It is hereby declared to be policy of the board of county commissioners, recognizing the close relation between climatic and other conditions and damage or destruction to county roads, to establish emergency load limitations upon county roads to become effective during such periods of inclement weather, and to establish special load limitations for school buses, motor trucks transporting perishable commodities or commodities necessary to the health and welfare of county residents, and motor vehicles providing services necessary to the health and welfare of county residents when such emergency load limitations are in effect. This chapter is adopted pursuant to the provisions of Ch. 46.44 RCW, and particularly RCW 46.44.080, as now or hereafter amended.
(Ord. 1073 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)
Terms used in this chapter shall have that meaning given to them in this chapter and RCW 46.44.040, and where not defined herein shall have that meaning clearly indicated by the context in which such term is used.
(Ord. 1073 § 2, 1981)
(1) 
"Commodity necessary for health and welfare"
means a product of agriculture or manufacture which is necessary to provide essential shelter, food, and fuel to people and animals, or to provide for the economic well-being of a community at large.
(2) 
"Service necessary to the health and welfare"
means any service provided to the public which is necessary to maintain essential power, gas, communications, garbage, sewer, and water services, and other such necessary public services, for the community at large.
(3) 
"Gross weight"
means the total vehicle weight including load.
(4) 
"Perishable commodity"
means a product of agriculture, aquaculture, or manufacture which by its nature is subject to destruction, decay, deterioration or spoilage except under proper conditions.
(5) 
"Tire width",
in the case of pneumatic tires, shall be the maximum overall normal inflated width as stipulated by the manufacturer when inflated to the pressure specified and without load thereon.
(Ord. 1073 § 3, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)
(1) 
When in the opinion of the county engineer any county road will be seriously damaged or destroyed by reason of freeze and thawing conditions, or other inclement weather unless the operation of vehicles thereon be restricted or the permissible weight thereof be reduced, no person shall operate upon any county road, any vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, with a gross weight upon any tire concentrated upon the surface of the county road in excess of the following load limitations:
Road Restrictions
Conventional Tires
Tubeless or Special
With .5 Marking
Size
Gross Load
Size
Gross Load
Width Tire
Each Tire
Width Tire
Each Tire
7.00*
1800 lbs.
8-22.5*
1800 lbs.
7.50
1800 lbs.
9-22.5
1900 lbs.
8.25
1900 lbs.
10-22.5
2250 lbs.
9.00
2250 lbs.
11-22.5
2750 lbs.
10.00
2750 lbs.
11-24.5
2750 lbs.
11.00**
3000 lbs.
12-22.5**
3000 lbs.
* And Under
** And Over
(2) 
The emergency load limitations imposed by this section shall become effective upon the erection and maintenance by county forces of signs designating such limitations at each end of the affected portion of county road, and shall remain in full force until such signs are removed by county forces at the direction of the Lewis County engineer.
(Ord. 1073 § 4, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)
(1) 
When any emergency load limitation as defined in this chapter is in effect as to any county road, school buses, motor trucks transporting perishable commodities or commodities necessary to the health and welfare of county residents are hereby either through proclamation of general permission or by process of application for and issuance of special permits to exceed the emergency load limitation; provided, that the gross weight of such vehicle shall not exceed that amount determined by multiplying the total number of tires concentrated upon the surface of the road times the maximum allowable gross weight per tire as follows:
Road Restrictions
Conventional Tires
Tubeless or Special
With .5 Marking
Size
Gross Load
Size
Gross Load
Width Tire
Each Tire
Width Tire
Each Tire
7.00*
1800 lbs.
8-22.5*
1800 lbs.
7.50
2000 lbs.
9-22.5
2200 lbs.
8.25
2200 lbs.
10-22.5
2600 lbs.
9.00
2600 lbs.
11-22.5
3200 lbs.
10.00
3200 lbs.
11-24.5
3200 lbs.
11.00**
3600 lbs.
12-22.5**
3600 lbs.
* And Under
** And Over
(2) 
Providing further, that where circumstances concerning a proposed move would constitute an undue hardship, the county engineer or his designee is authorized to issue special permits allowing such vehicle to exceed the gross weight limits of this section; such permit to specify, but not be limited to, time of movement and specific route information consistent with protecting the county roads from serious damage.
(Ord. 1073 § 5, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)
The county engineer or his designee is authorized to issue a general proclamation or to require special permits, at his discretion, allowing motor vehicles providing services necessary to the health and welfare of county residents to exceed the posted emergency load limitations; provided, that such general proclamation or such permits specify, but not be limited to, time of movement, and specific route information consistent with protecting the county roads from serious damage and be issued only in those instances where There has been a factual determination by the county engineer or his designee that such services are necessary to the public health and welfare.
(Ord. 1073 § 6, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)
When computing the maximum allowable gross weight of motor vehicles during periods of emergency load limitations as provided for in LCC § 10.25.050, each vehicle, whether solo or part of a vehicle combination, shall be considered separately except for semitrailers and pole trailers which may be considered as part of the towing vehicle if the load being carried by such a combination is supported equally, plus or minus 10 percent, by both the trailer and towing vehicle.
(Ord. 1073 § 7, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)
Except where applicable law or regulation specifies a lower speed, no person shall operate any vehicle at a speed in excess of 35 miles per hour upon any county road posted as to its emergency load limitation.
(Ord. 1073 § 8, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)
Any person operating a motor vehicle upon any county road in violation of any provision of this chapter shall also be liable in a civil action instituted in the name of the county, for any damage occasioned to any county road as the result of disregarding any load limitation and using such county road, or portion thereof, with any vehicle or any class of vehicle to which the same is closed.
(Ord. 1073 § 10, 1981; Ord. 1157, 1998)