95-003897 Martin Leasing vs. Department Of Transportation Status: Closed Recommended Order on Tuesday, February 20, 1996.

Summary: Trucker's claim that weight limit sign did not refer to his truck was incorrect. Fine imposed for being overweight.

STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

STATE OF FLORIDA, )

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 95-3897

)

MARTIN LEASING, )

)

Respondent. )

_________________________________)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Notice was provided and on January 19, 1996, a formal hearing was held in

this case. Authority for the conduct of the hearing is set forth in Section

120.57(1), Florida Statutes. The hearing location was Jacksonville, Florida.

Charles C. Adams was the hearing officer.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: Murray M. Wadsworth, Jr.

Assistant General Counsel

Department of Transportation

Haydon Burns Building, Mail Station 58

605 Suwannee Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458

For Respondent: Tommy Martin, pro se

Post Office Box 624

Yulee, Florida 32097

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

Should Petitioner impose a fine on Respondent in the amount of $1,902.00

for operating an over-weight motor vehicle on a bridge with weight limitations?

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Petitioner cited Respondent for operating an over-weight commercial motor

vehicle on a low-limit bridge. Respondent contested the citation.

Subsequently, the case was referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings

to conduct a Section 120.57(1), Florida Statutes, hearing. The hearing took

place on the aforementioned date.

At hearing, Petitioner presented witnesses, Officer Charles Hunter and Mr.

Donald Duncan. Petitioner's Exhibits 1-14 were admitted. Mr. Tommy Martin, who

owns Martin Leasing, and Mr. William Edward Bednar were presented as witnesses

for Respondent.

A hearing transcript was filed on February 1, 1996. Petitioner submitted a

proposed recommended order. Respondent did not. The fact proposals in the

proposed recommended order are addressed in the Appendix to this recommended

order.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On January 6, 1995, a truck owned by Martin Leasing was operating on

State Road 520 in Orange and Brevard Counties, Florida. The driver was William

Edward Bednar.

2. The truck was approximately 70 feet long, with five axles.

3. On that date, Officer Charles Hunter of the Motor Carrier Compliance

Division of the Department of Transportation observed Mr. Bednar cross a low

weight limit bridge leaving Orange County and entering Brevard County, Florida.

4. The weight limit for the bridge was 30,000 pounds.

5. Officer Hunter stopped the Martin Leasing vehicle and had it weighed on

nearby scales that were certified. The truck weighed 68,040 pounds.

6. For that reason, Petitioner cited Respondent, pursuant to Section

316.545(3), Florida Statutes. As a consequence, a monetary assessment was

levied against Respondent in the amount of $1,902.00, which represents a penalty

related to the 38,040 pounds overweight times $.05 per pound.

7. Volume 3: Bridge Load Rating, Permitting and Posting Manual, Florida

Department of Transportation, states, in pertinent part:

Weight limits to be shown on the posting

signs at a bridge site, shall represent the

gross vehicular weight (GVW) in tons for a

maximum of three truck types. However, no

more than one or two truck symbols may be

needed. A graphic depiction of the general

weight limit sign is shown on the Roadway

and Traffic Design Standard Index No. 17357.

The three truck types are as follows:

a. Single unit trucks. (SU)

b. Combination trucks with a single trailer. (C)

c. Combination trucks with two trailers or

a single unit truck with one trailer. (ST5)

The single unit truck case will be the lowest

operating rating for two axle (SU2), three axle

(SU3) and four axle (SU4) trucks. This single

unit truck will be represented on the weight

limit sign by a two axle single unit truck

silhouette. The operating rating GVW may

exceed the legal limit GVW of one or more truck

types. In this case, these specific truck

types would be excluded when establishing the

lowest permissible operating rating. For

example if the operating rating for the SU2

truck was 16,300 kg (18 tons) then the SU2

truck would not be considered for posting

since the legal limit for the SU2 truck is

15,400 kg (15 tons).

The combination truck with one trailer will

be the lowest permissible operating rating for

three axle (C3), four axle (C4) and five axle

(C5) trucks. This combination truck will be

represented on the weight limit sign by a

three axle combination truck silhouette (one

trailer). The operating rating GVW may exceed

the legal limit GVW of one or more truck types.

