(a) The Commissioner of Transportation or other authority having charge of the repair or maintenance of any highway or bridge is authorized to grant permits for transporting vehicles or combinations of vehicles or vehicles and load, or other objects not conforming to the provisions of sections 14-98, 14-262, 14-262a, 14-264, 14-267a and 14-269 but, in the case of motor vehicles, only the Commissioner of Transportation shall be authorized to issue such permits. Such permits shall be written, and may limit the highways or bridges which may be used, the time of such use and the maximum rate of speed at which such vehicles or objects may be operated, and may contain any other condition considered necessary by the authority granting the same, provided the Department of Transportation shall not suffer any loss of revenue granted or to be granted from any agency or department of the federal government for the federal interstate highway system or any other highway system.

(b) Any permit issued in respect to any vehicle, self-propelled vehicle, or combination of vehicles or vehicle and trailer on account of its excessive weight shall be limited to the gross weight shown or to be shown on the commercial registration certificate or any commercial registration certificate issued on an apportionment basis. A permit granted under this section for a vehicle or load, greater than twelve feet, but no greater than thirteen feet six inches in width and traveling on undivided highways, shall require a single escort motor vehicle to precede such vehicle or load. No escort motor vehicle shall be required to follow such vehicle or load on such highways.

(c) Any permit issued under this section or a legible copy or facsimile shall be retained in the possession of the operator of the vehicle, self-propelled vehicle or combination of vehicles or vehicle and trailer for which such permit was issued, except that an electronic confirmation of the existence of such permit or the use of the special number plates described in § 14-24 and any regulations adopted thereunder shall be sufficient to fulfill the requirements of this section.

(d) (1) The owner or lessee of any vehicle may pay either a fee of thirty dollars for each permit issued for such vehicle under this section or a fee as described in subdivision (3) of this subsection for such vehicle, payable to the Department of Transportation. (2) An additional transmittal fee of twelve dollars shall be charged for each permit issued under this section and transmitted via electronic means. (3) The commissioner may issue an annual permit for any vehicle transporting (A) a divisible load, (B) an overweight or oversized-overweight indivisible load, or (C) an oversize indivisible load. The owner or lessee shall pay an annual fee of nine dollars per thousand pounds or fraction thereof for each such vehicle. A permit may be issued in any increment up to one year, provided the owner or lessee shall pay a fee of one hundred dollars for such vehicle or vehicle and trailer for each month or fraction thereof. (4) The annual permit fee for any vehicle transporting an oversize indivisible load shall not be less than six hundred fifty dollars. (5) The commissioner may issue permits for divisible loads in the aggregate not exceeding fifty-three feet in length. (6) An additional engineering analysis fee of two dollars per thousand pounds or fraction thereof over two hundred thousand pounds shall be charged for an oversize-overweight vehicle and trailer or a commercial vehicle combination and load that exceeds a permit weight of two hundred thousand pounds.

(e) (1) The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, prescribing standards for issuance of permits for vehicles with divisible or indivisible loads not conforming to the provisions of § 14-267a.

(2) In adopting regulations pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall allow for the issuing of a wrecker towing or transporting emergency permit, provided such movement of a wrecked or disabled vehicle by a wrecker with a permit issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be in accordance with any limitations as to highway or bridge use and maximum rate of speed as specified by the commissioner.

(f) The provisions of subsection (d) of this section shall not apply to the federal government, the state, municipalities or fire departments.

(g) Any person who violates the provisions of any permit issued under this section or fails to obtain such a permit, when operating any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles described in § 14-163c, shall be subject to the following penalties:

(1) A person operating a vehicle with a permit issued under this section that exceeds the weight specified in such permit shall be subject to a penalty calculated by subtracting the permitted weight from the actual vehicle weight and the rate of the fine shall be fifteen dollars per one hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight;

(2) A person who fails to obtain a permit issued under § 14-262 or 14-264 and who is operating a vehicle at a weight that exceeds the statutory limit for weight shall be subject to a penalty calculated by subtracting the statutory limit for weight from the actual vehicle weight and the rate of the fine shall be fifteen dollars per one hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight;

(3) A person operating a vehicle with a permit issued under this section that exceeds the length specified in such permit shall be subject to a minimum fine of three hundred dollars;

(4) A person operating a vehicle with a permit issued under this section that exceeds the width specified in such permit shall be subject to a minimum fine of three hundred dollars;

(5) A person operating a vehicle with a permit issued under this section that exceeds the height specified in such permit shall be subject to a minimum fine of one thousand dollars;

(6) A person operating a vehicle with a permit issued under this section on routes not specified in such permit, shall be fined (A) one thousand five hundred dollars for each violation of the statutory limit for length, width, height or weight, and (B) shall be subject to a penalty calculated by subtracting the statutory weight limit of subsection (b) of § 14-267a from the actual vehicle weight and such weight difference shall be fined at the rate provided for in subparagraph (G) of subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of § 14-267a; or

(7) A person (A) operating a vehicle with an indivisible load and violating one or more of the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of this subsection shall be required to obtain a permit, or (B) operating a vehicle with a divisible load and violating one or more of the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of this subsection shall be required to be off loaded to the permit limit.

(h) (1) If the origin, destination, load description, tractor registration, trailer registration, hours of travel, number of escorts, signs or flags of a vehicle with a permit issued under this section differ from those stated on such permit or required by regulations adopted pursuant to this section, a minimum fine of two hundred dollars shall be assessed for each such violation.

(2) If the days of travel of a vehicle with a permit issued under this section differ from those stated on such permit or the vehicle is operated under a false or fraudulent permit, a minimum fine of one thousand five hundred dollars shall be assessed for such violation in addition to any other penalties assessed.

(i) A person operating a vehicle under a forged permit shall be subject to a minimum fine of ten thousand dollars, in addition to any other penalties which may be assessed, and such vehicle shall be impounded until payment of such fine or fines, or until order of the Superior Court. As used in this subsection, “forged permit” means a permit for a nonconforming vehicle that is subject to the provisions of this section, that has been falsely made, completed or altered, and “falsely made”, “falsely completed” and “falsely altered” have the same meanings as provided in § 53a-137.