Has anyone been stopped by D.O.T.

ol Bombero-JC wrote:
One more CA "thing' that some may not know, and only pertains to
CA registered vehicles and CA licensed drivers.

The Chippies *will* check DLs for the proper endorsement/s for drivers towing heavy trailers (toys inside) which require same.
(Three axles is a dead giveaway! - then just look at the trlr rating plate)
Not in possession of a Class A non-commercial DL, will rate a 'park it' - until a properly licensed driver is located.

~

True. And it doesn't take much for a TT to be in violation (>10K Lbs GVWR rating of the trailer whether loaded that heavy or not). For a 5th wheel, you have to be over 15k - but CA still requires a class C towing endorsement if GVWR of the trailer is between 10k - 15k.

The only time I have seen non truck drivers stopped for inspections, was after a local tree trimming company had a chipper come off the back of a dump truck, resulting in a fatality.

The local PD started to pull over any and all trailers being towed, to insure that the loads were properly secured. Put a lot of fear in some home owners returning from the home improvement store with their 4x8 trailer behind the mini-van. A few RVers/boaters were caught up in the action.

Mostly they just gave constructive advise on chains, lights, securing load, etc... I am sure a few were critized for being obviously overloaded, but I did not hear a single report of "scales" being deployed.

One more CA "thing' that some may not know, and only pertains to
CA registered vehicles and CA licensed drivers.

The "No Pickups" at Weigh Stations - was modified a few years ago!
Although not religiously enforced, the upper limits of GVWR pickups are now required to stop at scales.
Ditto *any* pickup with a utility or stake bed.

For CA - "The DOT" - is the CHP.
For areas close to off roading areas (like Glamis, Pismo Dunes, etc.)

The Chippies *will* check DLs for the proper endorsement/s for drivers towing heavy trailers (toys inside) which require same.
(Three axles is a dead giveaway! - then just look at the trlr rating plate)
Not in possession of a Class A non-commercial DL, will rate a 'park it' - until a properly licensed driver is located.

~

dawzie wrote:
A 3/4 ton or larger pickup can ONLY be registered commercial in New York.

As I'm sure everyone knows, it's a 'state-by-state' thing!

So - to add to the above (in re: New York).

In CA *every* vehicle with a "bed" has been required to be registered as "Commercial" for years and years.
You pay GVWR (commercial) fee over and above the basic license fee.
For my 2005 1T, that is/was $225 - which never decreases.

That means the smallest import to a Chevy Avalanche, etc.
Nothing to do with weight (GVWR) capacity.
(My 'new' '65 El Camino was required to have commercial plates in '65)
Doesn't matter if you only carry *your* golf clubs or the wife's groceries in the bed.

Note: Thee are/were certain 'exceptions' - such as a *permanently*
attached camper shell ("topper") on a pickup.
An inspection was required for that perk.

In CA the Commercial requirement (fee) will be waived for the handicapped, limited to one vehicle per registered owner.

Another Ex:
The full size Ford Explorers and Chevy Blazers had a rear section over the rear seat and small cargo area - which was removable.
With that (factory) supplied/required item, those "SUVs" could be licensed as passenger vehicles when sold - (no commercial reg req'd)

For lots of serious 4x4 off-roaders, it was removed - often permanently. (Heavy! - PITA to take on and off)
Most LEOs had better things to do, than cite for the improper registration, for what would be a "fixit".
Gardening (or?) equipment in the 'bed' - might be a red flag, however.

~

IdaD wrote:
Unless RV.net starts handing out badges to the weight police on this board I think you'll be fine.

That was a good one.

shadows4 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
^^^^^And they just started letting you get 2-year plates for the heavier weights too. One less trip per year to the DMV office. :)

And fj12Ryder, it is even easier to just do it online and not have to even go in to the License bureau. If I hadn't needed to exchange the plate I wouldn't have. We were there for almost 2 hrs!!!

The DMV office here in Platte City isn't bad at all, usually a max of ten minute wait. Of course it's longer the first few days and last few days of the month. I have walked in, walked right up to the desk, and back out in about 3 minutes. But it doesn't happen often. :)

Up until a couple years before I moved from St. Joseph, the DMV there had a dedicated line just for renewals. You had to have all your stuff in hand, and it moved pretty fast. Apparently they heard about it in Jeff City and it was gotten rid of after about 3 years and went back to the everybody-wait-in-the-same-long-slow-line way of "doing business(?)".

I won't do my renewing online because I refuse to give the state any more of my money just so I can use a credit card.

shadows4 wrote:

dedmiston wrote:


Off topic a bit...

I hadn't thought of this in years, but when I was a kid we used to spend a couple weeks in the Ozarks every summer at some relatives near Eldorado Springs (before the lake was dammed up). I was surprised to see that every pickup had a big placard on the driver's door with full identification info (name, business name, address, phone, etc.). I asked my dad's uncle why he and all his friends put their info on their doors and he told me it was a state legal requirement that every pickup truck had to have this on the driver's door. Do you still do this?

Hello Dave,

No they do not still do this. I am not sure when they stopped this but I do remember my Dad had a 73 or 74 Dodge pickup that he had a magnetic sign on with that info on it. Seems like in the late 70's or early 80's they stopped requiring it.

Thanks for the side trip down memory lane. You have a beautiful state.

fj12ryder wrote:
^^^^^And they just started letting you get 2-year plates for the heavier weights too. One less trip per year to the DMV office. :)

And fj12Ryder, it is even easier to just do it online and not have to even go in to the License bureau. If I hadn't needed to exchange the plate I wouldn't have. We were there for almost 2 hrs!!!

dedmiston wrote:


Off topic a bit...

I hadn't thought of this in years, but when I was a kid we used to spend a couple weeks in the Ozarks every summer at some relatives near Eldorado Springs (before the lake was dammed up). I was surprised to see that every pickup had a big placard on the driver's door with full identification info (name, business name, address, phone, etc.). I asked my dad's uncle why he and all his friends put their info on their doors and he told me it was a state legal requirement that every pickup truck had to have this on the driver's door. Do you still do this?

Hello Dave,

No they do not still do this. I am not sure when they stopped this but I do remember my Dad had a 73 or 74 Dodge pickup that he had a magnetic sign on with that info on it. Seems like in the late 70's or early 80's they stopped requiring it.

shadows4 wrote:
A couple of days after reading and responding to this thread I got to thinking. I know, dangerous territory. LOL

Any way, I went and looked up my weights from a couple of years ago. I was about 17,800 on 18,000 lb plates. Why I didn't think about this then, I don't know. I do remember when I weighed it was for a weekend trip. I know I would be heavier on longer trips.

As we have a 2 week trip planned this summer, I went and upped my plates to 24,000 lb. plates yesterday. This way I know I am covered should I ever be checked. Just had to turn in my old plates and pay the difference for the new ones. I feel better, just a little lighter in the wallet. LOL

Off topic a bit...

I hadn't thought of this in years, but when I was a kid we used to spend a couple weeks in the Ozarks every summer at some relatives near Eldorado Springs (before the lake was dammed up). I was surprised to see that every pickup had a big placard on the driver's door with full identification info (name, business name, address, phone, etc.). I asked my dad's uncle why he and all his friends put their info on their doors and he told me it was a state legal requirement that every pickup truck had to have this on the driver's door. Do you still do this?