weigh stations....do I need to pull in?

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by essness

"Maryland

The Department of State Police maintains 7 vehicle weighing and measuring stations, with 1 station on Interstate 95.The following vehicles must stop: (1) agricultural vehicles over 10,000 lbs.; (2) all commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs.; (3) commercial buses carrying over 16 passengers; (4) any hazardous material haulers requiring placards"

I read that, but I don't trust it. Here's a MD page that addresses it:
8. What vehicles must go through weigh stations in Maryland?

All vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 10,000 pounds must stop at open weigh stations. Only vehicles that are operating in commerce will be subject to a safety inspection.

I do have to correct a previous statement. I looked back through my emails and can't see where I asked this directly of Maryland before. I can't find it and must be going off of a memory of this page.

I've sent an email in, but it usually takes them 2-3 days to respond.

[ependydad]

And again- I'm simply stating that the *letter* of the law is that you have to stop.

I don't stop nor have I ever seen RVs in them. Heck, my dually alone is over 5T GVWR and I should stop even when I am not towing.

[essness]

That does make it clear as mud.........

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by essness

That does make it clear as mud.........

I do think it's pretty clear. If your GVWR is over 10,000 pounds, you're supposed to stop.

The catch comes in, I can't imagine them batting an eye at anyone in a dually or pulling a camper unless it has DOT #s or tags on the side.

i.e. The "letter" of the law vs. the "spirit" of the law.

[jeeplj8]

Everyone needs to keep in mind that "weigh stations" are administered by the specific state Department of Transportation, and whatever state law enforcement agency is correct for that state. They enforce both Federal Motor Carrier Rules as well as state law.

In other words: they are unique for each state, and each driver is required to know and understand the laws for the state they are travelling in.

In another thread a few months back we were discussing towing doubles and I posted the information for a specific state on length. People wanted to debate what those laws meant, or if they would be enforced against an RV.

Please do not confuse a lack of enforcement with permission under the law. I can tell you plenty of stories of people who have, and the sad repercussions they have paid.

[ependydad]

Matthew (Jeeplj8) is 100% right - each state IS different. I got an email response already back from the MD State Highway Administration.

My email to them:

Originally Posted by ependydad

I'm just a private individual/non-commercial. I have bought a Ram 3500 dually that has a GVWR of 12,300 pounds. I also bought a fifth wheel camper with a GVWR of 12,000 pounds.

As I drive down the highway, I pass the weigh stations and see the signs that say- "All vehicles over 5T GVWR must stop". Rightly or wrongly, to date- I haven't stopped at any of them.

By my figuring, even in my truck alone with the 12,300 GVWR, I'm supposed to stop at these. And, when towing the camper, I'm supposed to stop.

And here is their response:

Originally Posted by Maryland State Highway Administration

You are correct, you would be required to enter. Although you are driving a RV for non-business use and are exempted from the commercial regulations, you must still enter the scale house with your vehicle as required by the signs “All vehicles over 5T GVWR/GCWR must enter” The reason being, if you use an RV for business (such as transporting a musical band that receives compensation ) all regulations would apply at that point, but the only way an inspector would know, is if you would make yourself available for interaction with the facility staff.

More than likely you will be flagged on through when you enter without ever having to stop, however the signs require you enter.

If signs on the approach to a scale house in other states indicate “ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES MUST ENTER” then you could confidently go by without entering. In Maryland however the signs do indicate “ALL VEHICLES…”

There you have it. In MD, you are required to stop and likely will be just waved through. You decide if you're going to adhere to the law or not.

[MrJoe]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Matthew (Jeeplj8) is 100% right - each state IS different. I got an email response already back from the MD State Highway Administration.

My email to them:


And here is their response:


There you have it. In MD, you are required to stop and likely will be just waved through. You decide if you're going to adhere to the law or not.

That makes it perfectly clear for me. I had often wondered being a Maryland resident. Thanks!

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by MrJoe

That makes it perfectly clear for me. I had often wondered being a Maryland resident. Thanks!

Just bear in mind what Matthew said above- when you drive into PA, DE, VA and NJ that each state has its own rules.

[jeeplj8]

It occurs to me that Indiana is another that states all vehicles over 10K GCVWR...and a few FROGS are there right now...

[DDC]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Matthew (Jeeplj8) is 100% right - each state IS different. I got an email response already back from the MD State Highway Administration.




