--- title: HB 164. Highways, bridges, and ferries; allowable variance for weight limitations upon a vehicle or load; repeal automatic repeal provisions collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb164 cite_as: HB 164, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb164 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb164.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb164/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69641 date: 2025-05-13 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb163.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb165.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 946 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb164.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 164 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-13 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - Steven Meeks - Leesa Hagan - Debbie Buckner - Robert Dickey - Charles Cannon - Spencer Frye - Russ Goodman text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB164/2025 upstream_id: 1947465 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - truck weight limits - agriculture transportation - local police enforcement - road and bridge safety --- # HB 164. Highways, bridges, and ferries; allowable variance for weight limitations upon a vehicle or load; repeal automatic repeal provisions ## Text 25 LC 39 4500/AP House Bill 164 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Meeks of the 178th, Hagan of the 156th, Buckner of the 137th, Dickey of the 134th, Cannon of the 172nd, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 32 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to dimensions and weight of vehicles and loads, so as to repeal automatic repeal2 provisions relating to an allowable variance for weight limitat ions upon a vehicle or load3 hauling certain commodities within a certain range and areas of the state; to provide for the4 enforcement of such provisions by local law enforcement officer s; to provide for related5 matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to9 dimensions and weight of vehicles and loads, is amended in Code Section 32-6-26, relating10 to weight of vehicle and load, by revising paragraph (5) of subsection (g) as follows:11 "(5) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Code section to the contrary, a vehicle which12 is hauling any of the commodities listed in subparagraphs (g)(1)(A), (g)(1)(B), (g)(1)(C),13 and (g)(1)(G) of this Code section (A), (B), (C), and (G) of paragraph (1) of this14 subsection, which is hauling any other agricultural or farm product from a farm to the15 first point of marketing or processing, which is hauling agricu ltural finished goods for16 H. B. 164 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4500/AP distribution or for retail sale and purchase by consumers, or which is hauling recovered17 materials from points of generation to a processing facility shall, within a 150 mile radius18 of the farm or point of origin and outside of a nonattainment area as of May 3, 2023, as19 such term is defined in Code Section 32-9-11, be permitted a 10 percent variance from20 the weight limitations in paragraph (1) of this subsection, pro vided that the tractor and21 the trailer are each certified to meet or exceed the weight allowable by such variance. A22 lift axle may not be used in computing the maximum total gross weight authorized for23 any vehicle or load under this paragraph. Any person who violates the load limitations24 provided for in this paragraph by exceeding a 10 percent variance per single axle, tandem25 axle, or maximum total gross weight shall be fined on the basis of the weight limitations26 of paragraph (1) of this subsection and not on the basis of the variance allowed by this27 paragraph. This paragraph shall stand repealed on July 1, 2025."28 SECTION 2.29 Said article is further amended in Code Section 32-6-27, relati ng to enforcement of load30 limitations, as in effect on July 1, 2025, by revising subsection (a.1) as follows:31 "(a.1)(1)(A) The Department of Public Safety is and local law enforcement officers are32 authorized to issue a citation to the owner or operator of any vehicle in violation of a33 maximum weight limit on a county road which is a designated local truck route under34 subsection (f) of Code Section 32-6-26 and for which signs have been placed and35 maintained as required under paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Code Section 32-6-50.36 (B) The Department of Public Safety is and local law enforcement officers are37 authorized to issue a warning to the owner or operator of any vehicle in violation of a38 maximum weight limit on a county road which is a designated local truck route under39 subsection (f) of Code Section 32-6-26 but for which signs have not been placed or40 maintained as required under paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Code Section 32-6-5041 H. B. 164 - 2 - 25 LC 39 4500/AP upon the first such violation and to issue a citation to such o wner or operator for a42 subsequent such violation.43 (2)(A) The Department of Public Safety is and local law enforcement officers are44 authorized to issue a citation to the owner or operator of any vehicle in violation of a45 maximum weight limit on a bridge for which signs have been