Overweight Trucking Violations

Consult a Norfolk Traffic Violation Lawyer

Commercial trucking companies and truck drivers are required to comply with certain state regulations concerning how heavy their vehicles can be. The heavier a load the truck is transporting, the heavier the truck's gross weight will be. When these regulations are violated, the owner of the truck, operator of the truck or other person who made the violation can be subject to consequences.

Once an overweight citation is given, the citation recipient has the option of either paying the necessary fines or giving the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles notice that he or she will challenge the charge in court. Either payment of the notice of the election to contest must be made within 21 days.

If you have been cited for an overweight trucking violation in the Norfolk area, we advise you to speak with our Norfolk criminal defense attorney at Curcione Law, PLC. We handle various types of traffic violations. We can help you argue your case in court and help you increase your chances of reaching a positive outcome.

Weight Limitations and Assessments

According to the Virginia DMV, the maximum gross weight that is allowed for a truck will depend on the number of axles that the vehicle has, as well as the distance that lies between the first axle and the extreme rear axle.

For example, a vehicle with three axles and 17 feet of axle spacing can have a maximum gross weight of 48,500 pounds, while a vehicle with five axles and 51 feet of axle spacing can have a maximum gross weight of 80,000 pounds.

It is important to note that when a truck's gross weight is 25% to 50% over the legal weight limit, the assessment that is charged to the offender doubles. When the gross weight is more than 50% over the limit, the assessment triples.