I was pulled over in IA a few days ago by the Highway Patrol Motor Vehicle Division and cited for a number of violations starting with no US DOT numbers posted on my vehicle.I drive a F-350 Dually with a ladder rack and ladder. I was not towing at the time, but he also told me that when I tow my RV that I need to keep a log book.I have a class C license and the pickup is registered to me personally. No company or moving of commerce involved.I am contesting the ticket in court, but have very little information to plead my case. I called the DOT and they said that there is no reason for me to need the DOT numbers and referred me to their website FMCSA.dot.gov, but there is little information there. The lady I spoke with said that they do not deal with private vehicles, so there is not going to be much information on there website.Does anyone here have any other information that I can research to present to his honor?Oh, let me add that I live in TX, and he stated that out of state tags was one of the reasons that he pulled me over. He said that being from out of state that it appeared that I may be using my vehicle for commercial use. Sounds stupid because it is!

Here is a starting point.Do I need a DOT number?

Jay Pat wrote:Here is a starting point.Do I need a DOT number?Thanks Pat, that is the website that the USDOT lady directed me to. I printed that page and highlighted the first paragraph; however, I feel that I need more information when I am face to face with a career LEO who recites the law daily.I am hoping to find more info, but the DOT said that they just don't deal with personal vehicles and have nothing further for me.

...and the revenu-ing machine rolls on...not for safety or for the protection of roads from overloaded trucks...just for the money...I have to wonder where in Iowa you were robbed...if on Hwy 30 east of Marshalltown, I am not surprised...a Napoleon syndrome DOT guy harasses vehicles all day long...I am working on a large project right on HWY 30 and I see him almost daily play out his power trip...The public needs safe travel and safe trucks...but the harassment of the industry by these revenuers is driving a shortage of qualified truckers. An under appreciated profession is being decimated by regulation and enforcement by the sheer greed of the State...Good Luck in your fight with the bureaucracy...Regards

chemoman wrote:Jay Pat wrote:Here is a starting point.Do I need a DOT number?Thanks Pat, that is the website that the USDOT lady directed me to. I printed that page and highlighted the first paragraph; however, I feel that I need more information when I am face to face with a career LEO who recites the law daily.I am hoping to find more info, but the DOT said that they just don't deal with personal vehicles and have nothing further for me.I think you may find more references in that dot site that you can use.If you have any images that might show you using your rack for kayaks, canoes, etc, (personal stuff) that would be to your advantage.You can ask ther officer (if he/she shows up), exactly what commercial proof did they have that you were using the truck for commercial purpose that required dot numbers.I think the more you explore, you will find more proof or lack of.Pat

If you have TX plates, take the copy of the receipt that shows a private vehicle, a copy of insurance that shows private vehicle, a copy of your inspection that shows private vehicle. Take this info with you when you go to court.Jim

US DOT Numbers | Good Sam Community

75 Replies

Jim-Linda
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2014
If you have TX plates, take the copy of the receipt that shows a private vehicle, a copy of insurance that shows private vehicle, a copy of your inspection that shows private vehicle. Take this info with you when you go to court.

Jim
Jay_Pat
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
chemoman wrote:
Jay Pat wrote:
Here is a starting point.

Do I need a DOT number?

Thanks Pat, that is the website that the USDOT lady directed me to. I printed that page and highlighted the first paragraph; however, I feel that I need more information when I am face to face with a career LEO who recites the law daily.
I am hoping to find more info, but the DOT said that they just don't deal with personal vehicles and have nothing further for me.

I think you may find more references in that dot site that you can use.
If you have any images that might show you using your rack for kayaks, canoes, etc, (personal stuff) that would be to your advantage.
You can ask ther officer (if he/she shows up), exactly what commercial proof did they have that you were using the truck for commercial purpose that required dot numbers.
I think the more you explore, you will find more proof or lack of.
Pat
ricatic
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
...and the revenu-ing machine rolls on...not for safety or for the protection of roads from overloaded trucks...just for the money...

I have to wonder where in Iowa you were robbed...if on Hwy 30 east of Marshalltown, I am not surprised...a Napoleon syndrome DOT guy harasses vehicles all day long...I am working on a large project right on HWY 30 and I see him almost daily play out his power trip...

The public needs safe travel and safe trucks...but the harassment of the industry by these revenuers is driving a shortage of qualified truckers. An under appreciated profession is being decimated by regulation and enforcement by the sheer greed of the State...

Good Luck in your fight with the bureaucracy...

Regards
chemoman
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
Jay Pat wrote:
Here is a starting point.

Do I need a DOT number?

Thanks Pat, that is the website that the USDOT lady directed me to. I printed that page and highlighted the first paragraph; however, I feel that I need more information when I am face to face with a career LEO who recites the law daily.
I am hoping to find more info, but the DOT said that they just don't deal with personal vehicles and have nothing further for me.
Jay_Pat
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
Here is a starting point.

Do I need a DOT number?

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US DOT Numbers

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