Legal discussion thread so why don't clog up Chris' cool thread

[MicroBird]

I replied to someone's post about a truck with a flatbed getting a ticket for not stopping at the scales. I posted some links about some of the regs. There are so many laws on the books that most cops don't know them. But be certain that a CHP commercial officer will know them. The links were for California but don't think for a moment that because you are in another state that you don't have stupid laws too. This was posted on the other thread.

Only in the People's Republic of California, or nationwide?

While this is funny, it is getting a little old. I see this all the time on gun forums. I guess some people don't know that there are other states with gun laws that are worse than California. The same goes for vehicle codes. I love to hear the comments about all the fruits and nuts. Yes, we do have them here. They all came from your state. I talk with dozens of people everyday and I can tell you that all the weirdos came from your states. Very few are native to California. Anyways, here are the links that I posted in Chris' thread. Happy reading.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/weigh-stations/stopping.htm

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/reg_hdbk_pdf/ch13_comml_vehs.pdf

 

[bknudtsen]

Advice for potential owners of a 4x4 Camper Van flat bed conversion...

Since this is a 4x4 Camper Van forum, and not a gun forum, or political forum, I will only address the legal aspect of building a flat bed conversion. I have 14 years of law enforcement experience, and have not run into a situtation where I needed to know the legal ins and outs of whether or not a flat bed was considered a commercial vehicle or a pick-up truck or a passenger vehicle. However, I do not work as a commercial vehicle enforcement officer either. Every state has their own laws and quirks and to try and address this in a forum is more effort than it's worth.

My advice is simply this... If you are considering converting a 4x4 Camper Van to a flat bed, go to your local State Patrol, Highway Patrol, or Commercial Vehicle Enforcement office and ask what is required of you in the way of inspections and registration. Go by the local DMV office and ask what the definition of a "commercial vehicle" is. Do not rely on internet advice or speculation. The officers there will be more than willing to assist you or point you in the right direction.

Every law can be interpreted a different way, hence why we have case law. Many judges can't even agree on the meaning of each and every law and code in the books. Be prepared to get some contradicting information. Ask clarifiying questions. Please try to refrain from passing judgement on the "cop" who doesn't have the info you are looking for. They all have their areas of expertise.

Be patient and document your work. Beyond this, if it doesn't have four legs, fur and chases a ball, I have nothing to further to offer.

Brad

 

[MicroBird]

I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers by my comments. I was just pasting on some links to document what I was saying. The other stuff was added in frustration with a comment that was made about California that I see all the time. No one wants out he here faster than I do. No hard feeling I hope.

 

[Wood Kutter]

I didn't mean to offend you. I was just stating what I know. I did know a Culver city police officer who was one of two officers that pull over commercial trucks to inspect and weigh them and he said there was nothing wrong with my trucks. All I needed was mudflaps. There was nothing about flatbeds.

 

[MicroBird]

I didn't mean to offend you. I was just stating what I know. I did know a Culver city police officer who was one of two officers that pull over commercial trucks to inspect and weigh them and he said there was nothing wrong with my trucks. All I needed was mudflaps. There was nothing about flatbeds.

I don't have a problem with what you wrote. There is nothing wrong with a flatbed. It just not a pickup by the legal definition in CA. Your Mog is a different story altogether. If you replace your pickup bed with a flatbed, it is no longer a pickup. Pickups are exempt from the scales in CA. It even says so when you drive by the scales.

I had a friend that put a utility bed on his f350. He got pulled over and got a ticket because he was not displaying his CA number. Stands for carrier authority. The reason he wasn't displaying his number was because he didn't have one. He went and got one.

I was answering a question from the beginning of the thread. I'm not an expert but I do play one on TV and I did happen to stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Also, I'm not offended by anything that has been written, I just get tired of people saying things about California when they might not realize that many other states have laws just as or maybe more goofy than ours.

I will throw another one out here for people to think about. You can't imagine how many people don't know that a Class A licence is required when towing a trailer with a gvw of 10,001# and above. When I ask people, they throw out the 26,000# number and talk about a Class B. Depending on the cop, they might make you drop the trailer or get someone with the proper license to move it?:Wow1:

 

[ben2go]

The only time anyone out here gets pulled over for having a flat bed on a one ton truck, or smaller,is when it's obvious that the truck is hauling for hire.

