19 adopted 5/7/19)
No person shall operate or cause to be operated any commercial
motor vehicle, truck-tractor, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer,
or any combination thereof, through the city in inter-city travel
having a total gross weight with load in excess of twenty thousand
pounds (20,000#) without a local destination or point of origin, except
upon such streets as are designated as truck routes by this article.
(Ordinance O-03-19 adopted 5/7/19)
The provisions of this article, however, shall not apply to
any of the following vehicles having a gross weight with load in excess
of twenty thousand pounds (20,000#):
(1) A vehicle traveling to or from a truck terminal, garage, place of
repair, place of performing a service, or a place of loading or unloading,
over the shortest practicable route to or from a point on a truck
route; any such vehicle shall be permitted to proceed from one such
point not on a truck route to another such point without returning
to a truck route, if to so return would unreasonably increase the
distance to be traveled between such points; the operator of any such
vehicle shall carry evidence of the location of its last stop and
of its immediate destination in order for this exception to apply;
(2) An authorized emergency vehicle operating in response to any emergency
call;
(3) A vehicle operated by a public utility while cruising in an assigned
area for the purpose of inspecting the facilities of said public utility
and/or providing maintenance service to said facilities; and
(4) A vehicle operated for public service, i.e., garbage pickups, street
repair and water service and maintenance.
(Ordinance O-03-19 adopted 5/7/19)
The following streets and parts of streets are designated truck
routes under this article:
Name of Street
|
Limits
|
---|
Interstate Highway 35E
|
From the north city limits to the south city limits
|
FM 664
|
From the east city limits to the west city limits
|
Westmoreland
|
From the north city limits to the south city limits
|
(Ordinance O-03-19 adopted 5/7/19)
Any police officer of the city, having reason to believe that
the gross weight or axle load of a loaded motor vehicle is unlawful,
is authorized to weigh the same or cause the same to be weighed by
any license and weight inspector of the state department of public
safety, or any sheriff or duly authorized deputy sheriff by means
of portable or stationary scales furnished or approved by the state
department of public safety, or cause the same to be weighed by any
public weigher, and to require that such vehicle be driven to the
nearest available scales for the purpose of weighing.
(Ordinance O-03-19 adopted 5/7/19)
The traffic engineer or designee shall erect appropriate signs
and markings to designate the truck routes established herein.
(Ordinance O-03-19 adopted 5/7/19)
Except as otherwise provided for herein, it shall be unlawful
for any person to drive, operate or move and/or to cause or permit
to be driven, operated or moved on any public street within the city
any commercial motor vehicle contrary to this article.
(Ordinance O-03-19 adopted 5/7/19)