Do I need to stop at a weigh station ?

The various DOT websites are not clear on who stops for sure. Most I looked at only talk about Commercial transportation and not private.

Great thread...I was curious about this

As I remember I80 through Iowa has signs that state RVs do not stop at weight stations. I am going to make sure but they are really after commercial drivers and trucks here.

I was on Hwy 80 E/B last month and two tow vehicles were towing new travel trailers. They stopped at the Weigh Stations but I'm sure that they were transporting them to a sales lot. NO one else with an RV stops.

When I first started towing years ago I stopped at one that said 'all vehicles towing must stop' so I did. They came over the speaker and said what do you need. I got out went in as ask if I was suppose to stop and they gave me a funny look and said go on and have a nice day. Haven't stopped in one since and that was 30 years ago

Maybe the question should have been - 'Has anyone ever passed by a weigh station without stopping and get pulled over because of it?'

As you can see the overwhelming response so far has been 'No you don't need to stop' There are always a few folks that will argue a point. If they want to pull in then go right ahead - the rest of us will honk and wave as you waste your time.

bigred1cav wrote:

ScottG wrote:

bigred1cav wrote:
If the sign says all vehicles over X tons and you fit the rule. Stop.

Bad advice. No, he doesn't have to stop.

If it says all vehicles unless he is walking he has to stop.

I don't care if your RV weight 25K lbs you don't have to stop

Its simple. No you do not have to stop at a weigh station.

bukhrn wrote:

bigred1cav wrote:

ScottG wrote:

bigred1cav wrote:
If the sign says all vehicles over X tons and you fit the rule. Stop.

Bad advice. No, he doesn't have to stop.

If it says all vehicles unless he is walking he has to stop.

Not in Va. or many other states, driven by those signs many times, no one has ever chased me down.

I just got back from a last minute trip to Louisville KY via Dayton OH, about 1,400 miles and 10.5 hours each way, I doubt I did anything less than 10 mph over the speed limit almost the entire way there and back except for border crossings, toll booths and where prudence dictated.

By your logic there is NO speed limit because nobody chased me down and stopped me.

In Maryland, there is the "letter" of the law and then there is the "spirit" of the law. On I-95, the signage says "all vehicles over 5T must stop" or something to that affect.

My dually has a GVWR of 12,300 lbs. According to the sign, even without towing a trailer, it seemed like I should stop.

Out of curiosity, I contacted the State Highway Administration and asked. I clearly stated that it was my personal vehicle, what my GVWR was, and what my actual weights were (from weigh slips). The person responded that it is the GVWR and yes, according to the sign and my GVWR (GVWR matters, not actual weights)- I'm supposed to stop. He said that all vehicles that match the signage are supposed to stop. The reason is so that they can determine if you're performing commercial activities.

Maybe I was looking for it, but I felt like there was a wink and a nod in his emails saying "here's what you're supposed to do, but no one is coming after you if you don't".

So there- in Maryland, yes you're supposed to stop even in just your dually if your GVWR is over 10,000 lbs. But, other than 1 occurrence (a first-hand post on another forum), I've never heard of anyone getting pulled over for it.