Sec. 76-138. - Fastening of load and covering.

(a)

Required. No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

(b)

Log and pulpwood trucks. No motor truck, trailer or semitrailer which is used for the purpose of hauling logs, pulpwood, lumber or other materials, which by their very nature may shift or roll so as to be likely to fall from such vehicle, shall be operated or moved over any highway unless its load is securely fastened to the vehicle by chains, cables or other approved devices as will effectively prevent the shifting or falling of such load or any part thereof from the vehicle. The ends of such chains, cables or other devices and any tire chains shall be tied securely, whether the vehicle is loaded or unloaded, so that loose ends shall not endanger pedestrians or other vehicles encountered on the highway.

(c)

Exception for trucks with box-type bodies. This section shall not be construed to include a truck transporting lumber, wood or sawmill wastes when transported in a box-type body with solid sides, provided that such truck is not loaded higher than its sideboards.

(d)

Vehicles carrying rubbish, refuse and debris. No person shall operate a motor truck or other vehicle carrying or transporting any rubbish, refuse or other debris on any highway without first securely fastening a covering thereon to prevent the contents from falling to the highway. No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

(e)

Penalty. A person who violates the provisions of this section shall be punishable as provided in section 1-4.

(Code 1971, § 22-130)