US DOT Numbers

[chemoman]

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!

[The_Texan]

dodge guy wrote:

spoon059 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Sounds like you have found a few LEO`s that can/will twist the law around to make it apply to you!

Really? Sounds to me that he found that law enforcement officers have discretion.

Some chose to follow the strict letter of the law, which states his vehicle is registered above 10,000 lbs and he was involved in commerce (getting paid to do work) and would issue a citation.

Some (like me) chose to follow common sense and realize that this law isn't meant to handle people doing small side jobs and barely meet the requirements.

At the end of the day, it sounds as if the OP was in violation of the law because of the weight of the truck and the fact he was driving to a paying job. It doesn't sound like anyone "twisted" the law to screw him.

The sky isn't falling, everyone isn't out to get you dodge guy. Take a breath.

Hmmm! ????? :h

According to spoon059s logic, I should have DOT numbers on my motorhome. I drive it from Idaho to Texas to my job and park it on the job site, as it is a tool of my trade and a requirement for my work. Sorry, but spoon059s logic is very flawed.

[Dave_H_M]

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. Sounds like a jerk cop expressing his Im a cop and I can do what I want

For sure. BOHICA

Late night stop in Conway SC.

Cop walks up to the van and says, "so you are from Illinois huh?"

Next loud exclamation was, "What are you doing down here."

Heck yeah they shook me down for a speeding ticket.

[dodge_guy]

spoon059 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Sounds like you have found a few LEO`s that can/will twist the law around to make it apply to you!

Really? Sounds to me that he found that law enforcement officers have discretion.

Some chose to follow the strict letter of the law, which states his vehicle is registered above 10,000 lbs and he was involved in commerce (getting paid to do work) and would issue a citation.

Some (like me) chose to follow common sense and realize that this law isn't meant to handle people doing small side jobs and barely meet the requirements.

At the end of the day, it sounds as if the OP was in violation of the law because of the weight of the truck and the fact he was driving to a paying job. It doesn't sound like anyone "twisted" the law to screw him.

The sky isn't falling, everyone isn't out to get you dodge guy. Take a breath.

Hmmm! ????? :h

[spoon059]

dodge guy wrote:
Sounds like you have found a few LEO`s that can/will twist the law around to make it apply to you!

Really? Sounds to me that he found that law enforcement officers have discretion.

Some chose to follow the strict letter of the law, which states his vehicle is registered above 10,000 lbs and he was involved in commerce (getting paid to do work) and would issue a citation.

Some (like me) chose to follow common sense and realize that this law isn't meant to handle people doing small side jobs and barely meet the requirements.

At the end of the day, it sounds as if the OP was in violation of the law because of the weight of the truck and the fact he was driving to a paying job. It doesn't sound like anyone "twisted" the law to screw him.

The sky isn't falling, everyone isn't out to get you dodge guy. Take a breath.

[Beaker]

Companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number. Also, commercial intrastate hazardous materials carriers who haul quantities requiring a safety permit must register for a USDOT Number.

Has anyone read the above from the FMCSA link posted?

I am not a lawyer nor know the law. But I can read.

OP was not doing any of the above.
Or as dodge boy posted

If you are driving to and from work even in a 1 ton and you have nothing in the truck you are moving and getting paid for then you are private. private vehicles do not need DOT#`s.

[chevor]

Be happy your not a Truck Driver. They gotta deal with that stupid shhh all the time. I got a $385 ticket for writing the wrong date on a piece of paper.

[dodge_guy]

chemoman wrote:
Well, I have talked to so many LEO's and lawyers on this matter in the past few days and EVEYONE is split on the decision. Of course the Atty's say I have a good case even though they have never heard of such a situation before.
The LEO's are split as well. I spoke to several Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officers on the phone and on line.
The Major in the IA MVI told me today that if I cross state lines to make money I am in commerce. Nothing else matters. The ladder only drew attention to my vehicle. That in combination with the GVW of my vehicle mandates that I run DOT numbers.
A lighter vehicle( 250 and below) would not qualify.
Now, he did go on to say that once I finish working in IA that I am no longer in commerce and no longer are required to run the numbers.
Most officers that I spoke with said that they would not have cited me due to it being a personal vehicle; however they didn't stop me.
Bottom line is everybody crossing state line to make a living and are in a 1 ton and greater beware.

