§ 9-20-1-3 — Local authorities; adoption of ordinances; erection of signs; department of transportation; weight restrictions

(a) This subsection does not apply to any
highway or street in the state highway system. Except as provided in
subsection (e), local authorities, with respect to highways under their
jurisdiction, may by ordinance:
(1) prohibit the operation of vehicles upon any highway; or
(2) impose restrictions as to the weight of vehicles to be operated
upon any highway;
for a total period not to exceed ninety (90) days in any one (1) year,
whenever any highway by reason of deterioration, rain, snow, or other
climatic conditions will be seriously damaged or destroyed without the
regulation of vehicles.
(b) A local authority adopting an ordinance under subsection (a)
shall erect or cause to be erected and maintained signs specifying the
terms of the ordinance at each end of that part of any highway affected
by the ordinance and at intersecting highways. The ordinance may not
be enforced until the signs are erected and maintained.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (e), local authorities with
respect to highways under their jurisdiction, except highways in the
state highway system and state maintained routes through cities and
towns, may by ordinance do the following:
(1) Prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles.
(2) Impose limitations as to the weight, size, or use of those
vehicles on designated highways.
The prohibitions and limitations must be designated by appropriate
signs placed on the highways.
(d) The Indiana department of transportation has the same authority
granted to local authorities in subsections (a) and (c) to determine by
executive order and to impose restrictions as to weight, size, and use of
vehicles operated upon a highway in the state highway system,
including state maintained routes through cities and towns. These
restrictions may not be enforced until signs giving notice of the
restrictions are erected upon the highway or part of the highway
affected by the order.
(e) The commissioner of the Indiana department of transportation
may designate an order adopted under subsection (d) as a rule and
adopt the order as a rule under IC 4-22-2.
(f) A local authority may not, in an ordinance passed under
subsection (a) or (c), prohibit the operation of buses that are not more
than forty-five (45) feet in length on any segment of the primary system
(as defined in IC 8-23-1-33) that was in existence on June 1, 1991.
[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-4-1-125(a) part; (b)
part; (c) part; (d) part.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.100-1991, SEC.1; P.L.122-1993, SEC.1; P.L.140-2013, SEC.10; P.L.93-2024, SEC.92.