Weight stations in New Mexico and RVs

[PSW]

We normally make a couple of trips to New Mexico each summer. Last summer as I past a port of entry weigh station, I noticed (too late) that the sign listing who need to stop also included Towed Recreational Vehicles, which I assume meant trailers and motorhomes pulling a towed vehicle.

I have searched the New Mexico governmental sites and can find no information about this and have no familiarity with other states having this requirement.

Does anyone have any knowledge about this? Is it really a requirement for all of us or does it mean new RVs being transited to dealers?

[PSW]

Ok, thanks to all. Old-Biscuit that is good link you provided and I just copied and printed it out to carry in my glove box in case it ever became a problem.

As we Okies would say "Preciate Chall".

Paul

[Old-Biscuit]

PSW wrote:
I was thinking in my original post of a situation last fall. The inspection/weigh station was hundreds of miles from the international border and was not an ICE operation but rather a port of entry weigh station. The sign was not temporary but permanent and it was a large, permanent weigh station. Thus, my confusion. So, not an ag station, not an ICE inspection, a full regularly manned station operated by the State of New Mexico.

Maybe someone that lives in NM will see this and have some comments.

Your are not 'commercial'-----therefore not required to stop

RV Haulers...Commercial Business delivering RVs as with ANY/ALL Commercial Vehicles MUST stop

You are NOT 'Commercial'........drive on.

NW Port of Entry

[PenMan]

enblethen wrote:
It was most likely the Border Patrol.
You are required to stop for their check points.
No they will probably not chase you down.
These are different then state weigh stations. You do not have to stop at them, unless there is a sign saying RVs must stop. These are normally temporary signs. Only seen a couple over the years.

This is the correct answer. You have to stop. Most require every vehicle to stop. They are checking for undocumented aliens. If in a car they usually just wave you thru but they will randomly check RV's, etc. They can chase you down if you do not stop. They do carry guns.

[PSW]

I was thinking in my original post of a situation last fall. The inspection/weigh station was hundreds of miles from the international border and was not an ICE operation but rather a port of entry weigh station. The sign was not temporary but permanent and it was a large, permanent weigh station. Thus, my confusion. So, not an ag station, not an ICE inspection, a full regularly manned station operated by the State of New Mexico.

Maybe someone that lives in NM will see this and have some comments.

[Old-Biscuit]

Unless the hwy goes into the weigh station where ALL traffic must flow thru it (Border Inspections, Agricultural Inspections Etc.) then I do NOT enter.

7 yrs of FT travel and not once have I been chased down for bypassing those that are along side of roadway where traffic has to 'exit' to go into station.

I did go into one of those our first year and ALL of the Officers inside looked out like a tree full of owls and one yelled....Go on Git!

[pigman1]

Unless your RV is sporting commercial plates, from any state, or commercial signs, logos, or side advertising, you do not need to stop at weigh stations in any state. Ag inspection stations in California are a stop, but these usually are all the way across the highway, so there's no bypassing them. We've run more than 200,000 miles in our RV's and have never stopped nor been questioned at weigh stations. In the west, you may see Border Patrol checkpoints at various points, and these require a stop too. Usually a question on how many people in the rig and your citizenship and you're on the way, but that's enough for their dog to give you a good sniff-over.

[enblethen]

It was most likely the Border Patrol.
You are required to stop for their check points.
No they will probably not chase you down.
These are different then state weigh stations. You do not have to stop at them, unless there is a sign saying RVs must stop. These are normally temporary signs. Only seen a couple over the years.

[RinconVTR]

There is not enough information State by State for private towing, especially stopping for RV check points.

Most States do not have the money or manpower to inspect every RV going by, and barely can keep up with commercial traffic in my State. Any given check point is typically open only a handful of times per MONTH, if that. And when they are open, the line is backed up onto the Interstate causing a major issue. I also see more driving by, than I do stopping.

I would not stop.

[GordonThree]

I wouldn't stop unless ordered to by ICE or somebody else with guns. I drove by several of these checkpoints in Arizona and New Mexico while towing my RV, no soldiers chased me down.