Do rv's with cargo trailers have to stop at Ag. stations?

[paulgreenwood1]

I have read everyone saying that rv's alone do not have to stop at agricultural stations. I never do, nor at weigh stations. I have just purchased a cargo trailer, however, and I can't find an answer. The Florida ag site says rv's are exempt, but doesn't say anything about rv's towing cargo trailers. They say trailers that produce or transport, or could, ag products,need to stop. In Florida, pickups are supposedly required to stop if the bed is covered. That would suggest to me that I am required to stop, even though law enforcement may do nothing if I blow by. I am plannig a trip in a few weeks from Florida, up to Ohio, over to Massachusetts, then back to Florida. I guess when in doubt, pull in. Just wondering if anyone has ever gotten in trouble for not stopping at any agricultural station in an rv towing a cargo trailer. Also, my total weight, with trailer, will be about 11,500 lbs. Most weigh stations that I pass say over 10,000 lbs must stop. Any thoughts?

[hotpepperkid]

People are confusing weigh station with AG stations two different ball games. Oh and the third ball game is the immigration inspection stations AG station and immigration stations everyone drives through most times they just wave our through and sometimes they ask where are you coming from and do you have and produce. Weigh stations are for commercial vehicles, no pickups and no RV's. Rental trucks like Budget trucks, U-Haul ect are commercial vehicles. Well that's CA anyway and guessing as is most places. In CA there is an AG station on I-15 West bound just East of Barstow, I-40 West bound between Needles and the Colorado River, I-10 West bound at the CA/AZ line, I-8 coming into CA from Yuma. Weigh stations I-15 both North and South near CA-138, I-10 West of Blythe West bound, I-10 West bound near Banning, CA-91 in Anaheim West bound. Check point C aka immigration inspection stations I-15 near Escondido and on CA 78 near the South end of the Salton Sea both North bound. Those are the ones I remember. The AG and Check point C stations are always open. The weigh stations are closed off and on

[Jarlaxle]

creeper wrote:
Bear in mind only COMMERCIAL cargo can be checked. If your trailer is not Commercial then they have no right to inspect without a search warrant. That also goes for California. California can only check commercial cargo, although they violate their own law by tricking people to allow them to inspect. Inspections for RVs and private citizens is voluntary. They also can not deny non commercial persons and vehicles into the State. It's that little thing called the Constitution. You must stop in California, but you can refuse to answer or submit to an inspection.

Florida DOES say you must stop if you have a trailer and "SUBMIT" to an inspection. which they have no authority to do. Says here you have to stop here, no authority given.

Florida states if you refuse they must obtain a search warrant, although they think probable cause suddenly does't exist. Florida is not new to implementing unconstitutional laws, such as the Citrus canker law that violated 100's of thousands of Floridians constitution rights and is now costing the state 100's of millions of dollars.

I watch numerous trailers pass through he Florida stations all the time without stopping. Bike weeks would have the station jammed up for hours if they all stopped.

Then you have to hope they do not plant meth in your trailer..........

[discovery4us]

I have had to stop at every AG station that was open regardless of what I was driving. Sure sometimes they just wave you on but I still have to go through.

They always ask if I have any fruit or nuts, I always reply " just the wife". She is a little "fruity" from time to time and she must be "nuts" she married me.

[johndeerefarmer]

In Texas and OK they are looking for stock or horse trailers. If you drive by they will run you down. I have never seen a cargo trailer stop at one or been chased down and I have been hauling cattle for over 35 years.

[Community Alumni]

I haven't run into one yet in Florida, but I'd pass it up if I did. Travel Trailers are exempt from inspection and the bed of the truck is open. So really they have nothing to inspect. Nothing to inspect = no reason to stop. If I did get chased down by a cop, I wouldn't mind having a conversation with him on the side of the road. It would be easy enough to pull up the statute. A lot of these guys are just as misinformed as the AG agents and lots are appreciative when their eyes are opened so to speak.

