The New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law sets specific limits on the size and weight of vehicles permitted to travel on public highways. To maintain safety and protect infrastructure, the New York State Department of Transportation, the New York State Thruway Authority, and the New York State Bridge Authority have each established procedures for issuing permits to vehicles that exceed legal size or weight limits. These procedures ensure that oversize and overweight vehicles operate safely on the highways under their jurisdiction.

Federal efforts to preserve the nation’s highways date back to the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which created the Interstate and Defense Highway System. To safeguard this infrastructure and maintain the efficient movement of trucks and buses, each state is responsible for ensuring that commercial motor vehicles comply with federal size and weight regulations.

If you are looking for more information about overweight and oversized vehicles, check out the DMV website.

If you are looking for a lawyer to help with overweight and oversized vehicles, please contact us today.

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When you reach out, we can provide you with a no-obligation consultation to go over your legal questions.

Reasons You May Need an Overweight Vehicle Lawyer

Here are a few reasons why someone may need an overweight vehicle lawyer in New York, which revolve around transporting vehicles or cargo that may exceed legal weight limits.

• Fines & Penalties: If a vehicle is caught exceeding weight limits, the owner or operator can face hefty fines and penalties. A lawyer can help contest or reduce these charges.
• Legal Defense in Weight Violation Cases: If you’re charged with violating vehicle weight regulations, an overweight vehicle lawyer can help build a strong defense to reduce or eliminate penalties.
• Damage Claims: Overweight vehicles can cause road or bridge damage, which often leads to claims or lawsuits. A lawyer can represent the vehicle owner or company in these cases.
• Permit Issues: When overweight permits are improperly issued, revoked, or disputed, an experienced overweight permit lawyer can help you navigate complex transportation regulations and protect your business’s compliance. Our firm provides the legal guidance needed to resolve permit issues efficiently and avoid costly penalties.
• Accident Liability: If an overweight vehicle is involved in an accident, a lawyer can assist with liability issues and insurance claims.
• Regulatory Compliance: Our lawyers help businesses stay compliant with state and federal weight limit regulations, protecting them from future overweight violations and penalties.
• Permit Application Assistance: Helping with the complex process of applying for overweight permits and ensuring all legal requirements are met.
• Appealing Weight-Related Citations: An experienced overweight violation lawyer can represent you in appealing tickets or citations and help protect you and your business from costly fines.

Maximum Dimensions of Vehicles and Combinations in New York City

• Width: 96 inches (for school buses and fire vehicles, 98 inches, buses having a carrying capacity of more than seven passengers shall not exceed 102 inches).
• Height: 13 1/2 feet. Single vehicles (except articulated buses and semi-trailers) – 35 feet.
• Length: Articulated buses – 65 feet. Semi-trailer – 55 feet.

On specific sections of New York City highways — I-95 (between I-287 and I-295), I-295 (between I-295 and I-495), and I-495 (between I-95 and the Nassau–Queens county line) — semi-trailers longer than 48 feet but not exceeding 53 feet may operate on qualifying or designated access highways under the following conditions:

1. The distance from the kingpin of the semi-trailer to the centerline of the rear axle (or rear axle group) must not exceed 41 feet.
2. The semi-trailer must have a rear-end protective device that is:

• • Substantially built, with a continuous lateral beam extending to within 4 inches of each side of the trailer.
  • Positioned no more than 22 inches above the road surface when the trailer is empty and on level ground.

For double bottom operations, no individual semi-trailer or trailer may exceed 28½ feet in length.

The maximum total vehicle combination length is 55 feet, except on qualifying and access highways where there is no overall length limit. However, single vehicle length limits still apply to each vehicle within a combination, even on these highways.

A violation of Section 385, Subdivision 10, states that any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding the weight limits specified in a permit issued under Subdivision 15 of this section shall result in fines imposed on the registered owner. These fines apply regardless of whether, at the time of the violation, the vehicle was under the control of the registered owner, their agent, or lessee, according to the following schedule:

Overweight (3 or more axles)

Percent of Excess Weight Greater than/Less Than or Equal (fine in bold)

• 0 >2: $150
• 2 > 4: $300
• 4 > 6: $450
• 6 > 7: $525
• 7 > 8: $600
• 8 > 10: $750
• 10 > 12: $950
• 12 > 14: $1,150
• 14 > 16: $1,350
• 16 > 18: $1,550
• 18 > 20: $1,750
• 20 > 22: $1,950
• 22 > 24: $2,150
• 24 > 26: $2,350
• 26 > 28: $2,550
• 28 > 30: $2,750
• 30 > 32: $2,950
• 32 > 34: $3,150
• 34 > 36: $3,350
• 36 > 38: $3,550
• 38 > 40: $3,750
• 40<: plus $125 for each percent over 40

Please note that if the total weight exceeds the limit specified by the permit, the permit will be considered void. In such cases, the fine will be calculated as if no permit to exceed the maximum weight had been issued.