placed and maintained46 as required under paragraph (3) of Code Section 32-4-41 or subs ection (a.1) of Code47 Section 32-4-91; provided, however, that local law enforcement authority to issue a48 citation pursuant to this subparagraph shall be limited to bridges located within a county49 road or municipal street system.50 (B) The Department of Public Safety is and local law enforcement officers are51 authorized to issue a warning to the owner or operator of any vehicle in violation of a52 maximum weight limit on a bridge but for which signs have not b een placed or53 maintained as required under paragraph (3) of Code Section 32-4-41 or subsection (a.1)54 of Code Section 32-4-91 upon the first such violation and to is sue a citation to such55 owner or operator for a subsequent such violation; provided, ho wever, that local law56 enforcement authority to issue a citation pursuant to this subparagraph shall be limited57 to bridges located within a county road or municipal street system."58 SECTION 3.59 Said article is further amended in Code Section 32-6-28, relating to permits for excess weight60 and dimensions, as in effect on July 1, 2025, by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (a) as61 follows:62 "(3) Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which63 it refers and shall be open to inspection by any local law enfo rcement officer or any64 police officer, state trooper, or authorized agent of the department."65 H. B. 164 - 3 - 25 LC 39 4500/AP SECTION 4.66 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 32-6-29, relating to responsibility67 of the Department of Transportation and responsibility of the Department of Public Safety,68 as in effect on July 1, 2025, as follows:69 "32-6-29.70 (a) The Department of Transportation shall be responsible for rules and regulations71 relating to size and weight limits and issuance of permits under this article.72 (b) The Department of Transportation shall not, however, emplo y any law enforcement73 officers or agents except as may be specifically authorized by other laws. Law74 enforcement responsibility for enforcement of this article shal l be in the Department of75 Public Safety and with any local law enforcement officer author ized to enforce laws76 relating to motor vehicles and traffic upon the road or bridge on which a vehicle is77 traveling."78 SECTION 5.79 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 32-6-3 0, relating to stopping80 vehicles for purposes of weighing, measuring, or inspecting, reports of violations, and refusal81 to stop, as in effect on July 1, 2025, as follows:82 "32-6-30.83 (a)(1) Any law enforcement official officer or employee of the Department of Public84 Safety to whom law enforcement authority has been designated wh o observes a motor85 vehicle being operated upon a public road of the state and who shall be authorized to stop86 the vehicle and weigh, measure, and inspect such vehicle when he or she has reason to87 believe that:88 (1)(A) Any provision of this article is being violated; 89 (2)(B) The vehicle is improperly licensed in violation of Code Secti ons 40-2-15090 through 40-2-162; or 91 H. B. 164 - 4 - 25 LC 39 4500/AP (3)(C) A fuel tax registration card is not being carried or that a proper distinguishing92 identification marker is not affixed to the vehicle in violation of Code Section 48-9-3993 shall be authorized to stop such vehicle and weigh, measure, or inspect the same. 94 Violations of such licensing or fuel tax registration and identification requirements shall95 be reported to the Department of Revenue.96 (2) Any local law enforcement officer observing a motor vehicl e being operated upon97 a public road within the jurisdiction where he or she has authority to enforce the motor98 vehicle and traffic laws who has reason to believe the vehicle weight limitations of this99 article have been violated shall be authorized to stop such vehicle and weigh, measure,100 or inspect the same, provided that such law enforcement officer has been properly trained101 regarding the laws governing commercial motor vehicle weight and load, equivalent to102 training provided to certified officers in the Motor Carrier Co mpliance Enforcement103 Section.104 (b)(1) If the operator of the vehicle shall refuse to stop upon proper order as directed by105 a person authorized by subsection (a) of this Code section to s top, weigh, measure, or106 inspect the vehicle or its load, the operator shall be guilty o f a misdemeanor and, upon107 conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $200.00. The operator shall108 have the right to post an appropriate bond, which shall not exceed $400.00, when any law109 enforcement officer or employee of the Department of Public Saf ety authorized to110 enforce this article apprehends said operator for any violation of this article.111 (2) In addition, the operator's driver's license or nonresident's driving privilege may be112 suspended for a period of not more than 90 days by the Department of Driver Services113 upon satisfactory proof of said refusal to stop or drive the vehicle upon the scales. Each114 person who shall apply for a Georgia driver's license, or for n onresident driving115 privileges, or for a renewal of same thereby consents to stop such vehicle for inspection116 or to drive such vehicle upon scales whenever so