Here's the relevant statute for the Agricultural Department:

570.15 Access to places of business and vehicles.—
(1)(a) Any duly authorized employee of the department shall have full access at all reasonable hours to inspect:
1. All:
a. Places of business;
b. Factories;
c. Farm buildings;
d. Carriages;
e. Railroad cars;
f. Trucks;
g. Motor vehicles, except private passenger automobiles with no trailer in tow, travel trailers, camping trailers, van conversions, and motor homes as defined in s. 320.01(1)(b), or pickup trucks not carrying agricultural, horticultural, or livestock products and which have visible access to the entire cargo area, or city, county, state, or federal vehicles;
h. Truck and motor vehicle trailers; and
i. Vessels

[Community Alumni]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

This ones really, really funny, but long. Then go on to part 2 and then 3.......

That's hilarious! Both the statements from the agent and the outcome. The couple knew they had the upper hand and trolled them a little bit lol.

[wanderingbob]

My son lives on one side of the Suwanee River and I on the other , we can cross on rural roads and do not stop . We usually stop on I-10 because that is were the enforcement officers hang out .

[wanderingbob]

From my expierence passing FLORIDA AG stations several times a week , if your pickup has a topper cover and has no windows you are required to pull thru or you may be ran down and issued a $180 ticket . All crossings of the Suwanee River will have a Ag Station . Myself and several of my neighbors have been stopped . I always speak to the man in the cage and ask if i really must pull thru and the answer that I get is a ' shrug '.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Thank you Don for standing up for all of our constitutional rights! Most don't seem to know how important they are. Thank you. 🙂

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

This ones really, really funny, but long. Then go on to part 2 and then 3.......

They go batshit crazy when you tell them NO. I was stopped a DUI check point cracked my window the cop (not even from the force I was stopped in) told me to roll down my window. I looked at him and said I have not been drinking, I'm on my way home from work and I'm not putting down my window. He looked at me shook his head and said leave lol.

Now I'm a supporter of law enforcement and police officers. I have many friends that are police officers, I just do not think any department has the right to throw up a bunch of cones and impede the flow of traffic just to preform a police state check point. It's unconstitutional and ageist the law. And it is only going to get worse if we don't fight back!

Don

[The_Texan]

Hey creeper, I do hope you have a shingle. It is against the law to offer legal advice without a license.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

creeper wrote:
Bear in mind only COMMERCIAL cargo can be checked. If your trailer is not Commercial then they have no right to inspect without a search warrant. That also goes for California. California can only check commercial cargo, although they violate their own law by tricking people to allow them to inspect. Inspections for RVs and private citizens is voluntary. They also can not deny non commercial persons and vehicles into the State. It's that little thing called the Constitution. You must stop in California, but you can refuse to answer or submit to an inspection.

This ones really, really funny, but long. Then go on to part 2 and then 3.......

[creeper]

Bear in mind only COMMERCIAL cargo can be checked. If your trailer is not Commercial then they have no right to inspect without a search warrant. That also goes for California. California can only check commercial cargo, although they violate their own law by tricking people to allow them to inspect. Inspections for RVs and private citizens is voluntary. They also can not deny non commercial persons and vehicles into the State. It's that little thing called the Constitution. You must stop in California, but you can refuse to answer or submit to an inspection.

Florida DOES say you must stop if you have a trailer and "SUBMIT" to an inspection. which they have no authority to do. Says here you have to stop here, no authority given.

Florida states if you refuse they must obtain a search warrant, although they think probable cause suddenly does't exist. Florida is not new to implementing unconstitutional laws, such as the Citrus canker law that violated 100's of thousands of Floridians constitution rights and is now costing the state 100's of millions of dollars.

I watch numerous trailers pass through he Florida stations all the time without stopping. Bike weeks would have the station jammed up for hours if they all stopped.

[W4RLR]

The operative words are "it depends". Frequenty Florida will post portable message signs at the entrances to AG inspection points directing RVs, rental trailers, and rental trucks to the station for possible inspection. I was traveling U.S, 90 and was directed to the Suwanee River agriculture inspection station a few years back. I did not have a cover over the bed. I did have a diesel engine and my fuel tanked was dipped for possible untaxed fuel. Just watch the signs near the agriculture inspections stations and act accordingly. But as a general rule you will not be asked to stop for inspection.