Now that you are saying it, how many are wondering on the road whether you should stop at the local weighing station? Well, I never thought of that possibility of having to do that, but perhaps you want to read further for the scale.
The answer is Yes and No, depending on the state in which you are driving and the specific laws. However, after researching this topic I should say that the answer in general is no. Correct judgment always plays a role in travel and knowing state laws can certainly make your travels a lot less complicated. Let’s take a look at this perplexing question.
IS THE LAW REALLY THE LAW?
The AAA Digest or Motor Laws (online accessible) will give you almost all the answers that you need to know about various rarities of the law while driving. Although there are specific state laws for weighing stations, it seems that most states look the other way when an RV passes by.
You can be sure that your KGWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) is less than 10,000 pounds, you will never have to stop at a weighing station in the US. GCWR means the maximum permissible weight of a vehicle, its passengers and freight including the pulling of an RV and its contents.
For example, a pick-up truck may have a GCWR of £ 15,000. Let’s assume that the weight of the truck, with passengers and cargo, is 6,800 lbs. This gives you the possibility of an 8,200 lb. RV that is fully loaded (including freight).
In fact, there are almost half of the states whose laws state that a stop is necessary or that specific laws have been drawn up if your GCWR is more than 10,000 lbs.
When you combine your towing vehicle, your motorhome plus the load in both, you can very well exceed 10,000 lbs. Let’s not forget the campers. Many campers tow a vehicle and remember that everything counts in the world of weighing stations.
The weight limit of Colorado and Oregon states 26,000 pounds. If your RV or vehicle / RV combination exceeds that amount, a stop at the weighing station is necessary.
An officer may require you to stop at a weighing station or you may be guided by signage in Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. These states do not have a specific weight limit for campers and vehicles. They simply have random checks at their own discretion.
Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey and Wisconsin require a single or combined (towing a trailer or a car) vehicles to stop at weighing stations if the GCWR is 10,000 pounds. or more.
The Pennsylvania laws simply state that, regardless of size, every “large” recreational vehicle is subject to inspection. I suppose it’s up to you to understand the meaning of & # 39; big & # 39; to decide.
South Dakota, Virginia and Washington report trucks above the weight limit of 8,000, 7,500 and 10,000 lbs respectively, stopping at weighing stations. Since the word & # 39; commercial & # 39; is not included in the description of a truck, a double check of the weighing station laws in these states can reassure you.
It seems that, while in Canada, every officer could oblige you to switch to a weighing station based on the direction of the officer. You can be asked for an officer or a sign. Nova Scotia was the only province in Canada that specifically stated that “all vehicles weighing more than 4,500 kg (9,920 pounds) must stop, or when referenced by a sign.”
DO I REALLY DO THIS?
Now that all of this has been said, are you already confused? I had certainly been further investigated with some states to ensure that what I was reading related to RVs.
The New Jersey law states: “New Jersey requires all vehicles weighing 10,001 lbs. Or more roads.” Louisiana’s law states: “The following vehicles must stop: (1) agricultural vehicles; (2) Passenger or special vehicles, individually or in combination (towing a trailer) with GVWR of 10,000 lbs. or more; (3) commercial trucks with GVWR of 10,000 lbs. or more.”
Yes, I agree with you. This leaves many questions in the mind of the law-abiding citizen who tries to interpret everything and to do the right thing.
So I read dozens of RV forums with 99% forum converters who agree that you never have to stop at a weigh station when you drive a camper or pull a camper because it is not “commercial”. These 99% stated that they had never stopped and had not ever been persuaded to stop.
The forum discussions I read related to many people who have driven in the lower 48 states, professional semi-trucks, or wanna-be-lawyers who interpret the law of a state. As the conversation progressed, it is most likely that you have a view of a weighing station where you go in, have a look of “why are you here for heaven’s sake? & # 39; Or a laugh and a wave to get you out of the way.
I have read from one gentleman who said that he was “expired” in NM because he did not stop at the weighing station. Another obeyed a sign along his travels that stated that RVs should stop at the weigh station.
If an officer sends you by or dictates a sign that ALL vehicles have to cross over a certain weight limit or RVS, common sense will certainly tell you to stop. Perhaps there is a certain piece of road or a specific reason why RVs are guided through the weighing station. You do not want to get a chance to get a fine. As the saying goes: “better than cure”.
CONCLUSION
As with many other areas of life, one must bring this question to life. If you are new to RVing in other parts of the country, I can fully relate. My husband and I are not yet on our way to the wild blue sky, so we will be involved in different state laws to learn and get used to ourselves. It is absolutely valuable to know laws on bridges, tunnels, weighing stations and the like along the way.
Hmmm, should RVs stop at weighing stations?
Despite their name, scales are not the only thing used at weighing stations. Many weighing stations carry out visual safety checks, such as checking tires and wheel nuts to check that the wheels are properly secured. In addition, some inspectors will check the suspension of a truck and outside lights. Bridges in the US are designed to have an acceptable maximum weight of 800 lbs. of tire pressure per square inch. This is federal legislation, but it is up to each state to enforce it via weighing stations.
Having sufficient manpower is a problem in many road stations. Trucks are known to pass weighing stations, but the station lacks the manpower to bring them back.
With that said, it seems more likely that an RV does not have to stop a weighing station, and I have not found a great discretion that an RVER has succumbed to by not stopping. Playing “stupid” when you are stopped can not hurt either.
If you are a kind of “play it safe”, you can have fun on the way at some weighing stations in states that have so-called law in their books, just to do your own checks and balances or you have to weigh Naturally keep RVers also of the adventurous type, so maybe you want “Thelma and Louise” to just do it on the highway and laugh when you pass the weighing station.
We would love to hear from those of you reading this on every weighing station experience or knowledge you have. Leave us a message.