Class A with tag axle - beware of $1000. fine in AZ!

I don't know much about this new law but having owned and operated class 8 trucks in all 48 states, I know that the Federal DOT exempts privately owned Recreational Vehicles from USDOT regulation. You don't stop at scales, DOT stops, or have to comply with Motor Carrier reporting and enforcement. You also are exempt from needing to comply with the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA). The amount of tax levied is set by each State but due to the above exemptions, RV's have fallen into the same tax group as passenger cars. If AZ. is allowed to challenge this exemption then all the other states will to. This law needs to be challenged and defeated in court.

Don, I copied your email and sent it to FMCA as well. Maybe we all should..below is their email address......Dennis

readersforum@fmca.com

I live here in AZ, so it is kinda hard not to use fuel sold in this state. So I called the # in the above post to find the facts. Well, I was transferred to the an enforcement office for the AZ DOT. The gentleman that I talked to used words like "probably" and "likely" and other words that were not definitive. Bottom line is he told me even though my coach's GVW is over 26k, since is privately owned, has 2 axles and not used for commercial purposes that it is exempt from the higher tax rate. So I am still a little uneasy about all this. It almost seems that it depends on who your talking to at the time and how their day is going at the time as to whether you could get fined or not. Typical government revenue plot.

bluegypsy, you're right about the nominal cost of the law, but I think the point is more than just the cost. Personally, I'm with you. I'm not going to avoid Arizona if I want to go there just because of 8 cents a gallon. But I also realize we're being taxed to death just a little at a time! I live in California and own two small businesses. When you sit down and starting adding up all the little 8 cent charges here and $200 charges there then they all add up to some real money! I'm writing a check this morning for $250 just so the fire marshal can come to my business and make sure I'm complying with all the fire laws!

100 gallons of diesel x .08 per gallon extra = $8.00

I get around 10 mpg, so I can drive my RV 1000 miles in AZ, and the additional cost of this AZ law to me will be 8 bucks? Since my visits to AZ involve driving in, parking the RV, and driving my toad around while I'm there, there's no way this law will cost me more than, maybe, 5 bucks a year.

So, other than the hassle of finding a truck stop (or truck pump), my feeling is "get over it."

I'm not rich, I like to save on fuel when I can, saying that, he is my mode of operation. I have a FlyingJ/Pilot card thru good Sam's. Before leaving home I get on the internet and find which FlyingJ/Pilot has the cheapest fuel on my route. I set my Navagation system to each station I want to stop at. Also, I go to the truck pumps, quicker, faster, and lots of room to manuver. When I had a gasser, I looked for easy entry and exit, even though the price might be a little higher.
Sometimes, and I found it true in my life, when you try to save a buck, you end up spending more!

California defines the Declared Gross Vehicle Weight as a combination of the weight of the vehicle and the maximum weight that will be carried on the vehicle or trailer. It doesn't call it the capacity, but instead the maximum weight intended to be carried on the vehicle by the owner. And in California this weight only applies to commercial motor vehicles. The way I read the CA law, lets say you buy a 10,000 pound trailer that can hold 20,000 pounds. But you buy the trailer with the intent of only carry your 15,000 pound tractor. The trailer may have a GVWR of 30,000 pounds, but the Declared Gross Vehicle Weight rating would be 25,000 pounds and this would appear on your registration. So I imagine if you get caught carrying more weight on the trailer, you could get a ticket.

This is just a possibility so take it for what it's worth...

I was considering buying a single axel dump and was concerned about needing a commercial license, the truck had a GVWR of something above 32,000 lbs. I called the MN DMV and they said I could license the truck for a weight rating LESS than the GVWR, ie; my case under 26,000 lb, to avoid the commercial license.

This could be where the "Declared Gross Vehicle Weight" comes from.

Not sure if or how this might apply to RV's.

Dan

Declared Gross vehicle weight

I just do not buy fuel there. I can go a 1000 miles and still have a third of a tank left even running the generator the whole time.

I just sent this email to the Arizona Tourism board, maybe others could do the same. Here is the email:

Dear Sirs,

It has recently come to the attention of the recreational vehicle (RV) community on a National RV Forum, that Arizona is stepping up their fuel tax enforcement on RV's over 26000 GVW or 3 axles. This probably includes about one third of the RV's visiting your State, including me.

Basically, the rule states that you can only buy fuel at a truck stop, at the truck island and pay the additional road taxes on a privately owned vehicle.

Many Snowburds, families and retirees visit your State every year. This would be a shame is this enforcement, which I doubt was intended for RV's, is continued and scares away visitors. Many of these large RV's carry sufficient fuel to traverse the State without stopping for fuel and other purchases at you fuel stations.