In accordance with the provisions of RCW 46.44.080, whenever due to emergency conditions the use of a county road by all vehicles, or by vehicles whose gross tire loads exceed those described in either schedule contained in WCC § 12.06.020, will damage the highway or will be dangerous to traffic using the highway, the public works director, or the county engineer, shall close such road temporarily to all vehicles or to a designated class of vehicles, as the case may be, by posting notices at each end of the closed portion of road or roads. In addition, for any definite period of time, the director of public works or the county engineer may close to travel or restrict county roads to all vehicles or any class of vehicles whenever the county road is being constructed, altered, repaired, improved or maintained in such a manner as to require its use or any portion of its use closed or restricted; provided:
A. 
That before any county road is closed or restricted to all vehicles or any class of vehicles, a notice including the effective date shall be published in one issue of a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
B. 
That on or prior to the date of publication of such notice, the engineer shall erect and maintain, or cause to be erected and maintained signs designating the provisions of this chapter in a conspicuous place at each end of the portion of any county road affected.
C. 
No county road will be closed sooner than three days after the publication and posting of the notice.
(Ord. 80-10 § 1 (part); Ord. 2016-020 Exh. A)
When imposing load restrictions pursuant to this chapter, the public works director, or the county engineer, shall specify and display by posted signs whichever of the following schedules of emergency load restrictions is necessary to protect the road from damage in accordance with the conditions then existing.
Emergency Load Restrictions
Conventional Tires
Tire Size
Gross Load Each Tire (in pounds)
7.00
1800
7.50
2250
8.25
2800
9.00
3400
10.00
4000
11.00
4500
12.00 & over
4500
Emergency Load Restrictions
Tubeless or Special With .5 Marking
Tire Size
Gross Load Each Tire (in pounds)
8-22.5
2250
9-22.5
2800
10-22.5
3400
11-22.5
4000
11-24.5
4000
12-22.5
4500
12-24.5 & over
4500
Severe Emergency Load Restrictions
Conventional Tires
Tire Size
Gross Load Each Tire (in pounds)
7.00
1800
7.50
1800
8.25
1900
9.00
2250
10.00
2750
11.00 & over
3000
Severe Emergency Load Restrictions
Tubeless or Special With .5 Marking
Tire Size
Gross Load Each Tire (in pounds)
8-22.5
1800
9-22.5
1900
10-22.5
2250
11-22.5
2750
11-24.5
2750
12-22.5 & over
3000
(Ord. 80-10 § 1 (part))
No allowance will be made for any second rear axle that is suspended from the frame of a vehicle independent of the regular driving axle, commonly known as a rigid trail axle. Allowance will be made for single tires only, on the front axle of any truck.
(Ord. 80-10 § 1 (part))
The load distribution on any one axle of any vehicle shall be such that it will not load the tires on the axle in excess of the prescribed load set forth in this chapter; provided, that a truck, truck tractor, passenger bus or school bus having conventional 10:00 x 20 tires or 11-22.5 tires, or larger, may carry a maximum load of 10,000 pounds on the front axle over any county road placed under emergency load restrictions.
(Ord. 80-10 § 2)
The director of public works or the county engineer shall have the authority to implement this chapter by publishing and posting notice in accordance with RCW 47.48.020; provided, however, that in case of emergency, the county executive, the director of public works, or the county engineer may, without publication or delay, close county roads temporarily to all vehicles or designated class of vehicles or place other conditions or restrictions by posting notice of same at each end of the closed portion of road or roads. Such restrictions shall be effective immediately upon posting.
(Ord. 80-10 § 4)
The director of public works, or the county engineer, pursuant to RCW 46.44.080, may issue special permits in writing authorizing the operation of school buses, emergency vehicles and motor trucks transporting perishable commodities or commodities necessary for the health and welfare of local residents under specified weight and speed restrictions as may be necessary to protect any county road from undue damage.
(Ord. 80-10 § 5)
When any county road or portion thereof has been closed, as provided by this chapter, any person, firm or corporation disregarding such closing and using such county roads or portions thereof with any vehicle or any class of vehicles, as the case may be, to which the county road or portion thereof is closed or restricted or conditions placed thereupon by any notice or emergency notice, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, in addition to any penalties for violation of the provisions of this chapter, be liable in any civil action instituted in the name of Whatcom County for any damages caused to county road or roads or portions thereof, as the case may be, as a result of disregarding such closing and using such county road or roads or portions thereof with any vehicle or any class of vehicle or violation of conditions or restrictions to which the road or roads or portions thereof is closed. In addition thereto, any person, firm or corporation in violation of this chapter or portions thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and each day during which such violation is continued or committed shall constitute a separate offense and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 90 days or both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 80-10 § 6)