Section 229-308-5 - EXEMPT VEHICLES The followingvehicles are exempt from this rule and do not require any type of permit from MaineDOT:
1. Any vehicle or combination of vehicles registered for a gross weight of 23,000 pounds or less.2. Any vehicle or combination of vehicles registered for a gross weight in excess of 23,000 pounds and traveling without a load other than tools or equipment necessary for the proper operation of the vehicle. This exemption does not apply to special mobile equipment.It shall be a defense to a violation of this sub-section if the combined weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles registered for a gross weight in excess of 23,000 pounds and its load is in fact less than 23,000 pounds.3. MaineDOT vehicles or other vehicles authorized by MaineDOT to maintain the roads under their authority.4. Authorized emergency vehicles as defined in 29-A MRSA §2054, school buses, a wrecker towing a disabled vehicle of legal weight from a posted highway, and vehicles with three axles or less under the direction of a public utility and engaged inutility infrastructuremaintenance or repair.5. Any two axle vehicles registered for a gross weight in excess of 23,000 pounds and less than or equal to 34,000 pounds that are carrying any of the SpecialCommodities defined herein may operate without a permit.17-229 C.M.R. ch. 308, § 5