I got pulled over by a state boy on the way back from the dealer with my 61" ztr and 44" walk behind on my trailer. I was pulled over because i didnt have any DOT identificatioin on my truck. Supposedly any truck and trailer over 10,000# requires a DOT registration. They go by what the truck and trailer is rated for. My truck is rated at 6000# and the trailer at 6840#. All trucks must also be inspected once a year by a certified DOT inspector, and all operators must have a DOT medical card. They have to have a physical done to make sure they are capible of driving it.

All said and done, i recieved two citations and 5 warning. One for no DOT registration- $215, and no seat belt- $25. Got warned for no medical card, no annual inspection on truck or trailer, and no fire extinguisher.

This is just a warning to all of you out there because this is federal regulations, not state by state.

I seem to think we went all through this over the winter...it is state by state regulated.

 

I got pulled over by a state boy on the way back from the dealer with my 61" ztr and 44" walk behind on my trailer. I was pulled over because i didnt have any DOT identificatioin on my truck. Supposedly any truck and trailer over 10,000# requires a DOT registration. They go by what the truck and trailer is rated for. My truck is rated at 6000# and the trailer at 6840#. All trucks must also be inspected once a year by a certified DOT inspector, and all operators must have a DOT medical card. They have to have a physical done to make sure they are capible of driving it.

All said and done, i recieved two citations and 5 warning. One for no DOT registration- $215, and no seat belt- $25. Got warned for no medical card, no annual inspection on truck or trailer, and no fire extinguisher.

This is just a warning to all of you out there because this is federal regulations, not state by state.

This warning has been posted repeatedly and the instructions for getting the number and requirements has been debated so many times I cannot begin to count them. do a seach, more info about this topic than you can absorb in a day.

 

ok so am i over the weight?

3/4 chevy ext cab
kubota zd18
exmark 48" walk behind

8X16 enclosed

what do i weigh?

am i over 10,000

 

ok so am i over the weight?

3/4 chevy ext cab
kubota zd18
exmark 48" walk behind

8X16 enclosed

what do i weigh?

am i over 10,000

how much does the trailer weigh????

 

how much does the trailer weigh????

not sure what anything weighs really?????

i went to the web site i can't find anything.
i went to chevy too i can't find weight either.

 

look at the sticker on the inside of your door frame and see what it says, and look at your trailer title for weight. Oh yeah your over weight.

 

This is just a warning to all of you out there because this is federal regulations, not state by state.

NO, NO, DAMNIT NO!!! That is a VERY Incorrect statement! and it scares these guys to death that like you, don't know the correct law. I POSTED THE FEDERAL LAW on here a while back.

IT IS in fact a State to State Law that some states are starting to implement like your state of Indiana has done to generate extra revenue. I'm sure before it is all said an done all states will do it BUT they have not yet, only select states, again like yours and NY as examples. The reason the Federal Law is referenced by your DOT/DMV is two-fold.

1) The states that have enacted it just basically "copied" the Federal Law

2) The Federal Law itself DOES apply in ANY STATE BUT ONLY if you are conducting Interstate commercial travel (crossing state lines as a commercial carrier or business). It would be like if I sent a rig from NC into SC that exceeded 10,000lbs then YES I would have to comply with the Federal Law, but only then, NOT for any intrastate (travel within my state).

Also as a side note, and as someone who was a police officer for 20 years local and state officers CANNOT enforce Federal Laws UNLESS they have been duly sworn as a Federal Officer through some Federal Lawn Enforcement agency or program also. And even then ALL Federal Charges MUST be filed and go through the Federal Court system as they cannot be tried in ANY STATE COURT. It is like when I was on a federal drug task force. I had to be sworn in as a "Special Deputy US Marshall" to have federal arrest powers.

 

ok so am i over the weight?

3/4 chevy ext cab
kubota zd18
exmark 48" walk behind

8X16 enclosed

what do i weigh?

am i over 10,000

I had this all typed once and had a freeze frame.
The way this works is like this;
1st, check your owners manual and see what the gross combined weight rating for your truck is, then look at your trailer on the tongue should be the gross weight rating, add these 2 numbers together to get your total gross weight rating. the key word here is not the total wieght it is the total weight RATING, if the total of the ratings add up to 10,001 lbs or more you need the reg. number.
The equipment You haul has nothing to do with this law. load weight is not the factor, rating IS. ( I was mislead on this part of it before)
Yes, you need it.

