[Mackie Family Racing]

Boys,

Well for those of us that thought the MI DoT were just picking on Canadian farmers, we were wrong... guess they also like Canadians that live in Michigan (i.e., me), too

We became the latest "overlength victims" on Friday, just south of Ithaca on M-127, on our way to the div'l at Stanton. Having read Bill's posts, and advice from Rock and others, I gave it all a try, but to no avail... We drove away (thankfully) with a citation for 17 feet over-length... 82'3" against a 65' "law"... My apologies to those of you that heard me crying about this at Mid-Michigan, but here again are the facts... advice, counsel and names of traffic attorneys in Gratiot County appreciated:

- we have a 45' Renegade (he measured it separately), and a 32' T&E stacker, with a 5' tongue... 82'3" according to Barney Fife

- I have my CDL, and up until Friday, I'm proud to say that I've driven for 33 years without a single traffic ticket of any kind... a completely clean record. Barney Fife wasn't particularly interested in that factoid either.

- after abusing me for not instantly pulling over onto the 4' wide shoulder -- I drove down another half mile to a lane merge from a dirt road -- he instantly went to the overlength gig. When he approached me from behind, he drove forward and back a couple 'o times, then pulled me over. I was doing 55mph at the time, and minding my business in light traffic.

- after measuring the rig, he asked me to open the side door. This was after he asked me if the water that was pouring out of the freshwater overflow (the tanks were full, the shoulder was heavily banked) was "grey water"... He then gave me about ten minutes of abuse about racing for a business (for those of you that know me, I realize you're probably laughing hysterically at this point), if we raced for money, why there were contingency stickers on the dragster, etc. He apparently took great interest in the provocative "Mackie Family Racing, Milford, MI" that we have on the back of the trailer... Eventually, he dropped all this nonsense and just focused on the length.

- he had a copy of the "Truck Driver's Handbook" handy, and gave it to me... he then indicated that the applicable legislation for motorhomes wasn't in that book -- and offered to print off the right stuff from his patrol vehicle. In the end, what he handed me was exactly the same stuff that Rock Haas had provided a link to somewhere in this message thread... and we all know that there's nothing in those regs that says anything about the max length for a motorhome/trailer combo

- I considered arguing hard when he gave me the paper -- and then decided not, as he'd already paper-clipped the citation to it... No fine specified on the citation -- I get the pleasure of contacting Judge Judy in Ithaca on Monday to find out how many children we have to sell to pay the fine.

- based on discussions with Rock and others at the track, I fully intend to fight the ticket. I also will make every effort to contact the gentleman that Rock spoke to at the MI DoT and try to get something from him in writing.

We made it home in one piece, although I panicked every time I saw K-car with a pizza bubble on the roof... thought it was another one of our trusted Commercial Vehicle Enforcement boys on duty.

All joking aside -- anyone that has fought this fight (in Michigan, please) -- let me know. As I'd say at least 50% of the rigs at Stanton this weekend were "overlength", per Barney Fife, I would imagine final resolution of this matter is critical. As I've posted previously, a 75' rule isn't going to help a lot of us... so I'd suggest the permit route (or special regs, like NC)... I have some gov't contacts through work, but if anyone has a better way -- thru a high school buddy that's in the legislature, or whatever-- it sounds like it'd be time well spent.

Sorry for the long post.

Scott Mackie