Dot Pull Over? Weight Station

[Guest]

I reg my Step Van as a personal vehicle and I asked the DMV if I needed to stop at Weight Stations and they were clueless? I then wondered if i need a fire extinguisher and triangles etc to be legal? Am I considered a truck or a van?   Florida's website is very vague on this subject?

 

[Wild_E]

you cruze on by!<br><br>Canada and USA same thing really in this matter, you will see box trucks and step vans go into the scale as they are businesses, though some smaller trucks that are businesses never go in. If you have a DOT sticker, gotta go in, now My box truck I just drove by the scale, it is my camper!<br><br>If they do follow you and pull you over, show them the papers that say it is a camper, not business or commercial vehicle. I watched a conversion Tractor with sleeper and modified camper go by the scales when it was flashing, the DOT inside watched it, saw it was a camper and did nothing more than I did, watch it and wonder what it looked like inside.&nbsp;

 

[Wild_E]

you need triangles and fire extinguisher to help you out and save your life, get them, keep them in the cab it is your insurance

 

[James AKA Lynx]

I do not think it matters if you are registered commercial of not. IF it says you VAN need to&nbsp; pull in, DO SO. They will call you on the CB and get you to turn around OR a cop will. <br><br>The Agricultural station on I-10 just past 75, you must stop. I had to and mine is a panel van.<br><br>In Texas I always get looked at when I pass a weight station. Glad I have&nbsp; a bed in the back with windows.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[leftcoastadv]

I'd agree with both these guys.... scale house, just drive on by. You are not commercial and therefore do not apply. If it's agricultural like coming into CA on I10, you get to stop as everyone else does. Worst case scenario you might fool one of the DOT cops when you drive past the scale house and they'll come hauling up to pull you over. Once they figure out you are an RV it will be "Have a good day sir" and you'll be off.&nbsp;<br>And I keep 3 fire extinguishers and a set of triangles on my bus. Safety <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Wild_E]

the DOT scales or the Port of Entry stations are for Commercial vehicles, if they are targeting other types of vehicles they will have a roadblock and direct the types of vehicles that they want to go into the scales.&nbsp;<br><br>When I was driving big trucks in the US, I found them to be much friendlier and more lenient to Drivers than the Canadian Counterparts.. plus the have free coffee and indoor plumbing down there, up here it is Johny on the spot, cold plastic, no coffee and no smiles !&nbsp;

 

[Les H]

It will blow your stealth, but I've seen lots of step vans and trucks that have "Private Rv" or "Not for hire" stenciled on the fender or lower portion of the door on the drivers side where the DOT # would normally go.

 

[Spirituallifetime]

This is because commercial vehicles by law are treated much different than private vehicles. Law enforcement has to have a specific reason to&nbsp;stop a private vehicle (speeding, improper lane change and such)&nbsp;however a commercial vehicle can be stopped just to take a look at drivers license or permits or to inspect the vehicle and load and&nbsp;see if they can find anything they can give you a ticket for. If your vehicle looks commercial and is larger than a cargo van you have a higher probability of getting stopped, if you do get stopped you want to declare that the vehicle is a private RV not for hire&nbsp;and all cargo&nbsp;is owned by you.

 

[TxGypsy]

Funny story.&nbsp; When I was a truck driver my private car was a tiny little 5 speed rollerskate of a car.&nbsp; On my way home from our OC it just so happened that I had to pass by a weigh station on the interstate.&nbsp; I'd been out for 6 weeks, and didn't even think about being in my personal vehicle and I pulled right on in.&nbsp; You want to talk about getting a razzing!<br><br>You'll annoy the heck out of the DOT officers if you pull in and you just might get pulled over and get to do a sobriety test (stupid human tricks).