Section 190. Emergency moves

Part VII. Emergency and National Defense Moves

Requests for emergency moves will be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis. An emergency is defined as "a calamity, existing or imminent, caused by fire, flood, riot, windstorm, explosion, act of God, or other situation which requires immediate remedial action to protect life or property."

In some instances waivers are issued by the appropriate state authority exempting overweight/overwidth carriers from statutory size and weight limitations who are responding to and supporting relief efforts. Maximum size and weight limitations will be identified in the waiver and all requests that exceed those limitations will have to apply for a hauling permit in accordance with established processes that govern the permitting process.

Emergency move requests and questions concerning waivers issued in support of a declared relief effort or disaster shall be made through the Virginia Department of Transportation's Emergency Operations Center (TEOC) at 1-800-367-7623. TEOC is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During normal business hours, contact the Hauling Permit Section at [phone].

Blanket permit users may request "emergency travel regulations" when ordering permits if there is a possibility that the equipment or commodity permitted will be required in support of an emergency as defined above. Having emergency travel regulations in the permit may allow response to the emergency using the blanket permit, if that permit covers the routes used to respond to the emergency. However, the permittee must contact the Virginia Department of Transportation's Emergency Operations Center and give them vital travel information that will be passed on to the Virginia State Police, all applicable law-enforcement jurisdictions, and DMV weigh stations.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 25, Issue 26, eff. September 30, 2009.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-203 and Article 18 (§ 46.2-1139 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia.