Road Traffic Act, 1933

Maximum weights of mechanically propelled vehicles.

16.—(1) The Minister may by order make regulations for all or any of the following purposes, that is to say:—

(a) prescribing the maximum weight unladen of locomotives;

(b) prescribing the maximum weight unladen of vehicles drawn by mechanically propelled vehicles;

(c) prescribing the maximum weight laden of mechanically propelled vehicles and of vehicles drawn by mechanically propelled vehicles;

(d) prescribing the maximum weight to be transmitted to the ground or any specified area of the ground by any part of a mechanically propelled vehicle or of a vehicle drawn by a mechanically propelled vehicle;

(e) prescribing the manner in which and the conditions under which any particular weights prescribed by the regulations are to be ascertained.

(2) Different regulations may be made under this section in respect of different places or areas and in respect of different classes of vehicles.

(3) Every person who uses on any road—

(a) a vehicle of which the weight unladen exceeds the maximum weight unladen prescribed by regulations made under this section and applicable to such vehicle, or

(b) a laden vehicle of which the weight as then laden exceeds the maximum weight laden prescribed by regulations made under this section and applicable to such vehicle, or

(c) a vehicle which or part of which transmits to the ground a greater weight than the maximum weight prescribed in respect of such transmission by regulations made under this section and applicable to such vehicle,

shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.

(4) Whenever a member of the Gárda Síochána observes a vehicle which he suspects of being then used in such manner as to constitute an offence under this section, such member may require the person in charge of such vehicle to do all or any of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) forthwith to bring such vehicle with the load (if any) thereon to a weigh-bridge maintained under this Act named by such member and not more than two miles distant by the shortest available route from the place at which such requisition is made;

(b) to carry such member to such weigh-bridge in such vehicle;

(c) to procure such vehicle with the load (if any) thereon to be weighed on such weigh-bridge in the presence of such member.

Whenever a person in charge of a vehicle fails or refuses to do anything which he is required under this sub-section by a member of the Gárda Síochána to do, such failure or refusal shall be an offence under this section and such person upon summary conviction thereof shall be liable in respect of each such offence to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.

(5) Every regulation made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and if a resolution annulling such regulation is passed by either such House within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which that House has sat after such regulation is so laid before it, such regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under such regulation.