 

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=115885

yup i think i'm done for.

actually the dot is in my town a lot. last year i was able to avoid him by just driving around him.

question:
can he pull me over even if i don't have any signs on my vehicle???????

for all he(dot) knows i could be helping a friend move the trailer to a different location.

i would think it could be harrasment if he could just pull over anyone he wanted

 

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=115885

yup i think i'm done for.

actually the dot is in my town a lot. last year i was able to avoid him by just driving around him.

question:
can he pull me over even if i don't have any signs on my vehicle???????

for all he(dot) knows i could be helping a friend move the trailer to a different location.

i would think it could be harrasment if he could just pull over anyone he wanted

An element of the law is that the vehicle must be licensed/titled or used in a commercial business....and that is an element that the charging officer must be able to prove. I'm sure also though your state uses either "commercial" or "weighted" tags on trucks and that in itself could help their case, esp if you are over the vehicles licensed weight too.

 

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=115885

yup i think i'm done for.

actually the dot is in my town a lot. last year i was able to avoid him by just driving around him.

question:
can he pull me over even if i don't have any signs on my vehicle???????

for all he(dot) knows i could be helping a friend move the trailer to a different location.

i would think it could be harrasment if he could just pull over anyone he wanted

how is your truck licensed, In michigan if your truck is not lettered it can be licensed as a personal truck, if it is lettered it needs commecial plates, and a DOT number if it exceeds the 10,001 lb law. touchy area, I would think if they can prove you do business with it, you would be required to change all that over to the proper stuff. If everthing you have is personal registation and is not lettered, you probably can slide around it for a while. depends on the cop your dealing with and how much of a prick he wants to be.
Oh, one other thing that could hang you would be, What insurance do you have personal or commercial? if its commercial your cooked.

 

NO, NO, DAMNIT NO!!! That is a VERY Incorrect statement! and it scares these guys to death that like you, don't know the correct law. I POSTED THE FEDERAL LAW on here a while back.

IT IS in fact a State to State Law that some states are starting to implement like your state of Indiana has done to generate extra revenue. I'm sure before it is all said an done all states will do it BUT they have not yet, only select states, again like yours and NY as examples. The reason the Federal Law is referenced by your DOT/DMV is two-fold.

1) The states that have enacted it just basically "copied" the Federal Law

2) The Federal Law itself DOES apply in ANY STATE BUT ONLY if you are conducting Interstate commercial travel (crossing state lines as a commercial carrier or business). It would be like if I sent a rig from NC into SC that exceeded 10,000lbs then YES I would have to comply with the Federal Law, but only then, NOT for any intrastate (travel within my state).

Also as a side note, and as someone who was a police officer for 20 years local and state officers CANNOT enforce Federal Laws UNLESS they have been duly sworn as a Federal Officer through some Federal Lawn Enforcement agency or program also. And even then ALL Federal Charges MUST be filed and go through the Federal Court system as they cannot be tried in ANY STATE COURT. It is like when I was on a federal drug task force. I had to be sworn in as a "Special Deputy US Marshall" to have federal arrest powers.

interesting wheres the bestt region in US for good marijuana and whats the biggest bust you ever made .. just curious lol

 

well it's under my personal name

i do have a small "general business ins" but the truck is insured under my name

 

Are you sure that was really a cop? If a pickup truck pulling a couple of mowers requires DOT numbers, just about everybody in this forum needs them
It's a big hassle now, because since 9/11 you have to complete a safety audit with gobs of paperwork and about a 1/2 a day's time. Also every driver has to keep a log even when he's not driving for a week. And all tickets and accidents have to be logged and reported. Did I mention the drug test? I just went through all of it for our 26,000 GVW dump.
A few years ago we worked on a project in Missouri on and off for two years. We towed a 7700 GVW box trailer behind a 9900 GVW F350 out I70 through Indiana a dozen times. On one occasion we got stopped by the Indiana state troopers for the crime of running 71 instead of 55 on that ridiculous and unsafe double speed limit of 65 for cars and 55 for trucks and trailers. I got my first speeding ticket in 30 years, but no mention of DOT numbers or the like. And the truck was registered to the company. If I were you I'd fight this one. Good luck

 

well it's under my personal name

i do have a small "general business ins" but the truck is insured under my name

personal vehicle, not commercial, law don't apply. at least under Michigan laws. I 'm sure on this because i just went through it all transferring a truck into commercial plates, just to change to commercial plate required a new title, even though I didn't transfer ownership ( would've had to pay the sales tax a second time around, I was'nt about to pay 6% on 30 k a second time.)
Hows the trailer registered?