And here is their response:

Originally Posted by Maryland State Highway Administration
You are correct, you would be required to enter. Although you are driving a RV for non-business use and are exempted from the commercial regulations, you must still enter the scale house with your vehicle as required by the signs “All vehicles over 5T GVWR/GCWR must enter” The reason being, if you use an RV for business (such as transporting a musical band that receives compensation ) all regulations would apply at that point, but the only way an inspector would know, is if you would make yourself available for interaction with the facility staff.

More than likely you will be flagged on through when you enter without ever having to stop, however the signs require you enter.

If signs on the approach to a scale house in other states indicate “ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES MUST ENTER” then you could confidently go by without entering. In Maryland however the signs do indicate “ALL VEHICLES…”


There you have it. In MD, you are required to stop and likely will be just waved through. You decide if you're going to adhere to the law or not.

Now if everyone obeyed the law this they would quickly change as the system would come to a grinding halt, this shows the need to stop electing lawyers who can't make it in the real world, just my humble opinion.

[dwaynerz]

my advice would be to drive on past and enjoy your vacation. that was also the opinion of the illinois state dot officer i had the privelege of working with today for about 5 hours. he says some people pull thru when unsure, but always get the bypass light.

as far as maryland is concerned, i would just drive past and be done with it. they dont know if your rv is for business or pleasure according to the statement and probably wouldnt know unless you make that info available. sounds to me like they dont really care, but are throwing it out there as a blanket statement. kinda hard to get all that info on a sign that says scales open/closed.

[SteveBingham52]

If you are going up I75 in Ohio and take the Hopple St exit and go west about a mile you come to a viaduct(large bridge). The sign says "no trucks". Don't know how they feel about weigh stations but woe to you if you are caught on there in an F150. Registration says "light truck". $175 please.

[Dodge Guy]

Originally Posted by SteveBingham52

If you are going up I75 in Ohio and take the Hopple St exit and go west about a mile you come to a viaduct(large bridge). The sign says "no trucks". Don't know how they feel about weigh stations but woe to you if you are caught on there in an F150. Registration says "light truck". $175 please.

Yep, gotta love that! No on the F150, but my Excursion that weighs 3k lbs more is OK!

[monte0999]

[QUOTE="Dodge Guy;440163"]


Here in Canada (New Brunswick) the scales have a sensor on the highway 1/8th mile before that takes your pic and weighs you as you pass over it. in the scale house your image and weights come up on their screen and they simply press a button that illuminates a sign just before the scale entrance to say "vehicle to bypass scale" or "vehicle to enter scale"

[3 Happy Campers]

We snowbird down I95 to FL every year in Dec for the past 6 years & to TX a couple times.
Have never stopped & don't plan on ever stopping.
I drove OTR for several years.
Real truckers are on a schedule & don't need to have RVs tying up the scales.
I do everything I can to help keep those guys rolling.
Been towing an RV since the early 90s.
There are plenty of stories of the guy in the next campsite who' brother's, girlfriend's father got pulled over but I have never heard of a first hand instance of an RVer being pulled over & or cited for not stopping.

[RPAspey]

indirectly related, I guess. We were coming home from the Finger Lakes region of NY. Driving pretty fast, 15 over the speed limit. We crested a hill in a line of autos and there sat a Trooper with a speed gun. We watched him time the first two vehicles, skip us, then continue with the vehicle behind me. I guess he though there's no way I was speeding or he did not want to bother with truck & camper. I dunno.

I did pull into a weigh station once, as the sign said, "all trucks must pull over" no specified weight. My truck tag says "truck" The officers waved me thru.

[denandra2]

Truck drivers just laugh or other various remarks at the RVer that pulls into a scale. Thats what I always did!!!!


Happy Camping

[Oakman]

To the OP. Read post #2 and that is the correct answer for RVers. I can't believe how muddled threads can get by people who read state regulations and think they know what they mean. Take a look at my states map. I've been traveling for a long time and have yet to stop at a highway weigh scale.

How about someone responding to this post who has stopped at a state weigh station. In some states the troopers can get real snarky with RVers who pull in.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by jeeplj8

It occurs to me that Indiana is another that states all vehicles over 10K GCVWR...and a few FROGS are there right now...

I blew right through.
If they gave chase evidently they couldn't catch the blue duramax cause I never seen no weight cop!

[3 Happy Campers]

Originally Posted by denandra2

Truck drivers just laugh or other various remarks at the RVer that pulls into a scale. Thats what I always did!!!!


Happy Camping

What he said!!