Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 730 - Department of Transportation › Chapter 50 - Size and Weight Permits › Subchapter 5 - Size and Weight Permit Load › Section 730:50-5-12 - Movements of oversize and/or overweight vehicles during a life-threatening emergency

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a) For purpose of
				this subchapter, "Disaster" includes flood, tornado, fire, or any other large
				scale emergency situation that causes or threatens to cause the loss of life or
				destruction or damage to property of such magnitude as to seriously endanger
				the public health, safety, or welfare, or causes or threatens destruction of or
				major damage to any transportation system.
(b) During major emergencies, authorization
				may be obtained from the Department of Transportation Permit Office for the
				emergency movement of necessary vehicles and/or loads which exceed the maximum
				legal dimensions and weight limitations, to or within the emergency area
				without a standard oversize or overweight permit; however, normal permit
				requirements shall be observed unless otherwise authorized. During regular
				office hours, the Department of Transportation Permit Office shall be contacted
				for assistance in routing. When the Permit Office is closed, the Communications
				Center of the Department of Public Safety (405/425-2424) will contact Permit
				officials for permit authorization. All movements made on emergency
				authorization are required to obtain the applicable permit or permits on the
				next Department of Transportation working day.
(c) Following the emergency, unless otherwise
				authorized, the vehicles and/or loads shall be moved from the disaster area
				under normal permit, conditions, and authority. The Executive Director of the
				Department of Transportation may issue an emergency authorization or permit for
				movement to an emergency and return on the same route to the point of origin.
				The permit or authorization for vehicles going to the emergency may also allow
				night, weekend, or holiday travel. The permit or authorization to return to the
				point of origin may also allow daytime weekend or holiday travel.
(d) In the event an area has been declared a
				disaster area by the President or Governor, manufactured homes may be
				authorized to move into the area without a standard permit; provided, the 16
				feet maximum width limitation shall apply when traveling on routes of the
				Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. The
				manufactured homes must be owned by the victims of the disaster or otherwise
				brought into the area for public relief purposes. If the units are furnished by
				the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Permit
				Office of the Department of Transportation will generally authorize movement in
				conformance with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
				Officials' National Policy; the Permit Office may include such additional
				restrictions in its authorization as are considered necessary. Movements under
				this emergency authorization are required to obtain the appropriate permit or
				permits on the next business day.
(e) The emergency movement of vehicles and/or
				loads to railroad derailments may be authorized on state highways during
				periods when normal permits are restricted, provided:
(1) a loss of life is threatened, or
				hazardous materials are involved, or a mainline railroad or other major rail
				line or transportation facility is blocked; and
(2) during normal working hours, the
				emergency service company shall obtain standard permits by contacting a
				Department of Transportation Permit Office. If the emergency occurs when the
				Permit Office is closed, the emergency service company may, if authorized,
				obtain a permit through the Oklahoma permitting system under established rules.
				A representative shall contact the Department of Public Safety Communications
				Center (405/425-2424) to request emergency movement authorization. The
				information required before authorization will be granted includes the permit
				number, location of the incident, time of occurrence, description of equipment
				needed and the origin and requested routing of the movement. If loss of life is
				threatened or any major transportation facility is blocked, Permit Officials
				may waive the requirement for certain items of such information.