Towing In North Carolina

[John Warehime]

Get a lighter trailer, or stay out of NC.LOL, No really... I have a copy of the federal DOT laws that I carry. Federal law always trumps state law, however, any areas not clearly defined by the feds, are fair game for states. Anytime a NC state trooper gets you( a Yankee LOL!!) to over react, he can arrest your ***, and then you have a real moneymaker for the state (fines, legal fees, etc.). Remember your lawer is the cop's Brother-in-law.LOL. More revenue generating BS. See you at Atco.

[Bernie Cunningham]

Hey Jeff,
can you supply a link for that 390 exemption so we can print it out.
Thx.

[Mike Crutchfield]

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...0163348002325f

question 21

[BlueOval Ralph]

Only on Federal Funded Highway Interstate or US Highways not on State Roads

Originally Posted by John Warehime

Get a lighter trailer, or stay out of NC.LOL, No really... I have a copy of the federal DOT laws that I carry. Federal law always trumps state law, however, any areas not clearly defined by the feds, are fair game for states. Anytime a NC state trooper gets you( a Yankee LOL!!) to over react, he can arrest your ***, and then you have a real moneymaker for the state (fines, legal fees, etc.). Remember your lawer is the cop's Brother-in-law.LOL. More revenue generating BS. See you at Atco.

[chevy620]

I researched this about as much as I could for an article I wrote for www.dragracingonline.com a couple years ago.

Several things remain the same and some change minute to minute, depending on enforcement officer.

1. Weight is important but more so if you deduct the vehicles or the racing expenses from you Federal or STate taxes, that defines you as a commercial enterprise. You are "not for hire" but you would be commercial.
2. All states are short on funding and you can COUNT ON ONE THING, better enforcement to drive up revenues to save the enforcement officer's job.
3. The bottom line is actually this:

• be courteous if stopped.
• don't tell them what you have, let them tell you first.
• Ask what you can do to be in compliance.
• I will tell them I race for money, not profit. I cannot predict if a trip is going to net any revenue until it is over. If it does make money, I claim that money on my taxes.
• Personally, I tow with a regular diesel pusher motor home and have a 26' stacker. Coach is 29,000 lbs and trailer is about 15,000 lbs. Length is 72'. I have a Class A CDL with air brake endorsement and a copy of my DOT physical with my log book.
• I keep a very accurate log book, I carry the FMCSA Code Book (avaialble at any big truck stop), do my Pre-Trip inspections and log them in, carry the required spare fuses, emergency equipment any DOT / Commercial driver must have.
• If you look like you are making an effort to be compliant without in most cases you might get a warning. I got a THANK YOU in Missouri from a Trooper who said I was the first one he had stopped that year who actually had a log book and Pre-Trip records. He just told me to have a safe trip. He also liked "that thing" I was using behind my motor home, the Trailer Toad.

To ignore this problem is foolish but to try to become an over-the-road trucker as a weekend racer is absurd as well. Just meet them half-way and don't be a smart-a**. Most of those guys are OK, they have a tough job and if it looks like you are trying to be safe they will appreciate that.
If half of your lights are out, the tires look like crap, your safety chains are held on with wire ties and everything looks worn out.........expect to be checked. Their job includes protecting other people from your negligence.

I will try to get a link to my article up here later today so you have some information to think about.

You can expect more inspections with budget cuts. The guys with the toter homes and big white trucks with semi-truck type axle ratings, air brakes on the trailer, etc can expect to meet Federal DOT regulations very soon. It won;t matter if it is registered as a motor home according to DOT officials I interviewed. They will look at the axle weight rattings, tire weight limits, air brake endorsements on your CDL (you have one right?) and log book accuracy.

Regular motor homes will fly under the radar a little better, the AARP lobby for retired motor home owners is a strong force keeping motor homes away from the hassles. Even though I have to agree, an 80 year old at the wheel of a 40,000 lb Prevost does SCARE THE HE** OUT OF ME!!

Good luck and tow safe.

Jok Nicholson

[Tom Moock]

John Warehime, Federal laws don`t trump state laws when get pulled over by the state DOT officer,that your in at time, I have been driving a big truck for over 30 years. In Nebraska if your toterhome and trailer is over 65 feet total, you need to license it with commercial plates and have a CDL license. Tom

[chris3racing]

Okay let me give this a try with out all of the legal wording. North Carolina Motorsports Association worked to get House Bill -69 throught the North Carolina State General Assembly which modifies North Carolina GS-20-116. A vehicle may use any roads when in connection with motor sport competition including a cab or other motorized vehicle with or without sleeping quarters and an attached enclosed specialty trailer to to exceed 90 feet in length. Vehicle may operate on the roadways when either going to or from a competition event, going for fuel or maintenance or other travel related to motorsports competiton. Not a lawyer and this is the short version.