ordered by a law enforcement official117 officer or authorized employee of the Department of Public Safety.118 H. B. 164 - 5 - 25 LC 39 4500/AP (c) Any violation found relating to licensing or fuel tax regi stration and identification119 requirements pursuant to this Code section shall be reported to the Department of Revenue120 by the officer or employee observing such violation."121 SECTION 6.122 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.123 H. B. 164 - 6 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. House Bill 164 would permanently keep in place a 10 percent weight variance for certain trucks hauling farm products and recovered materials in Georgia, which was set to expire on July 1, 2025, and would let local police enforce truck weight and load laws alongside state troopers. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law currently allows trucks hauling certain farm products, agricultural finished goods, and recovered materials to exceed standard weight limits by up to 10 percent within 150 miles of their starting point, as long as the truck and trailer are certified for the extra weight. That allowance was due to automatically expire on July 1, 2025. This bill removes that expiration so the variance continues without a new deadline. The bill also rewrites several sections of Georgia's truck weight law (O.C.G.A. Title 32, Chapter 6) to give local law enforcement officers, not just the Georgia Department of Public Safety, authority to issue warnings and citations for overweight vehicles on county roads and certain bridges, to inspect weight permits, and to stop, weigh, and inspect trucks they suspect are violating weight limits. Local officers must first receive training equivalent to the state's Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section. ### What it does - Removes the July 1, 2025 automatic expiration date on the 10 percent weight variance for trucks hauling farm products, agricultural goods, and recovered materials. - Gives local law enforcement officers, in addition to the Department of Public Safety, authority to issue citations or warnings for overweight trucks on designated local truck routes and certain bridges. - Allows trained local law enforcement officers to stop, weigh, measure, and inspect trucks they suspect are violating weight limits on roads within their jurisdiction. - Requires local officers exercising this new stopping and inspection authority to have training equivalent to the state's Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section. - Confirms that weight permits must be open to inspection by local law enforcement officers as well as state troopers and department agents. - Keeps existing penalties in place, including a misdemeanor charge with a fine up to $200 and a possible bond up to $400 for refusing to stop for a weight inspection. ### Who it affects Truck drivers and trucking companies hauling farm products, agricultural finished goods, or recovered materials, farmers relying on this hauling capacity, county and municipal police departments and sheriffs, the Georgia Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation, and drivers whose vehicles cross weight-restricted county roads or bridges. ### Why it matters Without this change, the 10 percent weight variance for certain agricultural and recycling haulers would have expired on July 1, 2025, forcing those trucks back to standard weight limits. The bill also expands who can pull over and cite overweight trucks, giving local police a bigger role alongside state troopers in enforcing road and bridge weight limits. ### Key provisions - Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 32-6-26(g)(5) to eliminate the sunset clause that would have repealed the 10 percent weight variance for certain haulers on July 1, 2025. - Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 32-6-27(a.1) to authorize local law enforcement officers, not just the Department of Public Safety, to issue citations or warnings for overweight vehicles on designated local truck routes and certain bridges. - Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 32-6-28(a)(3) to require weight permits be open to inspection by local law enforcement officers as well as state troopers and department agents. - Section 4 revises O.C.G.A. § 32-6-29 to state that local law enforcement officers share responsibility with the Department of Public Safety for enforcing the article's weight and size rules. - Section 5 revises O.C.G.A. § 32-6-30 to let trained local law enforcement officers stop, weigh, measure, and inspect vehicles suspected of weight violations, requiring training equivalent to the Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section. - Section 5 keeps existing penalties for refusing to stop for inspection, including a misdemeanor fine of up to $200, a bond option up to $400, and possible driver's license suspension for up to 90 days. - Section 6 repeals any conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-13) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-13) - Sponsors: Steven Meeks, Leesa Hagan, Debbie Buckner, Robert Dickey, Charles Cannon, Spencer Frye, Russ Goodman - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69641 > The history, votes, and amendments (946 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb164.md?full=1