Pulled over by Illinois State for speeding

[bmoeller]

Sorry guys, being a motor cop in Ca and know a lot of LEO's from other states. We do not have a quota system. We have NOT been instructed to write more tickets. We have actually been advised to give MORE warnings. And it sounds like the officer just gave a warning.

Nothing personal, but I gotta call BS on that one. Maybe not for you, but at least in IL, I know of guys that HAVE quit being LEO's because they ARE doing that now. Maybe not all of the towns, but a few close to me are.

To add a point, there has been a HUGE increase in trooper presence in IL within the past 1-2yrs. A LOT more speed traps, too. Even more than OH has been in the past, which has been a lot in places. It is always the worst at the end of the year (need money to pay bonuses I'm sure) and towards the end of the month.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Well I will have to admit I have never gotten a ticket that was deserved. Maybe I have been lucky or whatever the reason. I don't care if the LEO is given orders to increase quota of tickets or not, end of year or not. Fact is you are speeding, overweight, etc then you get ticketed.

Fact is I have my proof of insurance, registration and drivers license out by the time he gets to the window. It would be different if I was not doing anything wrong that has not been the case yet. I have been asked to look at the DPS radar have not even taken the opportunity!!

I view it as taking responsibility for what I do and I don't fault LEO's for doing theirs. Maybe that is to harsh in this day and age or I am just getting to old!!!

 

[WStephens]

I was given a speeding ticket in IL a few years ago when I will pulling a trailer and I was driving a F250 so I dont think it was weight related the sign says cars with trailers and trucks. But most of the time I have driven through IL they did not enforce the towing speed limit.

 

[champspa]

well all I can say is if the leo had looked at the registration he would have seen it was under 4 tons . the Leo may not have done his job quite good enough it's called (investigation).

 

[Missouri Mule]

I went through IL four times last year glad they can't tell a 2500 from a 1500.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Reason I said to weigh the truck is I believe it will weigh low enough to win and not have to pay a fined. This is a whole lot different than if you are speeding and get a ticket. One case you are in the right the other you are not. Seems we have gotten a wee bit side tracked here.

 

[monkeyman]

I was on 294 in left lane going 91, he let me off with three warnings!

Rick

 

[JHopstetter]

I think Illinois is 65 mph as of Jan. 1 2010, but around chicago,Ill. i think it's still 55 mph for big trucks.

 

[Jim W]

I think Illinois is 65 mph as of Jan. 1 2010, but around chicago,Ill. i think it's still 55 mph for big trucks.

I think the law and signs read any truck over 4 tons or vehicles pulling trailers. This will still apply to the 5 counties that surround the Chicago area. Since the one ton pick-up truck is considered over 8000 LBS (2000/8000=4) this would fall into the 4 ton or larger category.

 

[icman95]

The sign doesn't say limited to commercial vehicles or big trucks, etc. It simply says trucks over 4 tons. Whenever there are weight limits involving trucks, etc. , they are based on the truck's potential (GVWR), not the current weight. Since your GVWR is over 4 tons, it applies to you. For example, not including camper and farm trailers, any trailer over 10k GVWR is considered a commercial vehicle or trailer. Technically, the driver-even if pulling with a pickup truck-needs a Class A CDL to legally pull this trailer. This is true even if your-say 12k-trailer only has 3k on it. Just because the trailer only has 3k on doesn't exempt the driver from having a CDL. The GVWR of the trailer causes the need. Likewise, just because your truck might weigh slightly less that 4 tons normally, it has the ability to be over and this is why it was enforced upon you. Yes, it sucks, but, those are the rules in that state. I pulled my camper through there this summer for the second time and was chompin' at the bit to get through and on to a decent speed. Kinda aggrevating.

 

[GAmes]

The sign doesn't say limited to commercial vehicles or big trucks, etc. It simply says trucks over 4 tons. Whenever there are weight limits involving trucks, etc. , they are based on the truck's potential (GVWR), not the current weight. Since your GVWR is over 4 tons, it applies to you. For example, not including camper and farm trailers, any trailer over 10k GVWR is considered a commercial vehicle or trailer. Technically, the driver-even if pulling with a pickup truck-needs a Class A CDL to legally pull this trailer. This is true even if your-say 12k-trailer only has 3k on it. Just because the trailer only has 3k on doesn't exempt the driver from having a CDL. The GVWR of the trailer causes the need. Likewise, just because your truck might weigh slightly less that 4 tons normally, it has the ability to be over and this is why it was enforced upon you. Yes, it sucks, but, those are the rules in that state.

It has already been established that the speed limit applies to actual weight. (Did you go to the link I posted?) If it applied to GVWR it would be nearly unenforceable since 250s and 2500s GVWR is over 8000.



And you had to repeat the tired internet rumor that all trailers over 10,000 pounds GVWR require a CDL. Read the regs, it is trailers over 10,000 pounds GVWR WHEN the GCWR exceeds 26,000. Perhaps your home state is the same as California for residents pulling trailers over 10,000 but I doubt it. I pull trailers over 10,000 pounds GVWR all over the US and Canada without a CDL and do it legally.

 

[icman95]

(Did you go to the link I posted?) If it applied to GVWR it would be nearly unenforceable since 250s and 2500s GVWR is over 8000.