In this case, these specific truck types would

be excluded when establishing the lowest per-

missible operating rating. For example if the

operating rating for the C3 truck was 26,300 kg

(29 tons), then the C3 truck would not be

considered for posting since the legal limit

for the C3 truck is 25,400 kg (28 tons).

The combination truck with two trailers or

a straight truck with one trailer will be

governed by the operating rating for the

single unit truck with one trailer (ST5).

This combination truck will be represented on

the weight limit sign by a silhouette of a two

axle single unit truck pulling a two axle trailer.

8. Based upon the above-referenced manual, a combination truck with one

trailer, such as the Martin Leasing truck, would be depicted on the posting

signs for weight limits by a silhouette on the sign that shows a three axle

combination truck with one trailer, whether the truck operating on the road has

three axles, four axles, or five axles.

9. Rule 14-15.010, Florida Administrative Code, adopts the Manual on

Uniform Traffic Control Devices, published by the United States Department of

Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 1988 Edition. That manual

prescribes the size and character of the weight limit signs posted by

Petitioner. Included on the sign are the three silhouettes that are referred to

in the Petitioner's Manual for Bridge Load Rating, Permitting and Posting. In

particular, the federal sign depicts a silhouette for the combination truck with

one trailer, which silhouette has three axles.

10. In addition, Petitioner publishes a booklet through its Motor Carrier

Compliance Office. That booklet is entitled: Florida Department of

Transportation Trucking Manual. It is a handbook or guide for operating trucks

in Florida. It refers to the low-limit roads and bridges in Florida and to the

portrayal of those bridges on low-limit signs that have been described in the

prior manuals. The trucking manual states:

Low Limit Roads and Bridges

Due to age, condition, or design, some roads

and bridges in Florida cannot carry the load

limits allowed in this manual. Signs detailing

these lower limits have been posted on such

roads and bridges. . . .

The maximum allowable weight is listed, in

tons, beside the silhouette for each of the

3 classes of vehicles.

The SINGLE-UNIT TRUCK silhouette includes

all straight trucks, cranes and other single-

unit special mobile equipment regardless of

the number of axles.

The TRUCK TRACTOR SEMI-TRAILER silhouette

includes all truck tractor combinations regard-

less of the number of axles.

The SINGLE-UNIT TRUCK WITH ONE TRAILER in-

cludes all MAXI-CUBE and TANDEM TRAILER combin-

ations regardless of the number of axles.

Please watch carefully for all load limit

signs and obey them.

11. The trucking manual gives an example of a weight limit sign with the

truck silhouettes, to include the combination truck with one trailer, described

in the trucking manual as a truck tractor semi-trailer. Under that description

the Martin Leasing truck would be a tractor semi-trailer. Again, the trucking

manual refers to the silhouette for a combination truck with one trailer to

regulate any truck tractor combination in that configuration, regardless of the

number of axles.

12. Notwithstanding Petitioner's intention to depict a combination truck

and single trailer with three axles on its signs, to inform truckers operating

that configuration, whatever numbers of axles are found on the operating truck,

Respondent takes the view that the failure to depict a five-axle truck and

single trailer combination means that Respondent need not comply with the posted

weight limits. That is an unreasonable interpretation.

13. Respondent, through its driver, erroneously takes the view that the

weight limits for the bridge in question depicted by signs with silhouettes

showing single-unit trucks limited to 22,000 pounds; combination trucks with a

single trailer limited to 30,000 pounds; and combination trucks with two

trailers or a straight truck with one trailer limited to 36,000 pounds would not

place Respondent on notice that its 68,040-pound truck, which was a combination

with one trailer, should not have crossed the bridge, whatever the number of

axles.

14. Adequate warning was provided to Mr. Bednar concerning the approach to

the low weight limit bridge.

15. A weight limit sign, including the aforementioned information, was

located nine miles prior to the bridge.

16. The nine-mile sign was located immediately before the junction of

State Road 520 and State Road 528. Mr. Bednar could have exited on State Road

528.

17. A weight limit sign indicating "weight limit restriction ahead" was

located closer to the bridge.

18. A weight limit sign depicting the information and describing the

opportunity for last road exit from State Road 520, before entering the bridge,

was provided. The last exit sign referred to the junction between State Road

520 and County Road 532. Mr. Bednar could have existed County Road 532.

