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Riverside adopts ordinance to limit overweight and oversized trucks, raises fines and adds permitting
Summary
The Village of Riverside approved an ordinance to curb overweight and oversized vehicles after officials reported a rise in incidents; the measure sets civil fines between $500 and $750, creates a $100 permit fee and $100 police-escort fee, and directs use of the Oxcart web-based permitting system.
Riverside’s board of trustees on Jan. 15 adopted an ordinance aimed at reducing damage from overweight and oversized vehicles that have increasingly passed through the village.
Director Buckley told the board that enforcement activity has risen in recent years, saying, “in 2024, we issued 20 citations for these overweight trucks. In 2025, we issued 96.” Buckley and Deputy Chief Coder described repeated incidents of damaged gas lights, street signs and parkways and said the village’s streets were not designed for large semi traffic.
The ordinance raises the village’s enforcement range (within the limits of state law) by setting fines at $500 to $750 for individual violations. Deputy Chief Coder described an online permitting workflow: “To apply for a permit, it would cost a $100,” and he said oversized loads that require a police escort would incur an additional $100 fee for public-safety routing.
Staff said the ordinance adopts state size-and-weight thresholds to define when a permit is required and that the village plans to use a web-based platform called Oxcart so carriers familiar with the system can apply directly. Buckley said the village’s cameras and resident reports have helped capture violators and recoup replacement costs when public property is struck; he cited an $8,000 example for a damaged gas light.
Trustees asked about enforcement and deterrence. Trustee Collins questioned whether the permit fees and penalties were sufficient to discourage violations, noting concerns about repeat infractions and storm-related detours. Attorney Pickerel advised the board that the $750 maximum derives from limits in the Illinois Municipal Code and that the hearing officer has discretion to set the final penalty within the range.
Director Buckley outlined operational responses when large routes are blocked, saying staff attempt to redirect trucks to primary truck routes (for example, Manheim or Harlem) and, when necessary, assist drivers through town to avoid unsafe turns. Officials said they generally do not issue citations when side streets are closed for emergencies, but may issue violations when drivers ignore diversion instructions.
After discussion and a motion to adopt, the board approved the ordinance on a roll-call vote (Ayes recorded). The ordinance establishes the permitting and fee structure described and directs village staff to implement the Oxcart process and enforcement procedures.
The ordinance takes effect as provided in the village code; trustees also approved a related amendment to the fee schedule that incorporates the new permit and escort fees.