Steve Earwood and the members of the North Carolina Motorsports Association were involved in composing this bill. Won't help much if the troopers feels the need to give you a hard time. I had heard there was a trooper in the Greensboro area who just apparently does not like racers.

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by chevy620

I researched this about as much as I could for an article I wrote for www.dragracingonline.com a couple years ago.

Several things remain the same and some change minute to minute, depending on enforcement officer.

1. Weight is important but more so if you deduct the vehicles or the racing expenses from you Federal or STate taxes, that defines you as a commercial enterprise. You are "not for hire" but you would be commercial.
2. All states are short on funding and you can COUNT ON ONE THING, better enforcement to drive up revenues to save the enforcement officer's job.
3. The bottom line is actually this:

• be courteous if stopped.
• don't tell them what you have, let them tell you first.
• Ask what you can do to be in compliance.
• I will tell them I race for money, not profit. I cannot predict if a trip is going to net any revenue until it is over. If it does make money, I claim that money on my taxes.
• Personally, I tow with a regular diesel pusher motor home and have a 26' stacker. Coach is 29,000 lbs and trailer is about 15,000 lbs. Length is 72'. I have a Class A CDL with air brake endorsement and a copy of my DOT physical with my log book.
• I keep a very accurate log book, I carry the FMCSA Code Book (avaialble at any big truck stop), do my Pre-Trip inspections and log them in, carry the required spare fuses, emergency equipment any DOT / Commercial driver must have.
• If you look like you are making an effort to be compliant without in most cases you might get a warning. I got a THANK YOU in Missouri from a Trooper who said I was the first one he had stopped that year who actually had a log book and Pre-Trip records. He just told me to have a safe trip. He also liked "that thing" I was using behind my motor home, the Trailer Toad.

To ignore this problem is foolish but to try to become an over-the-road trucker as a weekend racer is absurd as well. Just meet them half-way and don't be a smart-a**. Most of those guys are OK, they have a tough job and if it looks like you are trying to be safe they will appreciate that.
If half of your lights are out, the tires look like crap, your safety chains are held on with wire ties and everything looks worn out.........expect to be checked. Their job includes protecting other people from your negligence.

I will try to get a link to my article up here later today so you have some information to think about.

You can expect more inspections with budget cuts. The guys with the toter homes and big white trucks with semi-truck type axle ratings, air brakes on the trailer, etc can expect to meet Federal DOT regulations very soon. It won;t matter if it is registered as a motor home according to DOT officials I interviewed. They will look at the axle weight rattings, tire weight limits, air brake endorsements on your CDL (you have one right?) and log book accuracy.

Regular motor homes will fly under the radar a little better, the AARP lobby for retired motor home owners is a strong force keeping motor homes away from the hassles. Even though I have to agree, an 80 year old at the wheel of a 40,000 lb Prevost does SCARE THE HE** OUT OF ME!!

Good luck and tow safe.

Jok Nicholson

i drive a hazmat tractor trailer, (hold a class a with every endorsment) and cannot answer all needed questions troopers can come up with. if they want to find something to fine you they can and will, i like jok's post because the best thing you can do is be very polite, do anything they ask and help in any way, if you are trying to comply not being a a-hole, it will go a long way. and by the way, they don't know what to think of the toad! (better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission)

[Roger K Fain]

I think I had the "original sin" 2 1/2 years ago near Mt. Airy, about two miles from the VA. border. One of you who posted that someone near the border has a ....on for racers is correct. His name is Marvin Graves and he is a weight and measures control officer who "lurks" at the border just picking off trailers of racers who appear otherwise law-abiding travelers. I appealed my case to the Governor of NC, and the Chief of the Weights and Measures Division, to no avail. It cost me $220.00 to visit the state of NC and I am still very bitter about it.

[63corvette]

I do not think the bureaucrats really think about the harrassment of out of state travellers when they hand out the fines and won't listen to reason. It really hurts their future travellers and visitors as people who race talk. We all leave a pretty good sum of money as we travel and race.
I have avoided NC and most of the north east due to the harrassment of vehicles with trailers. I also do not ever plan to visit Utah or cross the state again for the same reason. I have a trucker friend who drives around Colorado for the same reason. He always drives way out of what would be a normal route with his trucking fleet to miss Colorado due to harrassment from the state patrol.
It costs the states and their businesses and I have a very long memory for that type of thing.
My 2 Cents