Do you have to cover and secure oversized loads when driving? Here’s what Idaho law says
Ever been driving along a highway behind a truck and had little pieces of dirt or gravel pinging off your windshield?
Or, even worse, witnessed someone going along with a jumble of equipment in their truck bed before they hit a bump and things start flying?
At best, it’s a nuisance. At worst, it’s a potentially life-threatening issue for those driving in the truck’s wake. That’s why driving without a covered load is against both Idaho law and the Ada County code.
What is Idaho law on covered loads?
Driving without a covered load in Idaho is a misdemeanor that can result in a $75 fine. But there are plenty of stipulations within state law that protect drivers from having to cover what they are hauling if they meet specific requirements.
Title 46, Chapter 6 of Idaho Statute outlines that “no vehicle shall be operated on any public highway unless such vehicle’s load is secured to prevent the load from becoming loose, detached or a hazard to other users of the highway.”
But if a vehicle is carrying dirt, sand or gravel, the load needs to be covered only if there is less than 6 inches of freeboard — in other words, if there is more than 6 inches between the top of the load and the edge of the truck bed, a cover isn’t required.
But for the most part, the above laws apply only to private citizens. In the same chapter, the provisions stated above don’t apply to government vehicles or government contractors when performing maintenance or construction of highways.
The provisions also don’t apply to many vehicles involved with agriculture and canal irrigation entities, such as vehicles owned by canal companies, irrigation water delivery or management entities, and vehicles transporting unprocessed agricultural products, byproducts and materials.
Ada County code on covered loads
Ada County code follows similar guidelines as the state law, but a few differences exist.
Along with paying the fine for an uncovered load, a perpetrator in Ada County must also pay for any costs associated with the cleanup of a roadway if materials fall onto it.
Ada County also has a slightly different punishment structure. State laws override county code, but in many instances, the state allows the county to enforce local laws and punishment.
For Ada County, instead of a flat $75 fee, a first-time offender will be charged a $50 fine. Each consecutive violation of the law results in an additional $25 added to the fine, with a max fine of $100.
This story was originally published May 19, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
