Need input on overlength issues

cmcc · 12-31-2008, 04:55 PM

Met with a Texas State Representative for about 2 hours today about the problems a lot of us are having with overlength trucks and trailers. Seems that THP west of Abilene has discovered a new cash cow. We need any information from other State DOT, Federal DOT, or references to anything that may help in possibly passing some legislation that will help solve our problem. Yea, I know the solution will be to go back to a dually and gooseneck. Been there, done that, don't want to go back.

Seems that all the information about this issue only pertains to commercial vehicles. We even tried to register everything as commercial and were told that a motorhome cannot be registered as commercial. Even tried to buy a permit from TXDOT for overlength and we were told that they could only issue a permit to a commercial vehicle. Told the THP officer this and he said that was wrong and kept writing the ticket.

Anything information will be helpful. Thanks

63corvette · 12-31-2008, 06:14 PM

Did he write you only a ticket for length?
How long were you?
Did he mention the CDL issue?
Was it a toter or a motor home?
I also live in TX and have been to about 30 of the lower 48 states and have yet to be stopped.
Just curious as to the issue I will also face at some point I am sure.

cmcc · 01-02-2009, 10:47 AM

He only wrote me a ticket for overlength. I was the second he had stopped that day. I was afraid he was going to make me unhook and have the trailer towed, but he didn't. He took out a tape and measured the total length of motorhome and trailer. I was almost 20 ft over. Ticket was for $258.00. He did bring up the fact that I needed a Class A license, not a CDL because I was not commercial.

The officer was very nice. We spent about 45 minutes after he presented me with the ticket discussing the overlength issue. His opinion was that there was not any additional danger to anyone or anything by being overlength, but the law has been 65 ft. forever. He also stated that the rigs we drive or in better condition and safer than most of the trucks on the road today.

So on the way home I decided to try to do something to help all of us. The State Reprsentative has been a friend for a long time and I'm sure he will do what he can. That's why we need some input from other areas. If we can get something done in Texas, then maybe other states will follow.

63corvette · 01-02-2009, 05:47 PM

Well at least he was cordial about it.
Most states have a 75 ft limit and on the interstates all across the country it is 75 ft as federal law trumps state law on the interstates so as I am told and believe I have a copy of the rules in my motor home. I am 73 ft and have yet to be stopped and measured.
I did a lot of research before I bought my motor home and actually spent some time in the Drivers License office prior to purchasing it. My motor home has a GVW of 31,800 lbs so I asked a lot of questions about the CDL. The officer kept telling me as long as it is not registered as a commercial vehicle and I only used it as my personal motor home all I needed was a class C no matter what it weighed.
I have race friends from other states who have been ticketed for a 5th wheel pulled by a dually pickup with a GVW over 12,000 lbs for not having the CDL. I think it all depends on the officer.
Utah seems to be hard on the 5th wheel dually pickup setup. The Colorado friends were ambushed at the Nevada/Utah border after driving completely across Utah on the way to the Las Vegas race a few years back. The Utah Patrol parked them until they could get someone with a CDL to drive it across the border into Nevada only a few miles away. Oh by the way there just happened to be a guy available locally to do that for a price. Some paid the tickets issued others fought the tickets. I know at least one who fought the ticket did get it dismissed but there was the hassle with it all.
Florida has a online purchase for over length for a trip or by the year. I think it is like $10 for a trip and maybe $25 for a year. They do enforce it and if you buy the trip you better not leave your scheduled route.
Most states as I said earlier do have the 75 ft limit.
Texas can write tickets to almost every trucker as when I pull into a truck stop to fill up I am usually not nearly the longest rig in line.
My 2 Cents

Jeff Beckman · 01-04-2009, 02:53 PM

DPS,You obviously dont race. No one wants to break the law you horses ***, did Momma not breast feed you? You sound like a total jerk. Racers would like a legal way to get from a to b. We do not street race. What state do you call home? I went to a combanation that is under 75 feet because most racers are under the same understanding that other post have made. When I see a CDL driver with 3 trailers going 85 down a mountain hopped up on meth, I know we all take comfort in you writing someone with a hobby a ticket. Now that was not nearly as rude as your response. Get a clue dip ****!

63corvette · 01-04-2009, 03:14 PM

DPS Ticket Writer from your post your ego is just a little to big for you just because you carry a gun and have a little authority in YOUR STATE!!!!!!!!!!!
Why not go after the REAL CRIMINALS!!!!!!!! Or are they a little to tough for you? You had rather HASSLE a regular citizen!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The people who go to this forum are just looking for information and not as a way to break the law.
I agree there are some rigs that are unsafe but the majority of the unsafe rigs are commercial trucks and mostly the drivers.
I travel across the country regularly and the way some commercial truckers drive is a real criminal act.
You are new to the forum as listed from your posts and you need to get a clue and hang your BIG EGO next to the computer before you start typing.
The EGO'S your profession is known for is part of the problem with some people not respecting your profession. Respect gains Respect period.
Been There And Done That.
My 2 Cents

