2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 21: WEIGHT, DIMENSION AND PROTECTION OF WAYS › Subchapter 2: DIMENSION › 29-A §2380. Height and width restrictions

§2380. Height and width restrictions
1.  Maximum width.
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §68 (RP); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2.  Maximum height.
The following height restrictions apply.
A. A vehicle with a permanent or temporary structural part more than 13 feet, 6 inches in height measured vertically from a level ground surface may not be operated on a public way or bridge.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §69 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
B. A vehicle may not be operated on a public way or bridge if the load extends more than 6 inches above the maximum permissible structural height of the vehicle.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §69 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
C. A vehicle may not be operated over a section of a way or bridge that does not provide adequate overhead clearance.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §69 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §69 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
3.  Maximum width; exceptions.
A vehicle that is wider than 102 inches over all may not be operated on a public way or bridge. A portion of a vehicle or load may not project beyond the side of that vehicle to make a total width greater than 102 inches, except as provided in this subsection and subsections 3‑A and 4. The following conditions and appurtenances attached to a commercial motor vehicle are excluded from the measurement of width if they do not extend more than 3 inches from the side of a vehicle:
A. Corner caps;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
B. Rear and side door hinges and their protective hardware;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
C. Rain gutters;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
D. Side lamp markers;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
E. Lift pads for piggyback trailers;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
F. Hazardous materials placards;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
G. Tarps and tarp hardware;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
H. Tiedown assemblies on platform trailers;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
I. Weevil pins and sockets on lowbed trailers;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
J. Steps and handholds for entry and egress;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
K. Flexible fender extensions;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
L. Mud flaps and splash and spray suppressant devices;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
M. Refrigeration units or air compressors;   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
N. Load-induced tire bulge; and   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
O. Wall variation from true flat.   [PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2005, c. 482, §5 (AMD).]
3-A.  Maximum width; additional exceptions.
In addition to the exceptions in subsection 3, the following are excluded from the measurement of vehicle width:
A. Reflecting mirrors;   [PL 2005, c. 482, §6 (NEW).]
B. Turn signal lamps;   [PL 2019, c. 318, §5 (AMD).]
C. Appurtenances on motor homes, truck campers and camp trailers, if such appurtenances extend no more than 6 inches from either side of the body of the vehicle; and   [PL 2019, c. 318, §5 (AMD).]
D. Extended stop arms as defined in section 2301, subsection 1‑D.   [PL 2019, c. 318, §5 (NEW).]
[PL 2019, c. 318, §5 (AMD).]
4.  Hay.
Notwithstanding subsection 3, rolled baled hay may be loaded on a vehicle not to exceed 11 feet in width when transported within a 20-mile radius of the farm on which the hay is harvested or stored. A vehicle used for the transportation of rolled baled hay may not be operated on a public way during nighttime.
[RR 2003, c. 2, §94 (COR).]
5.  Wood piled in tiers.
If firewood, pulpwood or bolts are piled in tiers from the front to rear of the vehicle:
A. When the load will pitch to the center of the vehicle, a strip of wood or metal 3 inches thick must extend along the sides of the platform, from front to rear, securely fastened to the platform.   [PL 1995, c. 247, §6 (AMD).]
B.   [PL 1995, c. 247, §7 (RP).]
The vehicle so loaded must carry a solid-boarded tailboard or 5 stakes of sufficient strength evenly spaced to maintain the weight of the load. The load may not at any place be higher than the tailboard or stakes.
[PL 1995, c. 247, §§6, 7 (AMD).]
6.  Liability.
A person damaging a bridge or overpass with a vehicle or load in excess of the legal height or width limits established in this chapter or a posted limit is deemed the proximate cause of all damage and is liable for the costs of all repairs necessary to restore the structure to its condition prior to the accident. Officials in charge of the maintenance of a bridge or overpass may bring a civil action to recover the costs of repairs.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
7.  Penalty.
A person who violates this section commits a traffic infraction for which a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 may be adjudged, except that the minimum fine for a violation of a posted bridge height is $250.
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §71 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
8.  Exceptions.
This section does not apply to:
A. Snow plows and equipment used exclusively for the removal of snow from public ways;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Construction equipment used on way and bridge construction projects;   [PL 2019, c. 335, §7 (AMD).]
C. A load of loose hay, pea vines, cornstalks or other loosely mounded loads that can not damage structures or threaten public safety; and   [PL 2019, c. 335, §7 (AMD).]
D. Snowplows and equipment mounted on a vehicle traveling from one work location to another work location during a snow event, or traveling from the point of purchase to a storage location, as long as the vehicle does not exceed 126 inches in total width. For the purposes of this paragraph, "snow event" means the period beginning 48 hours before a snowstorm and ending 48 hours after the snowstorm.   [PL 2023, c. 72, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 2023, c. 72, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 78, §1 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 247, §§6,7 (AMD). RR 2003, c. 2, §94 (COR). PL 2003, c. 452, §§Q68-71 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 482, §§5,6 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 318, §5 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 335, §§7, 8 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 72, §1 (AMD).