153Mass limits

153 Mass limits (1) A ***mass limit*** is a limit specified under this Act concerning the mass of— (a) a vehicle; or (b) any component of a vehicle. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the following are mass limits— (a) a limit concerning— (i) the gross mass of a vehicle (that is, the unladen mass of the vehicle together with any load in or on the vehicle); or (ii) the mass on a tyre, an axle or an axle group of the vehicle; (b) a limit concerning axle spacing; (c) mass limits set out on signs erected or displayed under this Act (for example, a sign-posted bridge limit). (3) A breach of a mass limit is a minor risk breach if— (a) in the case of a mass limit that relates to the gross mass of a vehicle, the amount by which the limit is exceeded is less than either or both of the following— (i) 5% of the maximum permissible mass; or (ii) 0⋅5 tonnes; or (b) in any other case, the amount by which the limit is exceeded is less than 5% of the maximum permissible mass. (4) Subject to subsection (3)(a)(ii), a breach of a mass limit is a substantial risk breach if the amount by which the limit is exceeded is 5% or more of the maximum permissible mass, but less than 20% of the maximum permissible mass. (5) A breach of a mass limit is a severe risk breach if the amount by which the limit is exceeded is 20% or more of the maximum permissible mass. (6) For the purposes of this section, all relevant measurements are to be rounded up to the nearest 0⋅1 tonnes. S. 154 inserted by No. 110/2004 s. 41.