County Road Load limits on streets?

County roads letter to editor: WHT

Saturday, September 5, 2009 7:27 AM HST
Who enforces load limits on streets?

County roads are in deplorable condition. Overloading shortens pavement life. At least once a month, I see a huge tractor or excavator on a five- or six-axle truck. The truck would have a legal gross weight rating of 88,000 pounds, including the empty weight of the truck, about 30,000. Last week I saw a fully equipped D10, 146,000 pounds on such a truck. It was being escorted by a uniformed police officer.

I had the good fortune to interview the officer and he told me that he checked the paperwork -- and everything was in order.

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So I ask: Who is authorizing these gross overloads and what is the justification?

Ken Obenski
Opihihali

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I have doubts that the police would even know what a load limit for a heavy vehicle is. The reality is only in Hawaii do they allow heavy equipment to be driven on the public roads. Most States require a low boy for hauling equipment and don't have torn up roads. Does Hawaii even have a scale to weight the trucks???
Susan