 

how is your truck licensed, In michigan if your truck is not lettered it can be licensed as a personal truck, if it is lettered it needs commecial plates, and a DOT number if it exceeds the 10,001 lb law. touchy area, I would think if they can prove you do business with it, you would be required to change all that over to the proper stuff. If everthing you have is personal registation and is not lettered, you probably can slide around it for a while. depends on the cop your dealing with and how much of a prick he wants to be.
Oh, one other thing that could hang you would be, What insurance do you have personal or commercial? if its commercial your cooked.

one of out trucks was stopped by State weighmaster in mich, he claimed they are enfocing an old law for the C-24 plate for 24,000 lb vehicles, our 1 ton Heavy Duty silverado Dually was stopped and we were warned, He claimed the state wanted money and he would rather be doing important things like keeping unsafe loadfs and semis off the road but he had a quota. Anyway he said any comm truck weighing over 5,000 GVW needed a c-24 plate our 1/2 tons diddnt, and the kicker is the c-24 plate is $125 per quarter $500 per year. any 1/2 ton extended cab 4 wheel drive is over the 5,000 lb limit so therefor in mich needs a c-24 plate. We were told by him our reg trucks only needed reg tags and plate not comercial, although they are all insured under commercial policy.

 

First off, debate or not this guy got ticketed and all the argument is dandy until you get ticketed. Then, as suddenly as it started, it's over. I do believe there is something concerning the 10k limit, and I knew there was a reason why I have only a 6x12 single-axle trailer. Whether it is state or federally regulated, that I do not know but every individual can figure this out if J.Law pulls you over and tickets you, then you're regulated lol.

not sure what anything weighs really?????

i went to the web site i can't find anything.
i went to chevy too i can't find weight either.

I am not 100 percent sure on that but it's not your total weight, it's the GVWR (the rating, not the actual weight). These details are printed on the manufacturer's aluminum decal, usually inside the door on your truck... And around the tongue on your trailer, this metal plate displays both the serial number and the gvwr.
For my D-250 3/4 ton GVWR is around 3 or 4 grand, the 6x12 single-axle trailer is also rated around 3-4 k gvwr.

Strangely enough, my class-III hitch is rated at over 10k, thou I suppose that doesn't count, it's vehicle + trailer ratings.

What would an 8x16 be rated at? If it's dual-axle (I assume it is, to my knowledge the 6x12 is the largest single-axle) then it is likely rated at least 6-8k just for the trailer, add 3-4 for the 3/4 ton and you're there.

 

First off, debate or not this guy got ticketed and all the argument is dandy until you get ticketed. Then, as suddenly as it started, it's over. I do believe there is something concerning the 10k limit, and I knew there was a reason why I have only a 6x12 single-axle trailer. Whether it is state or federally regulated, that I do not know but every individual can figure this out if J.Law pulls you over and tickets you, then you're regulated lol.

I am not 100 percent sure on that but it's not your total weight, it's the GVWR (the rating, not the actual weight). These details are printed on the manufacturer's aluminum decal, usually inside the door on your truck... And around the tongue on your trailer, this metal plate displays both the serial number and the gvwr.
For my D-250 3/4 ton GVWR is around 3 or 4 grand, the 6x12 single-axle trailer is also rated around 3-4 k gvwr.

Strangely enough, my class-III hitch is rated at over 10k, thou I suppose that doesn't count, it's vehicle + trailer ratings.

What would an 8x16 be rated at? If it's dual-axle (I assume it is, to my knowledge the 6x12 is the largest single-axle) then it is likely rated at least 6-8k just for the trailer, add 3-4 for the 3/4 ton and you're there.

most 16s would have a pair of 3500 lb axles, therefore it is safe to assume at least a 7000 lb limit, if the trailer is 7 and a truck is rated at 6 you exceed the limit.

 

well it's under my personal name

i do have a small "general business ins" but the truck is insured under my name

Do you have sign or lettering on your truck? I'm going through this right now regarding a personal or business policy. My truck is listed for to and from work and is my personal vehicle. Insurance can upgrade me to a driving for work for a lesser rate, but if I have my name on the side of the truck they say I need full commercial insurance, but then does that mean I need I need commercial plates? The more legit you become the more you are penalized by the ****stem.

hillndale

 

Do you have sign or lettering on your truck? I'm going through this right now regarding a personal or business policy. My truck is listed for to and from work and is my personal vehicle. Insurance can upgrade me to a driving for work for a lesser rate, but if I have my name on the side of the truck they say I need full commercial insurance, but then does that mean I need I need commercial plates? The more legit you become the more you are penalized by the ****stem.

hillndale

exactly right! thats the way its set up, the more you do the more it cost too.

