simple trailer means any trailer with a tow bar rigidly attached to the chassis or body of the trailer, but does not include a trailer equipped with a jinker pole

testing authority means any person referred to in section 147(2)(a) of the Act

weighbridge means a non-portable device that—

(a)

is either mechanical or electronic; and

(b)

is designed to weigh a single axle or simultaneously weigh 2 or more axles.

(2)

For the purposes of this notice, a semi-trailer is to be treated as a separate vehicle, whether or not it is readily detachable from the tractor unit.

(3)

References in this notice to the weight of 1 or more axles are to be read as if the references included the weight on those axles.

4 Approved weighing devices

(1)

The weighing devices described in subclause (2) are approved for the purposes of recording or displaying the weight of a wheel, an axle, a group of axles, or a vehicle as required by the definition of the term weight in section 2(1) of the Act.

(2)

The approved weighing devices are—

(a)

any weighbridge or dynamic axle-weigher or portable wheel-weigher that has been tested by a testing authority and found to be accurate:

(b)

any weighbridge or portable wheel-weigher or dynamic axle-weigher that has been stamped with a mark of verification under the Weights and Measures Act 1987.

Use of axle-weighers, weighbridges, and pits

5 Manner of use of dynamic axle-weighers

(1)

The site of any dynamic axle-weigher must be reasonably level along the length of the vehicle with the dynamic axle-weigher.

(2)

Those sections of the approaches to any dynamic axle-weigher on which one part of the vehicle is supported while another is being weighed must be reasonably level with the weighing platform.

(3)

The weight of an axle may be obtained by placing the axle on or slowly moving the axle over a dynamic axle-weigher and noting the weight recorded.

(4)

The weight, total weight, or gross weight of a group of axles may be obtained from a dynamic axle-weigher by adding the weights recorded in respect of each axle.

6 Manner of use of weighbridges

(1)

Those sections of the approaches to any weighbridge on which one part of a vehicle stands while another part is being weighed must be reasonably level with the weighing platform.

(2)

The weight of an axle may be obtained at a weighbridge by—

(a)

placing the axle alone on the weighing platform and noting the weight recorded; or

(b)

subtracting from the weight recorded when the axle is on the weighing platform at the same time as 1 or more other axles the weight recorded when the same 1 or more other axles are on the weighing platform alone.

(3)

The weight, total weight, or gross weight of a group of axles may be obtained at a weighbridge by—

(a)

placing the axles alone on the weighing platform and noting the weight recorded; or

(b)

subtracting from the weight recorded when the group of axles is on the weighing platform at the same time as 1 or more other axles the weight recorded when the same 1 or more other axles are on the weighing platform alone; or

(c)

adding the weights recorded on the axles and groups of axles making up the group for which the weight is required; or

(d)

using a combination of the methods referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) in which each axle is taken into account only once.

7 Manner of use of pits containing portable wheel-weighers

(1)

The surface on which a vehicle stands while its axles are being weighed at a pit containing portable wheel-weighers must be reasonably level along the length of the vehicle with the platforms of the wheel-weighers.

(2)

The weight of an axle may be obtained at any such pit by placing the axle on the platforms of the wheel-weighers and then—

(a)

adding the weights recorded; or

(b)

if a summing function of portable wheel-weighers is used, whether facilitated by cable or wireless connection, noting the summed weight displayed on one of the wheel-weighers so connected.

(3)

The weight, total weight, or gross weight of a group of axles may be obtained at any such pit by adding the weights recorded in respect of individual axles.

Use of portable wheel-weighers

8 Portable wheel-weighers to be used on flat surface

(1)

The weight of the axles of a vehicle may be obtained by using portable wheel-weighers in accordance with this clause and clause 9 on a surface that is reasonably level along the length of the vehicle.

(2)

The portable wheel-weighers must be placed on the surface and the vehicle driven onto the platforms of the wheel-weighers.

9 Manner of weighing axles

(1)

The weight of an axle may be obtained by placing the axle on the platforms of the wheel-weighers and then—

(a)

adding the weights recorded; or

(b)

if a summing function of portable wheel-weighers is used, whether facilitated by cable or wireless connection, noting the summed weight displayed on one of the wheel-weighers so connected.

(2)

If a single axle is being weighed and the vehicle has 3 or more axles, any axles not being weighed must be raised to approximately the same level as the axle being weighed.

(3)

If a single axle is being weighed and the vehicle has 2 or more axles and is either a semi-trailer or a simple trailer, the point of attachment to the towing vehicle must be raised by approximately the same amount.

(4)

If 2 or more axles are being weighed and the vehicle has any axles not in that group of axles, the axles not in that group must be raised to approximately the same level as the axles being weighed.

(5)

If 2 or more axles are being weighed and the vehicle is either a semi-trailer or simple trailer, the point of attachment of the trailer to the towing vehicle must also be raised by approximately the same amount.

(6)

If this clause requires the point of attachment of a trailer to the towing vehicle to be raised, this may be done by raising the axles of the towing vehicle to approximately the same level as the axles being weighed.

(7)

The weight, total weight, or gross weight of a group of axles may be obtained by simultaneously placing all axles of the group on wheel-weighers and then—

(a)

adding the weights recorded; or

(b)

if a summing function of portable wheel-weighers is used, whether facilitated by cable or wireless connection, noting the summed weight displayed on one of the wheel-weighers so connected; or

(c)

using a combination of the methods referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) in which each axle is taken into account only once.

Related amendment

10 Amendment to Transport (Measurement of Weight) Notice 1997

(1)

This clause amends the Transport (Measurement of Weight) Notice 1997.

(2)

Before clause 2, insert:

1A Application

This notice does not apply on and after 1 August 2019 (being the date on which the Land Transport (Measurement of Weight) Notice 2019 comes into force).

Dated at Wellington this 27th day of July 2019.

Stuart Nash,
Minister of Police.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the notice, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This notice, which comes into force on 1 August 2019, is made under the Land Transport Act 1998 (the Act) and prescribes matters relating to approved weighing devices and the manner of using those devices for the purposes of the definition of weight in section 2(1) of the Act. It re-enacts, with some updating, the Transport (Measurement of Weight) Notice 1997 (the 1997 notice) that was continued by section 218 of the Act.

The main changes from the 1997 notice are the inclusion of clauses 7(2)(b) and 9(1)(b) and (7)(b) to accommodate the use of wireless technology in the weighing of heavy vehicles.

Clause 10 makes a related amendment to the 1997 notice to cease its application on and after the date on which this notice takes effect. This will enable the 1997 notice to be revoked as a spent instrument under section 15 of the Legislation Act 2012.

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2012.

Date of notification in Gazette: 1 August 2019.

This notice is administered by the New Zealand Police.

Land Transport (Measurement of Weight) Notice 2019