2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter XIV - Dimensions and Weight of Vehicles and their Load (§§ 5451 — 5458) › § 5452 - Dimensions and weight of vehicles and their load

Except as otherwise provided by the Secretary through regulations promulgated to such effect, the following rules shall apply with regard to the dimensions and weight of the vehicles and their loads:
(a) The following vehicles shall not travel on the public highways:
(1) No vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer whose height from the surface of the road, including its cargo, exceeds fourteen (14) feet or four point one hundred twenty-seven (4.127) meters.
(2) No single unit vehicle or buses of over forty (40) feet or twelve point one hundred ninety-two (12.192) meters in length.
(3) More than three (3) interconnected vehicles.
(4) Three (3) interconnected vehicles equipped with appropriate safety devices for such interconnection, whose combined length, including the load, exceeds eighty (80) feet or twenty-four point thirty-eight (24.38) meters.
(5) No vehicle or motor vehicle or combination of vehicles, when their load extends more than three (3) feet or point nine hundred fourteen (.914) meters towards the front of the vehicle, or whose load projects more than six (6) feet or one point eight hundred twenty-eight (1.828) meters beyond the rear bumper line of the vehicle.
(6) No vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer whose overall length is in excess of a total width of eight (8) feet and six inches (6) or two point fifty-nine (2.59) meters.
(7) No vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer carrying a load that extends more than six (6) inches or fifteen point twenty-four (15.24) centimeters beyond the fender line.
(8) No vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer whose load extends beyond its rear end, unless a red flag is placed at the end of the protruding load that is not less than twelve (12) inches or thirty (30) centimeters in length by twelve (12) inches or thirty (30) centimeters in width, as well as a red light, as required by this chapter.
(9) No vehicle that is bearing a cargo of explosives shall travel on the public highways, unless it is provided with a red flag at least eighteen (18) inches or forty-five point seven (45.7) centimeters wide and thirty (30) inches or seventy six point two (76.2) centimeters in length. Said flag shall bear the word “DANGER” in letters of at least twelve (12) inches or thirty (30) centimeters high and shall be placed on the front on a vertical pole and at a distance from which it can be readily seen from every direction. Said vehicle shall also be marked or labeled on each side and the rear with the word “EXPLOSIVES” in white letters eight (8) inches or twenty point three (20.3) centimeters high. Said vehicle shall also be equipped with not less than two (2) fire extinguishers in good working condition, conveniently placed in the vehicle for their immediate use. No vehicle bearing a cargo of explosives may travel on any public highway during nighttime. No passenger or passengers shall be transported in or on any vehicle bearing explosives. The speed of said vehicle shall not exceed thirty (30) miles per hour in the rural zone. Said vehicles shall also meet the additional requirements already established by regulations and laws on the subject.
(10) No vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer engaged in carrying or transporting debris, trash, soil, clay, mud, sand, cement, asphalt, unpolished, crushed or coarse stone or any other similar materials without being equipped with a body free of crevices, openings or cracks or filled to overflowing so that any such material may spill or drop on the pavement. When the cargo consists of fine gravel, sand, lime, cement, asphalt, garbage or any other similar matter, said cargo shall be completely covered by a tarpaulin, oilskin or canvas so that it will not spill or pollute the atmosphere to the detriment or prejudice of the public health and safety. If the land from where the cargo comes from or where it is deposited contains mud or material that may adhere to the tires of the vehicle, the latter shall be cleaned so that the mud or soil does not spill or spread on the public highway. The owners or persons that manage the places where landfill is loaded or unloaded shall be responsible for maintaining the necessary facilities so that the drivers of said vehicles can comply with these provisions.
(11) No motor vehicle carrying a load in excess of that certified by the manufacturer and authorized on its registration certificate, with the exceptions established by the Secretary by means of regulations.
(12) No motor vehicle using a drawbar or other connection for towing or hauling another vehicle, when said connection exceeds fifteen (15) feet or four point five hundred seventy-two (4.572) meters in length. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions, the connection between vehicles transporting poles may exceed fifteen (15) feet or four point five hundred seventy-two (4.572) meters, but never more than twenty-five (25) feet or seven point sixty-two (7.62) meters.
(13) No vehicle whose gross weight exceeds the structural capacity of bridges, fords, gutters or other structures as posted on signs along its route, or according to the provisions of the Weights and Dimensions Regulation for Vehicles that travel along public highways or any other applicable restrictions.
(b) The above limitations regarding the length of a vehicle and its load shall not apply when transporting structural parts which cannot be divided, and provided such parts or poles to be transported do not exceed eighty (80) feet or twenty-four point three hundred eighty-four (24.384) meters in length, in which case a special permit must be obtained, as provided below.
(c) Except for the granting of a special permit, the following shall not travel on the public highways:
(1) Any vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross weight greater than that specified by the manufacturer or by regulations up to a maximum of one hundred ten thousand (110,000) pounds.
(2) No vehicle bearing cargo in excess of that certified by the manufacturer and authorized on the registration certificate as inscribed on the license issued by DISCO or through regulations promulgated to such effects by the Secretary.
(3) No vehicle or combination of vehicles whose gross axle weight exceeds the limits established by the Secretary in the Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Regulation for the vehicles that travel on our public highways.
(d) Every vehicle that transports cargo, shall be provided on all four (4) sides with adequate and sufficiently high and rigid railings, ropes or any type of safety devices necessary for safely transporting it on public highways. When the nature of the cargo prevents the use of railings, the owner or driver of the vehicle or motor vehicle, shall be provided with a permit of the Secretary or an official on whom he/she delegates.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 15.02; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 15, eff. 8 months after June 3, 2004.