Spring Road Restrictions By-Law 2026-02 — full text

This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source document governs. Snapshot c3001b306059 · verified 2026-08-28 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

## THE RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF WEST ST. PAUL ## BY-LAW NO. 2026-02 ## BEING A BY-LAW OF THE RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF WEST ST. PAUL TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE SPRING ROAD RESTRICTIONS ON MUNICIPAL ROADS. WHEREAS the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul is empowered under Part 7 of the Municipal Act S.M. 1996 and Parts III, IV, VI and VIl of the Highway Traffic Act RSM 1987 to regulate traffic, parking and the use of streets by By-Law and to impose penalties for the violation of such By-Law; AND WHEREAS the Council of the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul deems it necessary to protect municipal roads from damage during spring thaw by imposing axle load restrictions; NOW THEREFORE The Rural Municipality of West St. Paul, in Council assembled, enacts as follows: ## DEFINITIONS For the purposes of this by-law the following definitions shall apply: | Designated Officer | Shall mean any person appointed by the Muncipality as a Designated Officer under section 130 of the Municipal Act or a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. | |----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Director | Shall mean any person appointed to the position of Director of Operations by the Municipality. | | Non-divisible Load | Shall mean a vehicle or load that cannot be reasonably reduced to meet legal requirements if: | | Non-divisible Load | (a) dismantling it requires more than eight hours of labour; | | Non-divisible Load | (b) dismantling it compromises the intended use of the vehicle or load; and | | Non-divisible Load | (c) dismantling it destroys the value of the vehicle or load if dismantled. | | | Traffic Control Devices Shall mean a sign, signal, light, marking or device approved under the Highway Traffic Act and regulations. | | Utility Services | Shall mean pipes, or wires for private connection to a water, sewer, natural gas, or telecom utility. | ## Vehicle means a motor vehicle or semi-trailer truck that is constructed or adapted to carry goods, wares and merchandise, freight, or commodities, but not passengers and that has more than four tires. ## Spring Road Restrictions - 2.1 Weight limitations referred shall be imposed during the period March 1 to May 29, both inclusive, of each year, unless otherwise declared by the Director. - 2.2 The Director of Operations (Director) may restrict the maximum weight of vehicles operated on Municipal streets to the extent and for such period of time as is reasonably required to protect the streets from damage and deterioration during spring thaw conditions. - 2.3 Where the Director restricts the maximum weight of vehicles on streets pursuant to subsection 2.2, the Director must: - (a) cause to be placed such Traffic Control Devices as are necessary to reasonably inform the public of the restrictions; and - (b) at least one week prior to the weight restriction coming into effect, must publish on the municipal website and at the municipal office setting out: - i. a description or list of the streets affected by the weight restriction; - ii. the maximum weight permitted on the streets identified; and - iii. the period of time during which the weight restrictions are in effect. - 2.2 The Municipality is guided by the Spring Road Restriction program established by the Province of Manitoba: https://www.gov.mb.ca/mti/srr/index.html - 2.3 No person shall at any time of the year drive or move, or permit or cause to be driven or moved, a vehicle on any street in the Municipality when the gross weight thereof is in excess of that implemented by this By-Law, or any provisions of the Highway Traffic Act and regulations applicable thereto. - 2.4 No person shall have a vehicle exceeding the Highway Traffic Act and regulations (five tonnes) when the applicable gross weight restrictions are in effect in the Municipality. - 2.5 All Class B streets and sections of streets on which Spring Road Restrictions are placed shall be restricted to 65%, as set out in the Spring Road Restriction Policy. - 2.6 All Class B1 streets and sections of streets on which Spring Road Restrictions are placed shall be restricted to 90%, as set out in the Spring Road Restriction Policy. - 2.7 A Designated Officer may at any time stop and weight, or cause to be weighted, any vehicle or any vehicle and load; and, for that purpose, they may require that the vehicle be driven to any scale capable of weighing the vehicle and its load and which is available for use at the time of the demand made by the Designated Officer. - 2.8 Every person shall: - (a) Stop their vehicle when required to do so by a signal from an Enforcement Officer; and - (b) When so required by a Designated Officer, drive their vehicle to a scale capable of weighing the vehicle and its load and which is available for use at the time of the requirement made by the Designated Officer. - 2.9 A person, who has taken a vehicle to scales or stopped a vehicle at an inspection station, as required by Section 2.8, must render such reasonable assistance to a Designated Officer in the weighing or inspection of the vehicle as the Designated Officer requires. - The Director may issue permits exempting residents from Spring Road Restrictions in emergency situations. This may include the reinstatement of failed wells, septic systems, or utility services. ## 3. Exceptions and Essential Commodities - 3.1 At the discretion of the Designated Officer, the Municipality may permit overweight non-divisible loads if permitting the load is in the public interest. - 3.2 It is in the public interest that certain commodities and situations be accommodated even during the spring restrictions period. The Municipality will allow the exception of essential commodities listed as follows: - (a) Inter-city passenger buses; - (b) School buses; and - (C) Highway maintenance vehicles operated by or on behalf of a traffic authority. - 3.3 Vehicles transporting essential commodities are permitted limited travel on restricted roads under the following conditions: - (a) If the essential commodities are transported between 2400 and 1200 hours during the first 14 days of this Restriction Order, or at any time of the day after the 14th day; and - Vehicles traveling empty to pick up essential commodities or after having delivered them may travel at any time of the day on restricted - 3.4 Essential Commodities Permitted under the above conditions: - (a) livestock feed in transit as follows: - (b) grain en route from producer to processor; - (c) unprocessed grain required for feed; and - (d) processed livestock feed; - (e) hay for feed in transit intra-provincially; - (f) livestock in transit: - (g) to or from market or pasture, or - (h) as the result of a sale; - (i) potable water for non-industrial use; - (j) bulk milk; - (k) seed in transit to supplier, farm or field; - (I) groceries; - (m) medical supplies including pharmaceuticals, medical waste, blood products and blood services; - (n) fuel; - (o) fertilizer; - (p) refuse including sewage in transit to the nearest landfill site or sewage facility; - (q) equipment and materials required for emergencies, including forest fires, floods, train derailments and pipeline spills; - (r) Common carriers/contractors delivering mail on behalf of the Canada Post Corporation; - (s) grain to satisfy grain quotas or contracts; and - (t) potatoes or vegetables from producer to processor ## 4. PENALTIES - 4.1 Any person found to be in violation of any part of of the Spring Road Restriction By-Law shall be liable to a fine as specified in the Municipal ByLaw Enforcement Act By-Law. DONE AND PASSED by the Council of The Rural Municipality of West St. Paul in regular session assembled this 26" day of February, A.D. 2026. RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF WEST ST. PAUL   Mayor Read a first time this 12t day of February, A.D. 2026. Read a second time this 26" day of February, A.D. 2026. Read a third time this 26" day of February, A.D. 2026.