Hazardous Materials - Transporting Other Loads - Vehicle - CA

Section § 31301

This law states that transporting explosive materials, flammable liquids, liquefied petroleum gas, or poisonous gas in tank vehicles through the Caldecott Tunnel on State Highway 24 is only allowed between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. The Department of Transportation can enforce a lower speed limit for these vehicles during this time for safety reasons. Additionally, the Department can make further regulations about these transports, and if new regulations are set, this specific rule may no longer apply.

(a) No person shall transport any explosive substance, flammable liquid, liquefied petroleum gas or poisonous gas in a tank truck, trailer, or semitrailer through the Caldecott Tunnel located on State Highway, Route 24, near the Alameda-Contra Costa County boundary, connecting Oakland with Contra Costa County in the East Bay area at any time other than between the hours of 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.

(b) The Department of Transportation may, in compliance with the requirements of Article 1 (commencing with Section 22400) of Division 11, determine and declare a reduced speed limit, lower than the maximum speed of 55 miles per hour, found most appropriate for traffic safety between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation or restriction on the power of the Department of Transportation, conferred by any other provision of law, to adopt regulations with regard to the movement of vehicles, including, but not limited to, tank truck vehicles transporting any cargo specified under subdivision (a) through the Caldecott Tunnel.

If, pursuant to any such other law, the Department of Transportation adopts or amends regulations after the effective date of this section, which adopted or amended regulations govern the movement of vehicles subject to subdivision (a), then on the operative date of those regulations, this section shall no longer be operative.

Caldecott Tunnel tank truck regulations transport of flammable liquids ...

Section § 31303

This law regulates the highway transportation of hazardous materials and waste that need special placards or markings. Only certain highways can be used, specifically state or interstate ones that minimize travel time, unless restricted by rules.

Transporters should avoid busy areas and residential zones whenever possible. Hazardous vehicles shouldn't be left unattended or parked overnight in residential districts.

Transporting hazardous waste must follow a safety plan approved by health authorities. Drivers can use other routes for local deliveries or necessary stops like fuel or food if they're safe and nearby highways are impractical.

These regulations came into effect on January 1, 1987.

(a) The provisions of this section apply to the highway transportation of hazardous materials and hazardous waste for which the display of placards or markings is required pursuant to Section 27903. This section does not apply to hazardous materials being transported on specified routes pursuant to Section 31616 or 33000.

(b) Unless restricted or prohibited pursuant to Section 31304, the transportation shall be on state or interstate highways which offer the least overall transit time whenever practicable.

(c) The transporter shall avoid, whenever practicable, congested thoroughfares, places where crowds are assembled, and residence districts as defined in Section 515.

(d) Vehicles used for the transportation shall not be left unattended or parked overnight in a residence district as defined in Section 515.

(e) When transporting hazardous waste pursuant to Section 25169.3 of the Health and Safety Code, all provisions of the waste hauler transportation safety plan, as approved by the State Department of Health Services, shall be complied with.

(f) Transportation which deviates from the routes required by this section shall not be excused on the basis of operating convenience.

(g) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), vehicles engaged in the transportation may also use any of the following highways:

(1) Highways which provide necessary access to local pickup or delivery points consistent with safe vehicle operation.

(2) Highways which provide reasonable access to fuel, repairs, rest, or food facilities that are designed and intended to accommodate commercial vehicle parking, when that access is consistent with safe vehicle operation and when the facility is within one-half road mile of points of entry or exit from the state or interstate highway being used.

(3) Highways restricted or prohibited pursuant to this section when no other lawful alternative exists.

(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1987.

hazardous materials transportation placards highway transportation ...

Section § 31304

The law allows the restriction or banning of transporting hazardous materials and waste on certain highways if they are deemed less safe than an alternative route, especially if near a drinking water reservoir. Such restrictions must not conflict with federal laws and should ensure access to essential services and local deliveries. Cooperation is needed from surrounding jurisdictions, and the Department of the California Highway Patrol has to be informed and publish these restrictions. Emergency situations allow for exceptions to these rules.

(a) The transportation of hazardous materials and hazardous waste for which the display of placards or markings is required pursuant to Section 27903 may be restricted or prohibited, by the Department of the California Highway Patrol, after consultation with the Department of Transportation, with regard to state or interstate highways, or by a city or county by ordinance or resolution, after formal notice to the Department of the California Highway Patrol and with the concurrence of their appropriate transportation planning agency defined in Section 29532 of the Government Code, with regard to specified highways under their control, if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The respective highway is appreciably less safe than a reasonable alternate highway as determined by using either of the following criteria:

(A) The “Guidelines for Applying Criteria to Designate Routes for Transporting Hazardous Materials” prepared by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA A-IP-80-15).

(B) The Department of the California Highway Patrol or the city or county, whichever has jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision (a), determines that the respective highway is located within the watershed of a drinking water reservoir which meets all of the following requirements:

(i) The reservoir is owned or operated by a public water system, as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.

(ii) The reservoir has a capacity of at least 10,000 acre feet.

(iii) The reservoir directly serves a water treatment plant, as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.

(iv) The reservoir is impounded by a dam, as defined in Section 6002 of the Water Code.

