§4948. Maximum weight and seating capacity of buses.

(a) Gross, axle and wheel weights.--No bus shall be operated upon any highway with a gross weight in excess of 73,280 pounds, or with a weight on any axle in excess of the lesser of the manufacturer's rated axle capacity or 22,400 pounds on any single axle. Buses operated upon interstate highways shall not have a weight on any axle in excess of 20,000 pounds. No bus shall be operated on a highway with a weight upon any wheel in excess of 800 pounds on any one wheel for each nominal inch of width of tire on the wheel.

(b) Seating capacity load.--A bus shall not be operated on a highway with a load exceeding by more than 25% its registered seating capacity except when operated within a business or residence district. A child under the age of six years shall not be counted when computing the load on the bus.

(c) Penalties.--Any person owning or operating a bus with a gross weight or with weight on any axle or wheel exceeding by more than 5% the maximum allowed in subsection (a) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $100. If the excess weight is more than 10% above the maximum weight allowed, the fine shall be $300. Any person in violation of subsection (b) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $100.

(June 6, 1979, P.L.39, No.12, eff. imd.; Oct. 10, 1980, P.L.791, No.147, eff. imd.)

Notation

1980 Amendment.  Act 147 amended subsec. (a).