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jroqueman
Joined: 24 Jun 2006
Posts: 200
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:35 am Post subject: Is it legal to go around the scales? |
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| Dodging the Scales: the great trucking-American passtime. |
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bcbasher
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Posts: 153
Location: Battle Creek Michigan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| do it in Michigan and get busted doing it its a pretty hefty fine. buddy of mine did it about a year back going around the grass lake scale on 94. i don't recall the fine bu i do know that it was pretty hefty |
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zz4guy
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 24
Location: Marion, IA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| By dodging the scales do you mean actually pass by them or take an exit before the scale exit and go an alternate route? |
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Uturn2001
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 4607
Location: East Central IL between the corn and the beans
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:11 am Post subject: |
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It all depends on what area you are in.
In many areas if you jump off and back on within a few miles of a scale house and do not have business on the route you took then yes it is often illegal.
In other areas it is perfectly acceptable to take an alternate route, just make sure that it does not look like you purpose for the route is to bypass scales. |
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yoopr
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 12866
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| yep-you can get ticketed for bypassing scales-Better make up a good story in advance on why you're on a road that goes around them. |
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Bush Bunny
Joined: 02 Jun 2005
Posts: 1528
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:14 am Post subject: |
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| Nope never legal to bypass a scale. Must be hiding something and if you are caught well be ready for the book to be thrown at you. |
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btinc
Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 708
Location: N. Ca
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Uturn2001 wrote: It all depends on what area you are in.
In many areas if you jump off and back on within a few miles of a scale house and do not have business on the route you took then yes it is often illegal.
In other areas it is perfectly acceptable to take an alternate route, just make sure that it does not look like you purpose for the route is to bypass scales.
I will agree with Uturn, it really depends, many by pass the scales on I-40 in West Memphis, Ar using U.S. 70. In Ca many of the locals complain about trucks by passing the scales in Santa Clarita using the frontage roads right in front of the scales, however Ca Dot says it's a perfectly legal route and there is nothing they can do about it. However in other places they will try to hang you. |
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2000Volvo770
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Temperance Mi
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Is it legal to go around the scales? |
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[quote="jroqueman"]Dodging the Scales: the great trucking-American passtime.[/quote]
I guessing you are heavy with that big bunk truck. :roll: :lol: |
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jroqueman
Joined: 24 Jun 2006
Posts: 200
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: Is it legal to go around the scales? |
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[quote="2000Volvo770"][quote="jroqueman"]Dodging the Scales: the great trucking-American passtime.[/quote]
I guessing you are heavy with that big bunk truck. :roll: :lol:[/quote]
I will just say that I am pleasantly plump at times. |
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jroqueman
Joined: 24 Jun 2006
Posts: 200
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:39 am Post subject: Bypassing Casaic CA Scales |
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[ In Ca many of the locals complain about trucks by passing the scales in Santa Clarita using the frontage roads right in front of the scales, however Ca Dot says it's a perfectly legal route and there is nothing they can do about it.
Just an update on bypassing the Santa Clarita scales on the frontage road. That road is marked as a 7,000 lb weight limit. The road also takes you right by CHP's front door. I would not recommend that bypass route for that scale. |
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geeshock
Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 325
Location: Hertford, NC
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| Only time I've passed them is when traffic conditions wouldn't let me over or the scales state otherwise, ie, yesterday on I-495 (Capitol beltway yesterday) or one that states when scale is full to bypass it. 99% of the time I've pulled in though. |
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btinc
Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 708
Location: N. Ca
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:46 am Post subject: Re: Bypassing Casaic CA Scales |
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jroqueman wrote: [ In Ca many of the locals complain about trucks by passing the scales in Santa Clarita using the frontage roads right in front of the scales, however Ca Dot says it's a perfectly legal route and there is nothing they can do about it.
Just an update on bypassing the Santa Clarita scales on the frontage road. That road is marked as a 7,000 lb weight limit. The road also takes you right by CHP's front door. I would not recommend that bypass route for that scale.
My fault not the side where the scales are but the south side of the interstate the old highway road, however it's been a while since i needed to use that road maybe it has changed. |
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BanditsCousin
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 3195
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:23 am Post subject: |
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Legal....maybe...fast....no!
I try to keep my books up to date and BOL's ready anytime on the road in case I get pulled in. The better prepared you are at the scale house, the less likely you'll get a lever 1,2, or 3 inspection. Last night at the Manchester, TN scale, they were opening each drivers door! When they saw my paperwork/insurance/BOL's ready to roll, they waved me through after climbing up and peeking in the sleeper. Took me 20 min to get through that scale :x
BTW- If you bypass the Manchester scale- you're an idiot. I did that with a straight truck a few years ago and that was horrible! |
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lojak
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 141
Location: TN/NC
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:40 am Post subject: |
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Now, see, that's the kind of thing that really pisses me off. I probably would have gotten pulled around back because I keep my door locked and I don't beleive that they have the right to open your door and look in your truck without a warrant. I would have expressed that belief and since cops are not famous for their tolerance to disagreement I expect I would have done a Level 1.
Of course I would also have felt good about making them adhere to the Constitution. |
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BanditsCousin
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 3195
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:56 am Post subject: |
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| True, but the DOT has the right to inspect any truck they wish. Besides, if I was a cop, and someone refused to open, the first thing I would suspect if that the driver is hiding something :wink: I play "yes sir" "No sir" and, as it played out, worked well for me. The harder the time you give them, the harder time they give you. |
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