19. Another weight limit sign was found within two miles of the bridge.

20. The bridge itself was posted with the weight limits that have been

described.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

21. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over the

subject matter and the parties hereto pursuant to Section 120.57(1), Florida

Statutes.

22. Given that Petitioner intends to impose a monetary assessment against

Respondent, it must prove the allegations in the citation. See Florida

Department of Transportation v. J.W.C. and Company, Inc., 396 So.2d 778 (Fla.

1st DCA 1981).

23. Section 316.640(1)(b)1., Florida Statutes, grants Petitioner the

authority to enforce laws for which it is responsible on all streets and

highways within the State of Florida. Section 316.555, Florida Statutes,

provides, in pertinent part:

Anything in this chapter to the contrary

not withstanding, the Department of Transport-

ation with respect to state roads . . . may

prescribe, by notice hereinafter provided for,

loads and weights . . . lower than the limits

prescribed in this chapter and other laws,

whenever in its . . . judgment any bridge .

. . shall, by reason of its design, deteriora-

tion, rain, or other climatic or natural causes

be liable to be damaged or destroyed by semi-

trailers, if the gross weight thereof shall

exceed the limits prescribed in said notice,

the Department of Transportation . . . may,

by like notice, regulate, or prohibit, in

whole or in part, the operation of any

specified class or size of . . . semi-trailers

on any highways or specified parts thereof

under its . . . jurisdiction, whenever in its

. . . judgment, such regulation or prohibition

is necessary to provide for the public safety

and convenience on the highways, or parts

thereof, by reason of traffic density, inten-

sive use thereof by the traveling public, or

other reasons of public safety and convenience

. . . . After any such notice has been posted,

the operation of any motor vehicle or combination

contrary to its provisions shall constitute a

violation of this chapter. . . .

24. Section 316.545(1), Florida Statutes, empowers a compliance officer

for weight and safety within the Department of Transportation to require a motor

vehicle to stop and submit to weighing in the event that the officer has reason

to believe that the weight of the vehicle is unlawful.

25. If the weighing demonstrates that the person operating the motor

vehicle has exceeded by more than 200 pounds the allowable weight, the driver is

conclusively presumed to have damaged the highways of the State of Florida by

reason of the overloading and is subject to an assessment, in this instance, at

$.05 per pound multiplied by 38,040 pounds, totaling $1,902.00, pursuant to

Section 316.545(3)(b), Florida Statutes.

26. Petitioner appropriately regulated the bridge weight limit, noticed

truck operators concerning the limits, and provided the opportunity to exit the

road before entering the bridge in question. Respondent's driver failed to

abide by the requirements for weight limits, without justification. Thus,

Respondent is subject to the penalty described.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is

RECOMMENDED that a Final Order be entered which imposes a $1,902.00

assessment against Respondent.

DONE AND ENTERED this 20th day of February, 1996, in Tallahassee, Florida.

___________________________________

CHARLES C. ADAMS, Hearing Officer

Division of Administrative Hearings

The DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550

[phone]

Filed with the Clerk of the

Division of Administrative Hearings

this 20th day of February, 1996.

APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER CASE NO. 95-3897

The following discussion is given concerning Petitioner's proposed findings

of fact.

Paragraphs 1-11 are subordinate to facts found.

Paragraphs 12 and 13 are not necessary to the resolution of

the dispute.

COPIES FURNISHED:

Murray M. Wadsworth, Jr.

Assistant General Counsel

Department of Transportation

Haydon Burns Building, MS 58

605 Suwannee Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0458

Tommy Martin

Post Office Box 624

Yulee, FL 32097

Ben G. Watts, Secretary

Department of Transportation

Haydon Burns Building

605 Suwannee Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450

Thornton J. Williams, General Counsel

Department of Transportation

562 Haydon Burns Building

605 Suwannee Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

All parties have the right to submit to the agency written exceptions to this

Recommended Order. All agencies allow each party at least ten days in which to

submit written exceptions. Some agencies allow a larger period within which to

submit written exceptions. You should contact the agency that will issue the

Final Order in this case concerning agency rules on the deadline for filing

exceptions to this Recommended Order. Any exceptions to this Recommended Order

should be filed with the agency that will issue the Final Order in this case.