Anyone ever actually have their weight checked/ticketed?

burningman wrote:
Man I’m tired of people making up stories about being sued for being overweight.
Look, if you are at fault in an accident, you’re at fault already. It doesn’t matter WHY you hit someone it only matters THAT you hit them.
Stop with the stories until you can cite even one single example.

The law cares what amount of weight you’ve paid registration for, and there are legal axle and tire limits that pickup trucks really can’t even approach. Owners manual ratings are not legal limits.

^^^ haha... does that mean that the sky really isn't falling?

burningman wrote:
Man I’m tired of people making up stories about being sued for being overweight.
Look, if you are at fault in an accident, you’re at fault already. It doesn’t matter WHY you hit someone it only matters THAT you hit them.
Stop with the stories until you can cite even one single example.

The law cares what amount of weight you’ve paid registration for, and there are legal axle and tire limits that pickup trucks really can’t even approach. Owners manual ratings are not legal limits.

100% agree.

donn0128 wrote:
Only in British Columbia can you be stopped.
But being in CA you could get ticketed in case of an accident.
Years ago I had a boss who skidded off the wet road one night. When he got back to the truck to tow it out of the ditch he had a ticket on the window for an unsafe vehicle (bald tires).

I understand some folks just can't help but bash California but do you really think that in the event of an accident that the CHP would call out their truck inspector and weigh a rig. Come on!

Assuming you were living in OR years ago is a ticket for for bald tires any different? Oh yeah it is, that is a something LEOs usually look at at any traffic accident and most stops.

Man I’m tired of people making up stories about being sued for being overweight.
Look, if you are at fault in an accident, you’re at fault already. It doesn’t matter WHY you hit someone it only matters THAT you hit them.
Stop with the stories until you can cite even one single example.

The law cares what amount of weight you’ve paid registration for, and there are legal axle and tire limits that pickup trucks really can’t even approach. Owners manual ratings are not legal limits.

SidecarFlip wrote:

OutdoorAddict wrote:
I doubt you ever would have a problem with law enforcement officers unless you were so grossly overweight that it was obvious by just looking at the vehicle that it was unsafe. But if you are in an accident, AND being overweight was a factor in the causation of the accident you could be cited and you would definitely be exposed to more civil liability.

Exactly. In any personal injury suit, any good attorney will explore any and all possibilities to prove negligence and if being overweight bubbles up, you can bet an attorney will capitalize on it.

My personal mouthpiece always says 'If I throw it on a wall and it sticks, I investigate it'

I always refer to the 'running grandma Zog down because you couldn't stop in time because you were overloaded and your brakes weren't up to it'. Granny don't care, the cops don't care, you loose with the cops and granny cleans you out in court. Not a pretty scenario.

I might add that if your primary insurance carrier has any suspicion that you were overweight and it contributed to running granny down, they will deny you coverage for the accident and cancel you in a second. Personally, I cannot afford a bust like that and I don't want to run granny down either.

I think you both have a valid point! BUT... Nothing like the described accident would be open and closed that easily. There are too many factors and possibilities involved in an accident like that.
I can't comment on that end of it because I'm not a lawyer. I can comment on my personal situation. I just went out and took a look at the axle weight of my c3500 dually and combined they have a GAVW of 11600 LBS. So my rig as equipped would be 180 LBS over the limit. Not taking into account my two extra leaves in the back suspension, my oversized brakes and tires, as well as an extra set of shocks in the back. My point is nobody drives 55 we all drive 65. The extra 10 miles an hour was factored into the law before they wrote it. Theirs always going to be that liability buffer built in. Again, I agree with your point! JM2C I am not speaking for any one else, just me. No offense intended.

just to add. Has anyone that anyone knows about ever been sued for being in an accident for "being Overweight"?.. I am certain it would have been posted here if it has ever happened......

just for info I am under GVWR and tire loads with my dually and I was over the GVWR on my old SRW. and I am registered at 15,000#

It's your fault if you run into the back of someone no matter if you are overweight or not. Most of us know of people being rear ended with cars that are way underloaded.

In addition, many vehicles of all types are overloaded on trips. Most of us have noticed obviously overloaded vehicles including SUVs and sedans. Sometimes, it's simply because they carry too heavy of people or luggage.

I suppose it's a valid argument to say the wreck cause was because a vehicle was overloaded, but I don't think it will factor in fault. Even underloaded, it's still your fault if you run over someone.

I think the more reasonable argument is to not drive over the capability of your vehicle. Still, sometimes wrecks will happen.

There are multiple causes and effects while driving. Here's a question ... Does the person who never drives over 62 but is overweight have a bigger or smaller safety margin than the person who routinely drives much faster but is underweight? Obviously, there are other factors. Weight is just one.

That being said, I chose my F450 for better brakes, tires, and my combination is not overweight. :)

OutdoorAddict wrote:
I doubt you ever would have a problem with law enforcement officers unless you were so grossly overweight that it was obvious by just looking at the vehicle that it was unsafe. But if you are in an accident, AND being overweight was a factor in the causation of the accident you could be cited and you would definitely be exposed to more civil liability.

Exactly. In any personal injury suit, any good attorney will explore any and all possibilities to prove negligence and if being overweight bubbles up, you can bet an attorney will capitalize on it.

My personal mouthpiece always says 'If I throw it on a wall and it sticks, I investigate it'

I always refer to the 'running grandma Zog down because you couldn't stop in time because you were overloaded and your brakes weren't up to it'. Granny don't care, the cops don't care, you loose with the cops and granny cleans you out in court. Not a pretty scenario.

I might add that if your primary insurance carrier has any suspicion that you were overweight and it contributed to running granny down, they will deny you coverage for the accident and cancel you in a second. Personally, I cannot afford a bust like that and I don't want to run granny down either.

Was up in Quesnel BC and had the North end of town they were checking TC
Didn't hear of any tickets but some people had to lighten them up a bit.
I guess dump water etc. I know I'am right on the edge of the GVW.Leave my jacks at home now. Got to weigh the rig now that I got a newer truck.

Reality Check wrote:

notsobigjoe wrote:

Griffon12 wrote:
Thanks, some of these people talk as if the wheels are gonna break and camper will turn into an atom bomb if over....

My total rig weight is 11780 without me, wife, dog, boat in tow and stuff. Camper weighs 5240. GVW 10000LBS Over by about 2000LBS rounded up. I've never had a problem. I have made some improvements to beef the truck up over the years but as of yet no problems. I was ticketed several years backs for being over weight when it was registered for 10000LBS. The ticket was 180 dollars. Got back to NY and registered it for 15000 lbs and took care of the overweight problem.

Well there you go ^^^^ I guess there had to be one out there. Sounds like you got bit by the tax man, not the safety police. That bites.

It was the Fayetteville NC DOT on I95. It was a city cop not a state. Theirs a big rest stop there. We pulled in to get a breather and he was on us like stink on ____! He weighed all for four corners with a drive on scale. I think it was about 13500LBs. The Ironic part of the whole story is even though I was raised in NYC I was born at fort Bragg in Fayetteville NC. Dad was in the army. Half my family still lives there. I have hated that town since!