hotpepperkid wrote:
Cops in all states stop out of state people because they know you are just going to pay the ticket and go on down the road.
Wow, I didn't know I did that. As a matter of fact, I could have sworn that I usually either don't cite an out of state driver or cite for the least expensive infraction if I need to cite them, simply because I don't think its fair to make them come back to Maryland in 60 to 90 days if they want to fight the ticket. Thanks for letting me know that all cops are jerks...
OP, I would suggest you contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in Iowa and see what THEY say about the issue. Iowa DOT’s
Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement’s Information Line at 800-925-6469 or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at 515-233-7400. After all, they are the ones that publish the book with the traffic laws in that state. Cops are like anyone else, sometimes we make mistakes. Perhaps he did make a mistake. Perhaps because your vehicle has a GVWR over 10,000 lbs you are considered a commercial vehicle.
Check out this link
http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/omve/truckguide.pdfAccording to this, a commercial vehicle is defined as any vehicle used in "interstate commerce" and with a GVWR over 10,000 lbs. Doesn't sound like it applies to you until you read the definition of "interstate commerce"...
Interstate commerce – transporting persons or property across a state line, including international boundaries, or wholly within one state as part of a through movement that originates or terminates in another state or country.
Is the officer under the impression (right or wrong) that you were transporting people or property pursuant to your employment from Texas into Iowa?