Heavy Vehicle National Law - Victoria – Mass limit exemptions and route specifications for certain class 2 combinations fitted with road friendly suspension Amendment Notice 2016 (No. 1)

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria – Mass Limit Exemptions and Route Specifications for Certain Class 2 Combinations Fitted with Road Friendly Suspension Amendment Notice 2016 (No. 1) was enacted to extend the operation of a Victorian Notice under a former corresponding law for the Heavy Vehicle National Law. This amendment notice was made under Section 748 and Section 23 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and was introduced to address the need for continuing the exemptions and route specifications for certain heavy vehicle combinations fitted with road friendly suspension systems. The purpose of this amendment is to modify the date of expiry for the mass exemption and to specify new routes for travel. The Notice was authorised by the Parliament of Victoria and the policy objective is to ensure safe and efficient movement of heavy vehicles while mitigating potential damage to roads and infrastructure.

Scope and Application

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria – Mass Limit Exemptions and Route Specifications for Certain Class 2 Combinations Fitted with Road Friendly Suspension Amendment Notice 2016 (No. 1) applies to class 2 combinations fitted with road friendly suspension, extending the operation of the original Victorian Notice made under the Road Safety Act 1986. This Notice operates under the authority of Sections 748 and 23 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and comes into effect from the date of publication in the Commonwealth Gazette. The amendment extends the expiry date from 23 December 2016 to 1 April 2019 and modifies the specified routes, allowing vehicles under a mass exemption to travel on routes provided on the VicRoads Higher Mass Limits network maps. The Notice removes previous tables of prohibited arterial roads, bridges, culverts, and approved municipal roads, and instead directs to the VicRoads website for the updated route information. This amendment aims to streamline and update the regulatory framework for heavy vehicles in Victoria, ensuring alignment with the current legal standards.

Key Provisions

The Amendment Notice (C2016G01620) modifies the Mass Limit Exemptions and Route Specifications for certain Class 2 combinations fitted with road-friendly suspension. Under section 5, the date of expiry for the Notice is extended to 1 April 2019. The Notice, originally made under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic), applies to vehicles that meet specific criteria related to mass exemptions and permissible routes (section 10). These vehicles are allowed to travel on routes detailed in the VicRoads Higher Mass Limits network maps, which can be accessed via a specified web page. The Notice removes previously listed tables of prohibited arterial roads, bridges, culverts, and approved municipal roads, thereby simplifying the route specifications. Entities and parties governed by this Notice must ensure compliance with the new route specifications and expiry date. Vehicles authorised under this exemption must adhere to the routes indicated on the updated VicRoads maps. Compliance involves verifying that the vehicles meet the requirements of road-friendly suspension and the specified mass limits. Entities must also ensure that their operations are aligned with the extended operation period of the Notice, which now ends on 1 April 2019. Breaches of the provisions set out in this Amendment Notice may result in various civil or criminal consequences. The specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the Notice itself, but they would typically align with the broader provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, vehicle impoundment, and potential criminal charges, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. The maximum penalties would be in line with those stipulated in the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which could include substantial fines and imprisonment for serious or repeated offences.