RVers Beware

[HBarlow]

Lazy law enforcement becomes hassle for RV owners

By Greg Gerber (from RV Daily Report)

You can tell that state and local governments are under intense financial pressure to raise money without raising taxes by looking at the number of lazy law enforcement efforts being implemented around the country.

Red light cameras, speed cameras, GPS tracking even tolling systems are being used now to extract more money from motorists without the inconvenience of having to pull someone over for a traffic violation.

Today, I see that Georgia State Police saw an excellent opportunity to write a whole bunch of tickets as RV owners pulled their rigs into a public venue for an agricultural exposition recently. Inspectors with the Georgia Department of Public Safety's Maintenance Compliance Division stopped every RV entering Spence Field to conduct a "safety" inspection.

Predictably, they wrote 109 citations to 59 motorhome owners who were not allowed to leave the venue without getting the problems corrected.

Get used to this lazy concept of law enforcement. Depending upon how broke certain states are, I imagine that "wealthy" RV owners attending rallies in those states can expect to be stopped upon entry, inspected, cited, hassled, inspected again and set upon their merry way once officials are convinced there is not one dime left in their wallets.

 

[GAmes]

Sounds like an excellent reason to not travel through or spend my RV dollars in Georgia.

 

[Mark31]

I'd love to see that list of infractions. Couldn't leave the venue? Boy, the "mo-bile" wrenches must have thought "santy claws" had come!! Mark

 

[Ram4Sam]

Shoot, even Kalifornia hasn't stooped that low. But then again, the day ain't over yet.



Sam

 

[The patriot]

Happened all the time when I drove a big rig, but I didnt know they were actively doing this with RV's.

I believe the proper term that was used is "out of service".

 

[Jefff929]

Shoot, even Kalifornia hasn't stooped that low. But then again, the day ain't over yet.

Sam

You still have the old agricultural checkpoint on I5 for those of us headed south, bet it starts there, get the out-of-state money first. :-laf

 

[CUMMINZ]

HB, I read the article and don't agree with some tactics that enforcement might be using. I would agree with them if they use a check point to make honest safety inspections.

 

[steved]

They do the same thing at farm auctions... looking for red fuel.

 

[HBarlow]

Since the old Single State Registration system for trucking companies was ended by the empty suits in DC and not replaced state DOTs are facing budget cuts and seeking new ways to raise money . . . at our expense. Watch for state DOT cops and highway patrol officers to pay more attention to small working trucks like ours and to RVers.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Since the old Single State Registration system for trucking companies was ended by the empty suits in DC and not replaced state DOTs are facing budget cuts and seeking new ways to raise money . . . at our expense. Watch for state DOT cops and highway patrol officers to pay more attention to small working trucks like ours and to RVers.

If this is true ive yet to see a 1 ton car hauling rig stop at the scales. I was also wondering about RV hauling like Bennet they dont have to stop at scales was there a reason GVW or what you were a for hire ?

 

[GAmes]

In CA there are big signs at the scales "NO PICKUPS". Guess you missed them. In other states RV haulers and 1 ton car haulers do stop at scales.

 

[HBarlow]

If this is true ive yet to see a 1 ton car hauling rig stop at the scales. I was also wondering about RV hauling like Bennet they dont have to stop at scales was there a reason GVW or what you were a for hire ?

Big Nasty

Gary already answered but I'll take the answer farther. Bennet Transport drivers are supposed to stop at scales just like everyone else. They may have an outlaw driver or two who think they're not required to stop and may even get away with it for awhile running without signs but they'll get chased down and learn their lesson. I was in a scale house one Sunday morning getting checked three years ago and two of them drove by. The scale operator said, "look at those two guys. " "They think they're fooling us. " He said there was a trooper working a few miles west who would grab them. I talked to a moron who ran the AZ scales several years ago. The fines were over $800.

RV transporters, car haulers, and hotshotters using one ton duallies are all commercial haulers required to keep a log book and meet all other commercial requirements including stopping at all scales just like you are except that commercial haulers using pickup beds on light trucks are prohibited on scales in CA. Commercial haulers using cab and chassis flat beds, towing beds, or no beds at all are required to stop at scales in CA. Commercial haulers with light truck-trailer combinations that exceed rated or actual weight of 26,000 lbs. are also required to hold a CDL A.

 

[MMeier]

Since the old Single State Registration system for trucking companies was ended by the empty suits in DC and not replaced state DOTs are facing budget cuts and seeking new ways to raise money . . . at our expense. Watch for state DOT cops and highway patrol officers to pay more attention to small working trucks like ours and to RVers.

It is now called "UCR"... Unified Carrier Registration. You pay according to how many trucks you run. IIRC, starts off @ $39 for one truck and goes up from there. UCR Application

 

[HBarlow]

It is now called "UCR"... Unified Carrier Registration. You pay according to how many trucks you run. IIRC, starts off @ $39 for one truck and goes up from there. UCR Application

That's news. Thanks for the information. It must have been created since I left the RV transport industry two years ago.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I understand the frustration but bottom line if you are illegal your illegal. What is that saying "if you can't do the time don't do the crime" or some such. I have never gotten a speeding ticket I did not deserve I am just polite and thank the LEO and take the ticket!!!! Knock on wood I have been lucky when listening to others.