 

[plutonic]

I just get tired of people saying things about California when they might not realize that many other states have laws just as or maybe more goofy than ours

I always get a bit tempered when I read or hear of regulations which don't make sense. After living in NYC ( People's Republic of NY, as we "passionately" refer to it ) for 14 years, I have an idea of the frustration too much restrictions can cause. Not fun at all and can be extremely costly, especially when one refuses to comply with aforementioned regulations...

 

[ben2go]

I always get a bit tempered when I read or hear of regulations which don't make sense. After living in NYC ( People's Republic of NY, as we "passionately" refer to it ) for 14 years, I have an idea of the frustration too much restrictions can cause. Not fun at all and can be extremely costly, especially when one refuses to comply with aforementioned regulations...

Hell yeah!Rail against the machine! unk03:

 

[snorkel54]

Hell yeah!Rail against the machine! unk03:

Question: What's the difference between the Tea Party and the Occupy Wall St. movement?

Answer: I don't know.

Reply: Neither do they.

 

[Bandit]

In Mass , any vehicle with Dual Wheels ( F-150 / F-250 / F-350 ) it HAS to be registered as a Commercial Vehicle , No EXCEPTIONS , requiring DOT inspection @ $ 129. DOT Safety Equipment , and a medical card even when only used for personal use .
They are pulling P/U over and issuing tickets for an improperly registered vehicle
Just one of many sites discussing this out of control ruling.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/912881-commercial-vs-non-com-registrations-in-ma.html
I have also heard of a person with a dually and a slide in camper being given a ticket for having a camper plate ( cheaper here in mass ) , instead of a commercial plate , as the slide in camper could be removed ?
Also a single wheel F-250 w/passenger plates and a ladder rack ( for transporting canoes ) getting a ticket and being forced to get commercial plates because " Ladder Racks are Commercial Equipment " )

 

[Wiley]

Mexi-can!

Pretty sure this is no problemo in Mexico.

Sadly I couldn't get a pic of his sweet googles while driving and pic taking.

 

[MicroBird]

In Mass , any vehicle with Dual Wheels ( F-150 / F-250 / F-350 ) it HAS to be registered as a Commercial Vehicle , No EXCEPTIONS , requiring DOT inspection @ $ 129. DOT Safety Equipment , and a medical card even when only used for personal use .
They are pulling P/U over and issuing tickets for an improperly registered vehicle
Just one of many sites discussing this out of control ruling.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/912881-commercial-vs-non-com-registrations-in-ma.html
I have also heard of a person with a dually and a slide in camper being given a ticket for having a camper plate ( cheaper here in mass ) , instead of a commercial plate , as the slide in camper could be removed ?
Also a single wheel F-250 w/passenger plates and a ladder rack ( for transporting canoes ) getting a ticket and being forced to get commercial plates because " Ladder Racks are Commercial Equipment " )

I rest my case. That's worse than california.

 

[MicroBird]

Pretty sure this is no problemo in Mexico.

.

Sadly I couldn't get a pic of his sweet googles while driving and pic taking.

I know for sure that that truck is not legal in CA.

 

[Bandit]

Trailers are just as bad , I have a Cam Superline , 9,000 GVW 18 ft car hauler registered to our DBA , it requires a $ 129. DOT sticker as a commercial trailer , I tow it with our Dodge 15 passenger maxi van , minus 3 seats , registered as a passenger vehicle , the Idiot Inspector wouldn't put a sticker on the trailer " Unless He could do the Van TOO , as it tows a commercial vehicle )
http://camsuperline.com/Trailers/Construction/5.php
I am ready to say the heck with it and register it in Maine , like all the other trailers on the road . ( 5-yr @ $88.00 )
http://staabagency.com/faq
Bob

 

[MicroBird]

Trailers are just as bad , I have a Cam Superline , 9,000 GVW 18 ft car hauler registered to our DBA , it requires a $ 129. DOT sticker as a commercial trailer , I tow it with our Dodge 15 passenger maxi van , minus 3 seats , registered as a passenger vehicle , the Idiot Inspector wouldn't put a sticker on the trailer " Unless He could do the Van TOO , as it tows a commercial vehicle )
http://camsuperline.com/Trailers/Construction/5.php
I am ready to say the heck with it and register it in Maine , like all the other trailers on the road . ( 5-yr @ $88.00 )
http://staabagency.com/faq
Bob

I won't begin trying to tell you that our registration costs are cheap but that trailer is $20 for 5 years registration. I guess. They got that one right.