12-31-2008, 04:55 PM	#1
cmcc Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need input on overlength issues Met with a Texas State Representative for about 2 hours today about the problems a lot of us are having with overlength trucks and trailers. Seems that THP west of Abilene has discovered a new cash cow. We need any information from other State DOT, Federal DOT, or references to anything that may help in possibly passing some legislation that will help solve our problem. Yea, I know the solution will be to go back to a dually and gooseneck. Been there, done that, don't want to go back. Seems that all the information about this issue only pertains to commercial vehicles. We even tried to register everything as commercial and were told that a motorhome cannot be registered as commercial. Even tried to buy a permit from TXDOT for overlength and we were told that they could only issue a permit to a commercial vehicle. Told the THP officer this and he said that was wrong and kept writing the ticket. Anything information will be helpful. Thanks

12-31-2008, 06:14 PM	#2
63corvette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canyon, Tx Posts: 554 Likes: 128 Liked 362 Times in 105 Posts	Re: Need input on overlength issues Did he write you only a ticket for length? How long were you? Did he mention the CDL issue? Was it a toter or a motor home? I also live in TX and have been to about 30 of the lower 48 states and have yet to be stopped. Just curious as to the issue I will also face at some point I am sure.

01-02-2009, 10:47 AM	#3
cmcc Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Need input on overlength issues He only wrote me a ticket for overlength. I was the second he had stopped that day. I was afraid he was going to make me unhook and have the trailer towed, but he didn't. He took out a tape and measured the total length of motorhome and trailer. I was almost 20 ft over. Ticket was for $258.00. He did bring up the fact that I needed a Class A license, not a CDL because I was not commercial. The officer was very nice. We spent about 45 minutes after he presented me with the ticket discussing the overlength issue. His opinion was that there was not any additional danger to anyone or anything by being overlength, but the law has been 65 ft. forever. He also stated that the rigs we drive or in better condition and safer than most of the trucks on the road today. So on the way home I decided to try to do something to help all of us. The State Reprsentative has been a friend for a long time and I'm sure he will do what he can. That's why we need some input from other areas. If we can get something done in Texas, then maybe other states will follow.

01-02-2009, 05:47 PM	#4
63corvette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canyon, Tx Posts: 554 Likes: 128 Liked 362 Times in 105 Posts	Re: Need input on overlength issues Well at least he was cordial about it. Most states have a 75 ft limit and on the interstates all across the country it is 75 ft as federal law trumps state law on the interstates so as I am told and believe I have a copy of the rules in my motor home. I am 73 ft and have yet to be stopped and measured. I did a lot of research before I bought my motor home and actually spent some time in the Drivers License office prior to purchasing it. My motor home has a GVW of 31,800 lbs so I asked a lot of questions about the CDL. The officer kept telling me as long as it is not registered as a commercial vehicle and I only used it as my personal motor home all I needed was a class C no matter what it weighed. I have race friends from other states who have been ticketed for a 5th wheel pulled by a dually pickup with a GVW over 12,000 lbs for not having the CDL. I think it all depends on the officer. Utah seems to be hard on the 5th wheel dually pickup setup. The Colorado friends were ambushed at the Nevada/Utah border after driving completely across Utah on the way to the Las Vegas race a few years back. The Utah Patrol parked them until they could get someone with a CDL to drive it across the border into Nevada only a few miles away. Oh by the way there just happened to be a guy available locally to do that for a price. Some paid the tickets issued others fought the tickets. I know at least one who fought the ticket did get it dismissed but there was the hassle with it all. Florida has a online purchase for over length for a trip or by the year. I think it is like $10 for a trip and maybe $25 for a year. They do enforce it and if you buy the trip you better not leave your scheduled route. Most states as I said earlier do have the 75 ft limit. Texas can write tickets to almost every trucker as when I pull into a truck stop to fill up I am usually not nearly the longest rig in line. My 2 Cents

01-04-2009, 02:53 PM	#5
Jeff Beckman Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 308 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Need input on overlength issues DPS,You obviously dont race. No one wants to break the law you horses *, did Momma not breast feed you? You sound like a total jerk. Racers would like a legal way to get from a to b. We do not street race. What state do you call home? I went to a combanation that is under 75 feet because most racers are under the same understanding that other post have made. When I see a CDL driver with 3 trailers going 85 down a mountain hopped up on meth, I know we all take comfort in you writing someone with a hobby a ticket. Now that was not nearly as rude as your response. Get a clue dip *! __________________ Jeff Beckman 318J ET, SG 318T SC Last edited by Jeff Beckman; 01-04-2009 at 06:19 PM.*

01-04-2009, 03:14 PM	#6
63corvette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canyon, Tx Posts: 554 Likes: 128 Liked 362 Times in 105 Posts	Re: Need input on overlength issues DPS Ticket Writer from your post your ego is just a little to big for you just because you carry a gun and have a little authority in YOUR STATE!!!!!!!!!!! Why not go after the REAL CRIMINALS!!!!!!!! Or are they a little to tough for you? You had rather HASSLE a regular citizen!!!!!!!!!!!!! The people who go to this forum are just looking for information and not as a way to break the law. I agree there are some rigs that are unsafe but the majority of the unsafe rigs are commercial trucks and mostly the drivers. I travel across the country regularly and the way some commercial truckers drive is a real criminal act. You are new to the forum as listed from your posts and you need to get a clue and hang your BIG EGO next to the computer before you start typing. The EGO'S your profession is known for is part of the problem with some people not respecting your profession. Respect gains Respect period. Been There And Done That. My 2 Cents