321.471 Local authorities may restrict.

1. a. Local authorities with respect to a highway under their jurisdiction may by ordinance or resolution prohibit the operation of vehicles upon the highway or impose restrictions as to the weight of vehicles to be operated upon the highway for a total period of not to exceed ninety days in any one calendar year, whenever the highway by reason of deterioration, rain, snow, or other climatic conditions will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless the use of vehicles on the highway is prohibited or the permissible weights reduced. The ordinance or resolution shall not apply to implements of husbandry as defined in section 321.1, implements of husbandry loaded on hauling units for transporting the implements to locations for repair, or fire apparatus and road maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the performance of a contract with a state or local authority.

b. A person who violates the provisions of the ordinance or resolution shall, upon conviction or a plea of guilty, be subject to a fine determined by dividing the difference between the actual weight and the maximum weight established by the ordinance or resolution by one hundred, and multiplying the quotient by two dollars.

c. Local authorities may issue special permits during periods the restrictions are in effect to permit limited operation of vehicles upon specified routes with loads in excess of any restrictions imposed under this subsection, but not in excess of load restrictions imposed by any other provision of this chapter, and the authorities shall issue the permits upon a showing that there is a need to move to market farm produce of the type subject to rapid spoilage or loss of value or to move to any farm feeds or fuel for home heating purposes.

2. a. Upon a finding that a bridge or culvert does not meet established standards set forth by state and federal authorities, local authorities may by ordinance or resolution impose limitations for an indefinite period of time on the weight of vehicles upon bridges or culverts located on highways under their sole jurisdiction. The limitations shall be effective when signs giving notice of the limitations are erected. The ordinance or resolution shall not apply to implements of husbandry loaded on hauling units for transporting the implements to locations for purposes of repair or to fire apparatus or road maintenance equipment owned by, under lease to, or used in the performance of a contract with a state or local authority.

b. A person who violates the ordinance or resolution shall, upon conviction or a guilty plea, be subject to a fine determined by dividing the difference between the actual weight of the vehicle and the maximum weight allowed by the ordinance or resolution by one hundred and multiplying the quotient by two dollars.

c. Local authorities may issue or approve special permits allowing the operation over a bridge or culvert of vehicles with weights in excess of restrictions imposed under the ordinance or resolution, but not in excess of load restrictions imposed by any other provision of this chapter. The local authority shall issue such a permit for not to exceed eight weeks upon a showing of agricultural hardship. The operator of a vehicle which is the subject of a permit issued under this paragraph shall carry the permit while operating the vehicle and shall show the permit to any peace officer upon request.

[C24, 27, §4996; C31, 35, §4686-c1, 4996; C39, §5035.20; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.471]

87 Acts, ch 162, §1; 99 Acts, ch 108, §8; 99 Acts, ch 208, §52, 53; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §180; 2010 Acts, ch 1069, §100

Referred to in §321.236, 321.453, 321.463, 321.472, 321E.17, 331.362