Sounds like you have found a few LEO`s that can/will twist the law around to make it apply to you! Bottom line is, if you are transporting goods you need the DOT#. If you are driving to and from work even in a 1 ton and you have nothing in the truck you are moving and getting paid for then you are private. private vehicles do not need DOT#`s. look at all the MDT`s that some fulltimers drive? they don`t have DOT#`s.

[transamz9]

chemoman wrote:
Well, I have talked to so many LEO's and lawyers on this matter in the past few days and EVEYONE is split on the decision. Of course the Atty's say I have a good case even though they have never heard of such a situation before.
The LEO's are split as well. I spoke to several Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officers on the phone and on line.
The Major in the IA MVI told me today that if I cross state lines to make money I am in commerce. Nothing else matters. The ladder only drew attention to my vehicle. That in combination with the GVW of my vehicle mandates that I run DOT numbers.
A lighter vehicle( 250 and below) would not qualify.
Now, he did go on to say that once I finish working in IA that I am no longer in commerce and no longer are required to run the numbers.
Most officers that I spoke with said that they would not have cited me due to it being a personal vehicle; however they didn't stop me.
Bottom line is everybody crossing state line to make a living and are in a 1 ton and greater beware.

That's what I've been telling you. Officially , you are a commercial vehicle. I would just go to court and hope you get a good judge and maybe it will be dropped there as long as you get the proper stuff done on your truck. You go in there arguing you will come out with a nice fine. Good luck and hope it works out for you.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

Sport45 wrote:
Just curious, is this going on in an area that's booming because of the oilfield shale plays?

Happened in Iowa. No where near oil shale as far as I know.

[chemoman]

Well, I have talked to so many LEO's and lawyers on this matter in the past few days and EVEYONE is split on the decision. Of course the Atty's say I have a good case even though they have never heard of such a situation before.
The LEO's are split as well. I spoke to several Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officers on the phone and on line.
The Major in the IA MVE told me today that if I cross state lines to make money I am in commerce. Nothing else matters. The ladder only drew attention to my vehicle. That in combination with the GVW of my vehicle mandates that I run DOT numbers.
A lighter vehicle( 250 and below) would not qualify.
Now, he did go on to say that once I finish working in IA that I am no longer in commerce and no longer are required to run the numbers.
Most officers that I spoke with said that they would not have cited me due to it being a personal vehicle; however they didn't stop me.
Bottom line is everybody crossing state line to make a living and are in a 1 ton and greater beware.

[Sport45]

Just curious, is this going on in an area that's booming because of the oilfield shale plays?

[Sport45]

BurbMan wrote:

Beaker wrote:
Sounds like you're not transporting passengers interstate.
You didn't mention hauling cargo interstate.
You did not mention hauling hazardous materials interstate.

Without qualifying for one of the above three, the rest of the information on the website has nothing to do with you.

And no number needed.

Even if this is correct, you will be cited for something.

Bingo! The fact that he had a ladder rack and a ladder means zip! So if I put a ladder rack on my truck and take a ladder to help my buddy in Iowa fix his roof, I need a DOT#? BS on that. DOT #'s are for guys that haul cargo and/or passengers across state lines for HIRE.

Hi, I'm Joe. I own Joe's Window Washing LLC and I found an out of state gig where I can make a ton of money washing upper floor windows.

So I loaded my ladder on the ladder rack of my "personal" truck and headed north to cash in on this opportunity. My business reimburses me for mileage.

Will anyone suspect this commercial use?

I don't think he can argue he carried his ladder that far to help a buddy clean his gutters.

[transamz9]

BurbMan wrote:

Beaker wrote:
Sounds like you're not transporting passengers interstate.
You didn't mention hauling cargo interstate.
You did not mention hauling hazardous materials interstate.

Without qualifying for one of the above three, the rest of the information on the website has nothing to do with you.

And no number needed.

Even if this is correct, you will be cited for something.

Bingo! The fact that he had a ladder rack and a ladder means zip! So if I put a ladder rack on my truck and take a ladder to help my buddy in Iowa fix his roof, I need a DOT#? BS on that. DOT #'s are for guys that haul cargo and/or passengers across state lines for HIRE.

Tools for the job is cargo and you don't have to cross state lines either. Only running in state is called IntRAstate commerce.

[ricatic]

...no offense meant at all about the BF Idaho statement...or a Montana statement...or anywhere out west...the crux of the statement was about the distance and log books and other DOT nonsense...I have heard my next deployment is much further west than I am now...

Regards