(v) The reservoir’s shoreline is located within 500 feet of the highway.

(2) The restriction or prohibition on the use of the highway pursuant to this section is not precluded or preempted by federal law.

(3) The restriction or prohibition does not eliminate necessary access to local pickup or delivery points consistent with safe vehicle operation; does not eliminate reasonable access to fuel, repairs, rest, or food facilities that are designed and intended to accommodate commercial vehicle parking, when that access is consistent with safe vehicle operation and when the facility is within one-half road mile of points of entry or exit from the state or interstate highway being used; or does not restrict or prohibit the use of highways when no other lawful alternative exists.

(4) Written concurrence has been obtained from affected surrounding jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, state agencies, counties, cities, special districts, or other political subdivisions of the state, that the proposed restriction or prohibition is not incompatible with through transportation. If written concurrence is not granted by one of the affected surrounding jurisdictions, that action may be appealed to the appropriate transportation planning agency for final resolution.

(5) The highway is posted by the agency responsible for highway signs on that highway in conformity with standards of the Department of Transportation.

(6) A list of the routes restricted or prohibited is submitted to the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(7) The highway is included in a list of highways restricted or prohibited pursuant to this section which is published by the Department of the California Highway Patrol and is available to interested parties for not less than 14 days.

(b) Notwithstanding any prohibition or restriction adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), deviation from restricted or prohibited routes is authorized in an emergency or other special circumstances with the concurrence of a member of the agency having traffic law enforcement authority for the highway.

hazardous materials transport hazardous waste shipping highway safety ...

Section § 31305

This law allows the Department of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to override local rules that limit vehicle access to highways if those rules prevent reasonable access and there's no legal alternative. If a city or transportation company is negatively impacted by such a decision, they can ask CHP to reconsider. CHP must then conduct a public hearing and decide whether to accept or reject the challenge. This law has been in effect since January 1, 1987.

(a) Upon receipt of a written petition from a local jurisdiction or motor carrier adversely affected by a restriction or prohibition adopted pursuant to Section 31304, the Department of the California Highway Patrol may preempt any local restriction or prohibition that, in its opinion, is not compatible with reasonable and necessary access or the use of highways when no other lawful alternative exists as provided for in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of that section, or through transportation as provided for in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of that section.

(b) Upon receipt of a written petition from a local jurisdiction or motor carrier adversely affected by a preemption issued pursuant to subdivision (a), the Department of the California Highway Patrol, after holding a public hearing, shall render a decision upholding or denying the petition.

California Highway Patrol local jurisdiction motor carrier ...

Section § 31306

This law requires the California Highway Patrol to publish or update a list of highways with restrictions or prohibitions on certain vehicles every six months. These updates began on January 1, 1987.

(a) A list of highways restricted or prohibited pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 31304 shall be published or updated by the Department of the California Highway Patrol semiannually.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1987.

highway restrictions vehicle prohibition California Highway Patrol ...

Section § 31307

This law makes it illegal for a vehicle owner or their authorized agent to allow the vehicle to be driven in a way that violates Sections 31303 or 31304. If this law is broken, penalties include fines and possible jail time. The first offense can result in a fine up to $500 or up to 60 days in jail. A second offense within a year could lead to a fine up to $1,000 or the same jail time, while a third or further offenses can bring a fine up to $2,500 and up to 120 days in jail.

Furthermore, if someone violates this law three or more times, the California Highway Patrol can recommend that the vehicle's registration be suspended or revoked, or a new registration request might be denied, following certain legal procedures.

(a) It is unlawful for the owner of any vehicle or the authorized agent of the owner to drive, or to direct or knowingly permit the driving of, the vehicle in violation of Section 31303 or 31304. Violation of any of these sections is a misdemeanor punishable as follows:

(1) For a first violation, a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 60 days, or both the fine and imprisonment.

(2) For a second violation within a 12-month period, a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 60 days, or both the fine and imprisonment.

(3) For a third or subsequent violation within a 12-month period, a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 120 days, or both the fine and imprisonment.

(b) Additionally, upon recommendation of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, three or more violations of these sections constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of registration, or denial of an application for registration under Section 25163 of the Health and Safety Code by the State Department of Health Services. Proceedings in these cases shall be subject to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

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Section § 31308

This law explains that being subject to certain vehicle sections, 31303 or 31304, does not mean you're exempt from other rules in the vehicle code. Basically, you still need to follow all the other applicable laws. This rule has been in effect since January 1, 1987.

(a) Nothing contained in Section 31303 or 31304 shall be deemed to exempt any person subject to these sections from other provisions of this code.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1987.

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Section § 31309

This law states that when hazardous materials are being transported, and the vehicle needs to show special warning signs (placards), the transportation must follow the rules set by the California Highway Patrol. These rules are from a specific part of the vehicle regulations.

Notwithstanding Section 34500 and subdivision (a) of Section 34501, the transportation of hazardous materials in a manner requiring that placards be displayed on the transporting vehicle pursuant to Section 27903, shall comply with regulations adopted by the California Highway Patrol pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 34501.

hazardous materials transportation placards California Highway Patrol regulations ...