Fine for exceeding vehicle dimensions

In an attempt to save money on professional cargo transportation services, people sometimes pile rather bulky and heavy objects onto their vehicle, attaching them to the body with improvised materials. But such a design poses a serious threat to surrounding drivers and pedestrians when driving on public roads. Therefore, in order to increase safety, the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation provides for a substantial fine for oversize, which can be applied to both passenger vehicles and trucks.

Characteristics of oversized cargo

According to the traffic rules, oversized cargo can be considered to be any type of cargo that, when placed on a vehicle or trailer, hangs above the road surface from the rear, front or side. But liability for such transportation occurs only if the driver violates the standards established by GOST for luggage protrusion of less than 1 meter. In other cases, the transit of long and wide objects in a car or truck is not prohibited by law.

You can also receive a fine for transporting objects whose weight exceeds the maximum carrying capacity of the vehicle. Moreover, this also applies to the overweight on one axle. After all, such a phenomenon can provoke an imbalance of the vehicle, which at speed will cause loss of control. Well, this increases the risk of getting into an accident.

Changes to the rules for transporting children in a car in questions and answers

The traffic rules do not provide for a minimum age from which children can be transported in the front seat, however, if the child is under 12 years old, then a special child car seat is required . Thus, in legal terms, children can be transported in the front seat from the moment they are born.

New as of July 12, 2017: Up to 7 years of age, a child must be transported in a car seat not only in the front seat, but also in the back seat. From 7 to 12 years of age, a child can be transported in the back seat either in a car seat or using standard seat belts.

Minor passengers are allowed to be transported in cars and truck cabins, subject to certain rules. It is prohibited to transport children under 12 years of age on the back seat of a scooter or motorcycle. Now they are allowed to be transported in passenger cars if the seat is equipped with a special seat or cradle. The booster and triangular configuration adapter are not suitable for this.

Recommendations for the correct transportation of infants in vehicles are prescribed in the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations, in paragraph 22.9. The latest version states that it is not allowed to transport newborns without restraints. There are no detailed explanations, but this implies the use of a cradle, LDC, stroller, car seat, taking into account the age and weight of the passenger.

If the question arises whether it is possible to transport a small child in your arms, it is worth reading clause 22.9 of the Russian Traffic Regulations, as amended. The rules here are the same as for children under one year of age, provided that there is a device that matches the weight and age of the baby. Passengers under 7 years of age and older are allowed to travel if standard seat belts or a system with the Isofix mark -1 are provided.​​​​​​​

Parameters of legal transportation

In the current rules of the Russian Federation, Article 23, consisting of 5 separate parts, is responsible for the permissible GOST of large-sized luggage. It describes in detail:

• How many centimeters can the load extend beyond the front, rear and side of the vehicle or trailer?
• In what cases does a motorist receive permission to transit oversized vehicles?
• Types of administrative penalties for violation of Art. 23 traffic rules.

Also, the mentioned section of these rules includes requirements for securing transported objects on your own vehicle. Indeed, if they fail while driving, the driver will bear responsibility for the damage caused.

By lenght

It is important to know! When stopping a vehicle, State Traffic Inspectorate officers can issue a fine to a citizen for being oversized only if it protrudes beyond the line of the rear or front bumpers by more than one meter.

If the object is placed on the roof of the car in such a way that it hangs out only 0.1 - 0.9 m from both the rear and the front, then such transportation will not be considered a violation. But for greater safety, traffic police inspectors will ask the motorist to attach bright red or orange ribbons to the edges of the luggage so that other road users will pay attention to it in a timely manner.

Width

In accordance with Article 23 of the Traffic Regulations of the Russian Federation, a fine for oversized width is considered to be a protrusion of cargo beyond the permissible limits of the vehicle by more than 40 cm. In this case, the portion of luggage that does not fit on the trunk of a vehicle or trailer should be measured not at the extreme point of the body, as was the case in the first version, but by rear light signals. After all, in the dark, drivers may not notice an oversized object on the roof of a car and catch it when overtaking, causing an accident.