Actually in the link, refer to footnote number one on page one. It talks about the differences between division one and 2 vehicles. It makes the differences by GROSS WEIGHT, not actual weight. So, yes, I would interpret that as gross weight. And yes, in my state (I know the rules may be more or less strict in each state) pickup trucks with GVWR over 10k get commercial plates on them even if they are registered to private individuals for private use. It wasn't always that way. For example when I bought mine in 2001, it was possible to purposely register it for 9999 or 10 even to avoid the 10001 limit for commercial plates. They changed the rules and don't allow us to do that anymore. Now they must be registered by manufacturer ratings. Consider a 350 or 3500 single axle that has a GVWR over 10k. It looks like any other 2500 or 250, but needs a commercial plate in that case. Likewise it would fit the bill for any truck over 4 tons needing to slow to 55 mph.

 

[GaryOwen]

Guess this all changed on 1/1/10, but here is info from the Illinois State Police website:



The maximum speed limit outside an urban district for a house car, camper, private living coach, vehicle licensed as a recreational vehicle, any vehicle towing any other vehicle, and vehicles of the second division designed or used for the carrying of a gross weight of 8,001 pounds or more, is 55 miles per hour.



Speed Limit Enforcement



Since our trucks are designed to carry more than 8001 lbs, we would technically come under the 55 mph speed limit. Have known several several one-ton drivers that got ticketed for exceeding the 55 mph limit.

 

[icman95]

Right, Gross Weight.

it is trailers over 10,000 pounds GVWR WHEN the GCWR exceeds 26,000

I apologize for my mistake regarding the 10k trailer. I did leave out the part about needing to be towed by a 26001 vehicle, but the same principle applies. Since I haven't been in Ill since Aug. I wasn't aware they changed the law, but am happy to hear it. I know Ohio had the same rules and changed them last year. What a welcomed change. Glad to see Ill. has come around, too.

 

[bmoeller]

8/14/09-Gov. Pat Quinn has signed into law a bill to bring an end to split speed limits on rural, interstate highways. It takes effect Jan. 1.
Illinois law now requires large vehicles to travel 10 mph below the 65 mph speed limit for other vehicles.
Previously HB3956, the new law changes the rule that requires large vehicles to travel 10 mph below the 65 mph speed limit for other vehicles.
Vehicles weighing more than 8,000 pounds will be allowed to travel 65 mph on highways outside Chicago. It exempts the five surrounding “collar” counties from the rule change.

 

[SRath]

"These kinds of laws are rediculous when they are applied to private non-commercial vehicles. "

They are ridiculous AND unsafe when applied to commercial vehicles, too.

Anytime you deliberately induce a significant speed differential between vehicles, you have just disrupted the smooth flow of traffic.

My semi cruises much better at 65 mph than 55mph. If I am in the right lane doing 55 and encounter even a small hill, I will be down to 40 or 45 by the time I reach the top. At 65, I can better maintain my speed. Other trucks behind me, perhaps with more power, different gearing, or lighter loads will pull into the passing lane so as to not also lose their momentum.

Suddenly, you have 70mph cars tailgating and stacking up behind both of us. There is nowhere for the left lane truck to go. Everyone is down to 55 or less by the top of the hill. Now my truck picks up speed and the guy in left lane cannot pass me. The traffic jam grows longer and more impatient. This can go on for miles and miles, time after time.

Sooner or later, someone does something stupid and everyone is in a wolfpack with no visibilty or safe reaction/stopping distance between them. Something as common as gator in the road (blown recap) can cause a huge pileup. I've seen it a hundred times.

Now cross the Big Ditch out of Commie Illinois into Iowa, where trucks and cars have the same 70mph speed limit, and all of a sudden traffic spreads out and starts moving smoothly. Night and day difference.

The folks who make these laws may have good intentions, but they really don't understand how things really work, and don't work, on the highway.

The speed differential for "trucks" is more about revenue than safety.

 

[bmoeller]

The speed change in IL is nice. Cops tailgate me when I'm doing 70. I scoot over and they hammer down. :-laf Can get a lot more done in a day this way. One more load/day, when I'm hauling grain.

 

[SRath]

You're talking about the increase in the truck speed limit? It was long overdue. Now if they would get rid of those stupid, and deadly, greedy tollways... and put a bypass well south of Chicago for the millions of travelers who want NOTHING to do with that zoo while traveling... It's all about the money no matter how many lives it costs. Six major highways all converging on one tollroad. No other practical way to get from east to west or vice versa. What a recipe for the daily disaster that is "situation normal" there.

 

[dcoffman]

SRath, You are right. The same thing happens in Ohio. When you cross into West by golly the traffic starts to smooth out also. And Ohio has the same stupid rule about 4ton going 55.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Fight the ticket. I drive a semi up and down I-57, and I-55 every day at 65 MPH, and have never been stopped. And, I don't understand Illinois and there "D" truck status for pick-up trucks. Did you have a safety inspection sticker on your truck? I got a warning ticket for no safety inspection on my pick-up that had "D" plates.



When my father-in-law got stopped for speeding, the trooper saw his fire fighters badge, and told him to slow down, and have a nice day.



I've been stopped more times then I can remember, and there are some Illinois troopers who are just dicks.

Oh no please tell me that some state troopers are just dicks thats not true is it