 

One of the roads I'm on everyday there is always a State weighmaster sitting there. Never has pulled me over.:waving:

 

One of the roads I'm on everyday there is always a State weighmaster sitting there. Never has pulled me over.:waving:

I have'nt had any problems with them either. If our state is supposed to be enforcing this law. I'm not sure the troopers are in agreement with the idea, because they never paid any attention to me either,now that I'm 90% compliant I will probably draw problems my way if I don't get the rest of the requirements in order.

 

I have'nt had any problems with them either. If our state is supposed to be enforcing this law. I'm not sure the troopers are in agreement with the idea, because they never paid any attention to me either,now that I'm 90% compliant I will probably draw problems my way if I don't get the rest of the requirements in order.

Ya, I think the Trooper's could care less. I see them all the time and other dept's also. just have to wait and see.

 

C'mon people..... seriously....

I'm talking Minnesota law here....

If you're using your truck for work, it's a commercial vehicle.

If you're going to the grocery store, it's a personal vehicle, doesn't matter if you have signs / letters / whatever.

Where this DOES come in effect, is some cities won't let you park your pickup, escort, stationwagon, minivan ANYTHING with a commercial name on it on your own property, even if you run home for lunch, but this is all CITY ordinances.

Grass Disaster -

Hopefully you're still reading this post.

They probably won't pull you over, BUT they may well follow you to see if you're doing commercial work. I've had that happen before I had my truck / enclosed trailer lettered.

Minnesota law again now - If you're under 26k gross, which with that trailer / truck set up, you're over 10k, but under 26k, I'm assuming, since I run a 24' enclosed trailer behind a 2500 Dodge and I'm under 26k. Since you're under 26k gross, you do NOT need an inspection sticker. Since we only have commercial plates here in MN for anything 1-ton or bigger, your 2500 will have "personal" plates.

Anyways, here in MN, if you don't go more than 30 miles into WI, you do NOT need a USDOT number, that's ONLY if you travel INTERSTATE, not INTRASTATE. This does NOT go for ALL states, as I know that NY now DOES require all commercial vehicles over 10k to have USDOT numbers.

Grass Disaster - back to you again.

Here's a link to the MN Department of Public Safety, the guys that run the commercial vehicle inspection department.

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/patrol/comveh/index.htm

There's a link on the left side "contacts and faqs". At the top of the next page, you can click "here" for faqs and what the department of public safety is looking for.

You'll also see a map of Minnesota there. If you're in the metro area, I already email the Lt. for station 4730 about 2 months ago inquiring about USDOT numbers, and he sent an email back saying we do not need them.

Read that FAQ though, and you may want to do like I did and print a copy and keep it in the truck. I was stopped once and told by an officer that something wasn't in compliance, so I grabbed my sheet and said I am by your website, what better can I do??? He looked at the sheet and said that he was going to check into it when he got back to the department.

Anyways, about 3 weeks later I got a phone call stating that he was in error and apologized.

IF they do see that you're doing commercial work, (see trimmer in bed of truck) they WILL inspect you.

They WILL probably pull you over at the inspection area, since they pull ALL pickups over, just to check and send the personal people on their way.

IMO, if you're commercial, become legal. It's SOOO much easier.

I used to dodge all the inspection areas in the past, but now I just pull in, and get inspected by them....

 

All you other guys...

I was hoping that this might be a "Sticky" at the top, but so far no go...

http://www.statetroopersdirectory.com/

It's a directory to all the websites for different states' highway patrols.

Do a little searching, or if you don't want to, just send an email to the highway patrol and ask them about your setup, what you need to do to be legal.

DON'T go to the DMV. They're not the ones writing the ticket.

DON'T go to your dealer, whether truck, mower, or trailer.

JUST WRITE THE EMAIL, don't listen to anyone on here, because laws differ from state to state, unless it's someone that's from your own state, that you think you can trust. Even then, when you're caught and in violation, do you think that the officer is going to care that you say "so-and-so on LawnSite.com said I can run this way."?????