Interstate Troopers Trailering problems

[Old Hippie]

I tried to do this before -- but it never got anywhere.

States are making up laws days by days to screw those of us who tow vehicles. This thread is to tell of your stories regarding traps.

[Old Hippie]

Florida has two traps (that I know of) to be aware of.

The first is that if you have a combination of truck or motorhome and trailer over 55' -- you have to buy an oversize permit. Up and down all of the freeways is Florida DOT. It is suppose to be a huge fine and some have had to drop their trailers and make arrangements to tow out of state. You can go to a web site for the state and buy your permit by the year or for I think 3 days.

The other deal is the port authority on al of the highways before you leave the state. All trailers have to stop (commercial or not) or it is a $300 fine. They're checking for fruit, plants, livestook, and illegal aliens. This isn't the scales -- which are usually up the road another mile.

I (in a private motor coach and unmarked trailer) do not stop at the scales in Florida -- and haven't been chased down yet.

[Old Hippie]

PA -- has improv check stations just off the turnpike at many places that pull off pick ups and trailers. (I'll assume motor coaches and trailers too).

The rule here is that if you have a combination weight over (I think 22,000) -- you have to have a commercial license -- private or commercial.

Doug Duell in an unmarked pickup and 2 car trailer and 00 Joe in an unmarked pick up and single car trailer were both pulled over on the way to NMCA's Maple Grove and while both stuck to their stories of being private and going to a car show (as opposed to a race where there is a monetary pay out) -- Doug a ticket for not having a commercial licence.

When I tell people of these stories -- they claim it can't be so and offer all kinds of advice about PRIVATE - NON-COMMERCIAL being on the coach and trailer, and not having race team lettering anywhere, and sticking to your story about non-monetary show of vintage race cars,...... Fact is that these states make up their own rules and wive's tales won't get you out of a ticket.

[Old Hippie]

Kentucky -- I remember Dago Red telling me that he was chased down in Kentucky for bypassing the scales with a pickup truck towing a single car trailer -- because he had "Dago Red Racing" on his trailer -- making him commercial.

[Old Hippie]

Share your stories -- so we can avoid these traps.

[TrannyMan]

Man...never have had a problem, but I haven't towed farther than Lousiness in three years, so I have no stories to tell. Chit, one of my trailers has a three year old expired tag.

[69RoadRunner]

I've heard that the PA and Ohio turnpikes have scales as you enter the toll booths. If you have an axle over 20,000 pounds, they send you away.

My motorhome's rear axle is usually a little over 20,000 pounds with the ususal amount of crap in storage plus some fresh water.

I'm sure I was over 55' when I pulled my 08 Taurus X 4 wheels down behind my 40' motorhome down to Disneyworld. I drove past the inspection stations. That just means I wasn't caught, I suppose.

[Dan Bell]

In FL if the Agg Check is open all vehicles are supposed to stop.....RR never discount dumb luck.

In MO if you have a DOT number on any truck,pickups included,when the scales are open you must stop

In IA there's times when the scales will have the "All Vehicles With Trailers Must Stop" sign out,that means EVERYONE.

[Cranky]

And Mexican truckers are suing the U.S. and NAFTA for not letting their junk trucks travel in our coutry! I bet if they win they won't even have to follow our laws.

[69RoadRunner]

Dan, other than bad luck, that's the only luck I have.

I'm taking the Road Runner to Carlisle again behind the motorhome on an open trailer. I have no way of getting a commercial license, I don't drive commercially and I don't want a commercial license.

It's not a race, it's a show.