Must Stop at Maryland Weigh Stations

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Just as I have seen. I have never seen a sign stating GVWR, only GVW. There's a difference.



Bruce

Is "r" the design displacement and without is present weight??
I've been under those same signs tons of times since the late 1960s. I've paid toll in lane 12 and attendant will gladly provide my vehicle weight. This in 32' C, 38' gas A an A Diesel pusher. Never directed to truck scale. Last passage was last month.

[doc73]

Yes, r is rating or what it CAN weigh. Not what it is now.

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[W5CI]

I will probably never go thru Maryland but if I do I will not stop at their weigh station or any other weight station, that is for Commercial Vehicles only. I did that for 25 years and Never again

[18CrewDually]

Aahh. The benefits of driving overnight. Scales CLOSED.

[CaptnJohn]

I never plan on going through MD. Did not like the state 49 years ago when in the military and see nothing has changed. If I have to go through while not in a commercial vehicle I'll not stop.

[rmac04401]

Originally Posted by DaGrinch

I'd say you're good to go.

But, I'm not MSP. Sounds to me like different areas might be enforcing differently.

How would a f150 and a 7500lb trailer not have a combined weight of more than 10000 lbs? Maybe my math is bad.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

I never plan on going through MD. Did not like the state 49 years ago when in the military and see nothing has changed. If I have to go through while not in a commercial vehicle I'll not stop.

I pretty much have to drive through Maryland from Virginia twice a week from the Baltimore Washington Parkway, to the 895 tunnel, to 95, to 222, to Route 1 towards PA, then in reverse to get home.

I absolutely despise driving through Maryland and I do not intend on stopping at any weigh station, ever.

Bruce

[Martsing]

Originally Posted by rmac04401

How would a f150 and a 7500lb trailer not have a combined weight of more than 10000 lbs? Maybe my math is bad.

I wasn't doing math That is a shelf I no longer stock.

I just don't think I need to stop as an F150 pulling a trailer. I think that only commercial vehicles need to do that. If some trooper wants to make an issue of it then we will work it out I guess.

Marty

[CT3850]

Originally Posted by ependydad

I have communication with the Maryland State Highway Administration that confirmed what you found. You are supposed to adhere to the actual sign, e.g. "All Trucks Over 5T GVWR". Which means, that technically with just your truck alone since it's likely over 10,000 lbs.

To this day, I always thought it was a spirit of the law vs. the letter of the law. The letter of the law is you're supposed to pull in vs. the spirit of the law is that it's only for commercial drivers.

The MSP inspector focused on the fact that my Ram 3500 GVWR was over 14K pounds. The MSHA official quoted above also focuses on GVWR. However, as the photo I posted shows, the requirement to weigh specifies GVW, not GVWR. The best definition I could find of GVW is as follows:

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) - This is base curb weight plus passengers, cargo, dealer or aftermarket installed equipment. GVW is not a limit or specification, it is merely the weight of your vehicle at a given point in time. Note, when a trailer is attached this weight would be PLUS the tongue weight.

Notwithstanding all of the nuances of weight measurements, MD state troopers and administrators are certainly making a nuisance of themselves with this issue.

[DrLewie]

Interesting. I've driven past MD weigh stations with my F250 diesel and 32 foot fifth wheel many times and have noticed the "all vehicles over..." sign, but have never stopped and never been stopped. But a worse situation is Florida's SunPass only toll exits which accept SunPass only and don't have the photo toll equipment some of their bigger toll plazas have. Go through them without a SunPass and expect to receive a $100 fine. I find it interesting that they could take a photo and track you down for the fine, but not for the toll+service charge as they do at other toll plazas.

[wire1946]

I have never stoped in MD or any other state

[CaptnJohn]

Neither have I and don't plan to

Originally Posted by wire1946

I have never stoped in MD or any other state

[Semperfi24]

From what I understand about the law, the cops don't generally care to take the time to mess with RVers. But as the question was asked prior, about an F150 towing a 7500lb trailer, yes you would have to stop. Your truck is (depending on options) 5,000-6,000 lbs, add 7500 for your trailer, and that puts you in the 12,000 - 14,000 lb range, which exceeds 10,000, which means you have to stop. I would imagine that other than a pop up, just about every other tow vehicle/trailer combo is going to exceed 10,000lbs, or at least be close enough that the cops can technically scrutinize you. My dry trailer weight is 4700 and my truck is around 5500 (putting me at 10,000 before adding any gear), but I haven't stopped and don't intend to. Most of my driving doesn't pass MD weigh stations, fortunately, but there is a VA weigh station that we pass every time we head south. I think its stupid, and I would bet 99.9% of RVers have no idea about Maryland's law.

[Martsing]

Originally Posted by Semperfi24

From what I understand about the law, the cops don't generally care to take the time to mess with RVers. But as the question was asked prior, about an F150 towing a 7500lb trailer, yes you would have to stop. Your truck is (depending on options) 5,000-6,000 lbs, add 7500 for your trailer, and that puts you in the 12,000 - 14,000 lb range, which exceeds 10,000, which means you have to stop. I would imagine that other than a pop up, just about every other tow vehicle/trailer combo is going to exceed 10,000lbs, or at least be close enough that the cops can technically scrutinize you. My dry trailer weight is 4700 and my truck is around 5500 (putting me at 10,000 before adding any gear), but I haven't stopped and don't intend to. Most of my driving doesn't pass MD weigh stations, fortunately, but there is a VA weigh station that we pass every time we head south. I think its stupid, and I would bet 99.9% of RVers have no idea about Maryland's law.

Thanks. As I said, I don't plan to stop and if a trooper was to chase me down and want to discuss the terms of my surrender I would reluctantly comply.

SemperFi,

Marty

[ependydad]

I know that Maryland's licensing laws apply to ratings, not actual weights. I don't know how these signs apply.

[emm-dee]

Sign doesn't say combined weight. Truck is 5500, trailer is 7500. They are separate vehicles so no stop. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[jkoenig24]

If you actually READ the laws, many (most?) states set requirements by WEIGHT NOT use (commercial vs passenger etc). By letter of the law, most RVs are technically required to pull in at a weigh station. I know the general consensus is that "it doesn't apply to RVs" but legally if you're over the stated weight, it does apply. Fortunately for RVers, Law Enforcement personnel usually have more serious things than RVers to deal with. That said, in this age of strained budgets, RVs provide easy targets for "Revenue Enhancement". The day may not be far off when elected officials pressure LEOs to cite every violation. If you drive past a weigh station and get pulled over, courtesy and respect on your part might be the deciding factor as to whether you drive away with a warning or, receive a summons. Drive in a safe and respectful manner.

[schnauzer mom]

Lovely. . Going through Maryland Friday. . .guess I'll be pulling in to the weigh station, don't want my PPL license messed with. Ugh

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by schnauzer mom

Lovely. . Going through Maryland Friday. . .guess I'll be pulling in to the weigh station, don't want my PPL license messed with. Ugh

Don't worry about that. If you get a ticket it's a non-moving violation.

[asquared]

Ok this thread has run its course. Several political and/or offensive posts have been deleted.