Inspection, registration adn weight in New Jersey

[ACoyle]

I just got back from court and wanted to share this info with all of you. This will probably be a long post. I am posting here since it concerns all generations.



I got a ticket for "Failure to inispect". I did not have my truck inspected, because, I believed that in New Jersey that trucks over 10,000# are self inspected. I found this on the Cummins forum and thought I had my answer. I called the court and requested a not guilty plea.



Then the research started. My wife is a paralegal and looked at what I had and told me that what the link in post #3 refers to is not New jersey statute and would hold no weight in court. She found me the applicable New Jersey statutes, which are now printed out and will be in my truck in case of future problems. PM me if you want a copy for yourself.



When I got to court, I was called into a side room with the prosecuter and ticketing officer. I was asked if I had had my truck inspected and replied that I had not and presented the statute. The prosecutor told me to go out in the hall and work it out with the officer. Another officer came up and said that he works in NJ truck inspection and offered to help.



What he explained is that in New Jersey, if a truck has a gross vehicle weight over 10,000# and less than 14,000# that it is to be self inspected. This refers to the weight on the manufacturers sticker on the door post. The officer went out and looked at my door post and the ticket was dismissed. I need to add that both officers were courteous and professional to the max. They were a pleasure to deal with.



The officer went on to explain that the weight that your truck is registered for on your registration is the number that is used to determine if your truck is hauling "overweight". In many cases when the dealer registers your truck they choose a fairly low number here, not tmuch over the actual vehicle weight.



I thoought that this information would be helpful to some of you. I also recall reading on this forum that how the insurance company sees it is that if you haul a trainer and are over their GCW, and have an accident, they will not pay. I have not checked this out.



Hope this is helpful,



AC



If someone reading this is a member of the Cummins forum and could pass this on, it would be nice - Thank You. AC

 

[The patriot]

My truck is registered at 5000 Lbs. :-laf

As a sort of related thing, I was stopped for no front license plate.

I said to the officer that "I read in the paper about 8 months back that they no longer fail for no front plate. "

He apparently failed in PR. He was an outright PRICK. Mumbling things under his breath, just very un professional. I asked if I could have a "warning" in lieu of a ticket.

His answer "Oh, so you want a warning... . eh?

My answer was "Yes!".

Well, he didnt care about the inspection being lenient on such things, and I got a warning. He even kept my PBA card.

He was the most unprofessional individual I had the misfortune to deal with in recent memory.

My town has a rep for nasty cops and I've always stuck up for them. Even my neighbor who is a cop an another town speaks badly of them.

OK, Rant mode off. :-laf

 

[ACoyle]

Sorry too hear about your bad experience.



Regarding your registration, aren't you registered for less than the truck weighs empty? If so, you may save some $$ on registration, but, overweight tickets, if they happen, are a real pita. Just my 2 cents.



AC

 

[The patriot]

I havent hauled commercially so I dont worry about weight issues.

Do they even check non commercial vehicles? I've never been stopped for an inspection in my PU truck. I do see the weight cops and inspections around here now & then but they only seem to pick out big (obviously commercial) vehicles.

BTW I'm sure my truck weighs in the 8-9K range. I have a cap with a 60 gal transfer flow tank and a tool box that's full.

 

[ACoyle]

They typically do not bother pickups, but they can. You should be OK for inspection if the tag on your door says greater than 10K max gvw.



As far as weight, since you are a pickup, you would normally be commercial. You are probably registered code 15 passenger at commercial rate.



It gives you running room, but not exemption from overweight. Most likely low probability of trouble. I tdepends on how you feel about things that "should not" happen.



AC