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This is exactly what they look for! If you have B plates on a Dually, and are towing a gooseneck flat bed with a load of hay, it is clearly going to be way past a B plate rating and you will sure enough get fined if they see it, but if you have D plates, then they pretty much let you slide. BUT if you are 5th wheeling a travel trailer with B plates, then chances of getting pulled over are slim to none. LEO don't look at properly setup RV's the same way they do with other trailer types, but if they see something like I saw the other day, an Expedition towing a travel trailer without the proper set up, the front of the SUV was nearly off the ground and the driver had the 4 ways on, driving slow, that is what they do look for.
In most cases, it is hard to judge if a truck/trailer combo is over the vehicles stated weight when properly set up, then some are clearly noticeable, and those do get pulled over when spotted. Just follow some simple guide lines when assessing a trailer and truck, and you and anyone else on the road when you are towing will be fine.
Yes. Here is the Illinois Compiled Statute. It even states right in the statute to apprehend any violators and at all times to maintain a vigilant watch for possible violators.
There are also laws regarding maximum allowable frame heights, maximum allowable bumper heights and suspension lift limits (which states the maximum allowable suspension lift is 3" from stock). but I never see these enforced. Guess they forgot to add the "apprehend any violators" and the "at all times maintain a vigilant watch" portions to the lift laws.
To Blackboosts point Canada laws are a bit different. Most provinces have a ‘unsafe load’ ticket they is pretty much at the officers discretion. So they could ticket you if you are under specs but not set up properly if your trailer is all over the road for instance.
....again you don’t see it enforced much but they have the right and the leeway to do it.
Same does hold true in the states. All LEO have the ability to pull over and investigate possible overloading, or improper setups, some do, most don't until after the fact.
Originally Posted by E. Manuel
Yes. Here is the Illinois Compiled Statute. It even states right in the statute to apprehend any violators and at all times to maintain a vigilant watch for possible violators.
There are also laws regarding maximum allowable frame heights, maximum allowable bumper heights and suspension lift limits (which states the maximum allowable suspension lift is 3" from stock). but I never see these enforced. Guess they forgot to add the "apprehend any violators" and the "at all times maintain a vigilant watch" portions to the lift laws.
Problem with that statute is that it is State Police who are to enforce it, local LEO are not bound to it. State Police are pretty good at doing this though, and are highly trained in spotting overweight vehicles, at least those in the commercial vehicle enforcement department.
I watched a YouTube video where a guy in Ontario was pulled over by the a police officer who suspected he was overweight. He was. She was carrying a scale in her cruiser.
To be clear, by "overweight" I mean exceeding the Registered Gross Weight on the vehicle registration that he had paid a license fee for.
Again, to be clear, this has nothing to do with GVWR, GAWR or GCWR which are not enforceable numbers (except for GVWR and GAWR in British Columbia). If you are exceeding those numbers it's not a violation on its own. If you're grossly exceeding them such that an obvious hazard is created, then the police may stop you.
I watched a YouTube video where a guy in Ontario was pulled over by the a police officer who suspected he was overweight. He was. She was carrying a scale in her cruiser.
To be clear, by "overweight" I mean exceeding the Registered Gross Weight on the vehicle registration that he had paid a license fee for.
Again, to be clear, this has nothing to do with GVWR, GAWR or GCWR which are not enforceable numbers (except for GVWR and GAWR in British Columbia). If you are exceeding those numbers it's not a violation on its own. If you're grossly exceeding them such that an obvious hazard is created, then the police may stop you.
hmmm just looked at my registration it says nothing about weight gross or other wise.
In OH, non commercial plates don't have a weight rating, the commercial ones do in some cases.
Looks like they have two types of non commercial plates, up to 3/4 ton and 1 ton. All the rest are commercial plates, so with Ohio, and I do recall reading this somewhere, say you borrowed a trailer and are bringing home a skid loader on it, even if it's for your personal use, then they can pull you over and fine you for it. It is then up to you to defend it in court. Compared to IL they don't go by weight, but by use instead.
Looks like they have two types of non commercial plates, up to 3/4 ton and 1 ton. All the rest are commercial plates, so with Ohio, and I do recall reading this somewhere, say you borrowed a trailer and are bringing home a skid loader on it, even if it's for your personal use, then they can pull you over and fine you for it. It is then up to you to defend it in court. Compared to IL they don't go by weight, but by use instead.
Being retired LE here in OH I can say for sure if its non commercial 1 ton or otherwise and the trailer is also non commercial as long as you are under the max legal loads for OH and not over your units axle ratings you will not be cited. Rental trailer for personal use also fall under this category, just have the rental agreement with you. As far as 1/2, 3/4, and ton ratings that is a cost factor at time of registration.
I just had to go through all this kind of stuff with the district supervisor at the PUCO (Ohio weights and measures agency) due to how big my horse trailer is. I am well over 26k, but the trailer is titled as an RV due to LQ, is personal use as is the truck, and all are in my personal name. No commercial tags, CDL or ELD is required. Other states have to honor the OH title and registration too per interstate compacts on noncommercial vehicles. So as long as I am licensed in Ohio to operate it, I am good to go same as an RV or car. There was a lot of confusion on this early this year. FMCSA came out and stated that just possibly winning prize money or buckles at a show did not constitute commerce or hauling for profit as long as the horses belong to the family owning the truck and trailer.
Being retired LE here in OH I can say for sure if its non commercial 1 ton or otherwise and the trailer is also non commercial as long as you are under the max legal loads for OH and not over your units axle ratings you will not be cited. Rental trailer for personal use also fall under this category, just have the rental agreement with you. As far as 1/2, 3/4, and ton ratings that is a cost factor at time of registration.
I just had to go through all this kind of stuff with the district supervisor at the PUCO (Ohio weights and measures agency) due to how big my horse trailer is. I am well over 26k, but the trailer is titled as an RV due to LQ, is personal use as is the truck, and all are in my personal name. No commercial tags, CDL or ELD is required. Other states have to honor the OH title and registration too per interstate compacts on noncommercial vehicles. So as long as I am licensed in Ohio to operate it, I am good to go same as an RV or car. There was a lot of confusion on this early this year. FMCSA came out and stated that just possibly winning prize money or buckles at a show did not constitute commerce or hauling for profit as long as the horses belong to the family owning the truck and trailer.
Trainers are another story all together.
Key word, non commercial. The story I read was that the trailer was borrowed and had commercial plates. IOW careful what you borrow.
Key word, non commercial. The story I read was that the trailer was borrowed and had commercial plates. IOW careful what you borrow.
Correct but most OH LE guys would most likely let that slide as long as you could prove it was borrowed. Easy way around it is draw up a simple rental agreement with the company you borrowed it from.
09-21-2018, 05:29 AM
The story I read was that the trailer was borrowed and had commercial plates. IOW careful what you borrow. 