By height

Considering these rules of the Russian Federation (namely, Article 23, paragraph 4), it can be noted that the legislation does not provide for a specific restriction on piling luggage up high. But in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses, a fine for oversized height is issued to a motorist if the highest point of his vehicle reaches 4 or more meters above the road surface.

It is important to know! Moreover, this applies to both passenger cars and special-purpose trucks (an onboard GAZelle, a truck tractor or a tractor with a trailer).

Rules for transportation on the roof of a car

Before placing luggage on the roof of a passenger car, you must read the manufacturer's recommendations. The maximum permissible weight must not be exceeded.

Average indicators:

1. For a domestically produced passenger car – 40-60 kg.
2. Foreign manufacturer - 60-90 kg.

When using a roof rack on a car, you should follow the general instructions for transporting large and oversized cargo. Placement and transportation rules:

• do not exceed the established dimensions (40 and 100 cm);
• if the specified dimensions are exceeded, use a warning sign;
• do not block the driver’s view;
• place luggage in the middle to avoid shifting the vehicle’s center of gravity;
• If a malfunction is detected while driving, immediately stop the car and repair the breakdown;
• securely secure the cargo to the trunk. All items that fall out or doors that open must be carefully secured or removed;
• tie objects tightly with ropes or special tapes, without gaps;
• observe the speed limit: for the city - 60 km/h, for the highway - 90 km/h;
• check the reliability of the fastenings every hour of driving.

Penalty for failure to comply with conditions

Violation of the rules for transporting large and heavy luggage in a personal car is considered a minor offense, and therefore, as a maximum punishment for it, the Code of Administrative Offenses can impose only a material penalty on the driver, the amount of which directly depends on the circumstances of the incident. We will consider below what specific fines for oversized cargo will be received by owners of passenger cars and trucks in 2021.

Inconsistency with dimensions

Most often, motorists are caught precisely because the dimensions of the transported luggage do not comply with the established GOST, which is punishable by law as follows:

• Material penalties in the amount of 1000 to 1500 rubles for individuals, and from 10 to 15 thousand rubles. for commercial organizations - if the permissible load hanging limit is exceeded by less than 10 cm;
• A fine of 3,000 to 4,000 rubles for ordinary motorists, and from 25 to 40 thousand rubles. for legal entities - in case of deviation from generally accepted standards by 10-20 cm;
• Protocol in the amount of 5,000 to 10,000 rubles for citizens, and from 35 to 40 thousand rubles. for legal entities - when exceeding GOST by 20-50 cm.

It is important to know! At the same time, it is worth noting that such a fine for oversized cargo is provided for both the length and width of the hanging. And it is used for all categories of vehicles, including special equipment (unaccompanied).

Transport without permission

We mentioned earlier that State Traffic Inspectorate employees have the right to issue a decree not only if the size of the luggage does not match, but also if its weight exceeds. The penalty for such an offense is only 500 rubles.

The same applies to drivers transporting cargo without a special permit issued by local authorities or the regional Rosavtodor. But if the oversized vehicle is equipped with reflective tapes or a corresponding sign, then traffic police inspectors may limit themselves to a verbal warning.

Speed ​​mode

In addition to observing the rules regarding the dimensions of the vehicle and the cargo being transported, as well as the rules of cargo transportation, it is imperative to comply with the speed limit. We say this for a reason, because loading luggage onto the roof of your car changes some of your car's handling characteristics.

The traffic rules do not have any specific definitions of the speed limit with a load on the roof. But through our research, we came to the conclusion that the optimal speed with luggage on the roof of the car is:

• Maximum 100 km/h;
• When entering turns, the speed should be reduced to 20 km/h

We are talking about this for a reason. When transporting cargo on the roof, many drivers forget about such effects as windage and traction of the car with the road. If you drive with luggage on the roof, keep in mind that wind resistance will increase and aerodynamics will deteriorate. But in order not to be unfounded, we suggest you see what it looks like in real life.

As you may have noticed, even the speed at which the car was traveling was low, but, nevertheless, the sheets flew off in no time. This is why it is really important to securely secure your cargo before traveling. We recommend using special Thule 323 belts. Also, in addition to the speed limit, do not forget about the braking distance. And again, let’s not indulge in demagoguery and suggest watching a video in which everything is clear without words.

