No motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on a public highway may have a weight:

(1) In excess of twenty thousand pounds on any one axle, or in excess of the tire weight per inch of tire width prescribed by § 32-22-21, including all enforcement tolerances;

Attorney's Note

Under the South Dakota Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 2 misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $500
For details, see § 22-6-2

(2) In excess of thirtyfour thousand pounds on any tandem axle, or in excess of the tire weight per inch of tire width prescribed by § 32-22-21, including all enforcement tolerances; or

(3) In excess of the maximum weight on two or more consecutive axles as determined by the formula detailed in § 32-22-16.1, or in excess of the tire weight per inch of tire width prescribed by § 32-22-21. However, in no instance may the gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceed eighty thousand pounds on the interstate highway.

Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirtyfour thousand pounds each provided the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirtysix feet or more. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0336 (7); SL 1941, ch 188; SL 1943, ch 158, § 2; SL 1947, ch 192; SDC Supp 1960, § 44.0336 (6) (a) to (d); SL 1973, ch 213, §§ 1, 2; SL 1980, ch 226, §§ 1, 3; SL 1982, ch 245; SL 1983, ch 241, § 2; SL 1986, ch 263, § 1; SL 1996, ch 205, § 1.