A couple of tips:

• When traveling for a short time with a load on the roof, it is advisable to check the integrity of all roof rack fastenings upon arrival;
• During long trips, it is advisable to check the integrity of the fastenings and the tension of the fastening belts every couple of hours;
• If the road surface wants to improve, then the fastenings need to be checked even more often - about once an hour;
• If you are carrying furniture with opening elements (doors, drawers, etc.) on the roof, then it is advisable to secure these elements with adhesive tape or wrap the load with stretch film;
• The load should be evenly distributed over the roof surface, and its center of gravity should be as low as possible;

Exceeding the values ​​specified in the permit

We have already found out what the fine is for transporting oversized cargo without permission, and now it’s time to find out what a motorist faces for violating the requirements specified in the waybill. These rules say the following about this:

• In case of non-compliance with GOST established by Rosavtodor, an ordinary citizen will face a financial penalty in the amount of 5,000 rubles;
• If you ignore the requirements for permission to transport oversized items, legal entities will have to pay from 80 to 100 thousand rubles.

Administrative penalties are also provided for providing false data on the volume and weight of luggage when contacting authorized bodies. But in such cases, the driver will face not only a financial penalty, but also the evacuation of his vehicle to an impound lot for up to 1 month.

International shipping

If you need to travel by car outside the country, you must familiarize yourself with the rules of the Customs Union in advance. Here is the exact list of items permitted for export. It is important that all of them must be for personal use and not for profit.

The rules for transporting goods by car depend on the current traffic legislation adopted in a particular country.

Traffic regulations allow the transportation of both oversized and oversized cargo in a passenger car. For your own safety and taking into account the interests of other road users, you must use special signage, adhere to the speed limit, and avoid traveling in difficult weather conditions.

Possible controversial situations

Various situations can happen on the road. But, as practice shows, to issue a resolution under Art. 23 of the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations is not so simple, due to two reasons:

• It is impossible to determine a deviation from GOST by eye, and therefore stopping a car by an inspector may be unfounded, for which he is entitled to a reprimand;
• Everything that is not prohibited is permitted.

The second point implies the implementation of the reports specified in Art. 23 clause 3 of these rules:

• The transported cargo should not interfere with the driver’s good visibility or make it difficult to control the vehicle;
• Transported baggage cannot cover the vehicle's lights, license plates or identification marks;
• Luggage loaded onto a vehicle during transportation should not create much noise or pollute the environment.

Advice! If these traffic rules are not violated, then one can argue about the GOST standards for hanging cargo.

We found out what fine drivers face for transporting oversized cargo, and how you can avoid liability under Art. 23 of these rules. In conclusion, it is worth adding that in practice, traffic police inspectors rarely stop a vehicle for the reason mentioned. After all, it is very difficult to prove a motorist’s guilt due to the non-compliance of his luggage with GOST. The size of the financial penalty in this case is quite small to waste time on its preparation.

Transportation in a light trailer

Any trailer is a vehicle that does not have its own engine and is used together with another vehicle to transport goods. Since the trailer is a vehicle, the traffic rules in relation to it must be followed:

1. For fastening, a rigid tow bar is used, equipped with electrical wiring and a plug socket.
2. The trailer itself must be equipped with light signals: turn signals, brake lights, and clearance lights.
3. It is prohibited to exceed the maximum permissible weight of a loaded trailer. It differs for each vehicle category; for “B” this parameter is 750 kg. The weight of the trailer must not exceed the weight of the passenger car.

The order of movement with a trailer, as well as ways to designate the load:

• avoid sudden braking, since the additional mass increases the braking distance;
• to keep distance;
• reduce speed before turning;
• it is advisable to exclude maneuvering in traffic and reversing with poor visibility;
• During the trip, carry the registration documents for the trailer with you. They must be presented to the traffic police inspector upon request. For individuals, having a diagnostic card is not necessary;
• observe the speed limit, it is reduced by 20 km/h: within the city - 40 km/h, outside the city - 70 km/h, on highways - 90 km/h;
• if the transported item is recognized as oversized, use a sign and reflective elements or lights;
• To transport oversized luggage using a trailer, a passenger car must be equipped with rear-view mirrors on extended brackets.