txtom Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 Landlord posted the following on a different thread, The plans were to leave wednesday night at 6 so we could slide through the Florida weigh station in the middle of the night Another member of this forum went to Pensacola a couple weeks ago to race, and before he left, he called both the weigh station, and the Florida DMV. He told them who he was, where he was coming from, what he was hauling, and where he was going. He asked them what he needed for permits, and he was told by supervisors at both locations that due to the amount of negative backlash they had gotten recently about the permit requirements, they had suspended the permit requirement for the time being. They had recieved inquiries from as high as the Governor's office about what they were doing. We have not heard much feedback from racers crossing the border the last few times they have gone. Anyone have anything to share? Pro or Con? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landlord Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 Mrs.Smith told us the same thing at 5flags but she did'nt realize we were in a tractor trailer(thought we was in a toter home)anyway we drove west down I-10 after the race at 5-flags and ther was a cop sitting at the weigh station who just sit and watched us drive by,so don't really know whats going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trlrider Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 Question and advice: On the Tractor/Trailer combo - is it licensed as a commercial motor vehicle or a motorhome (i.e. private vehicle), that has in at least 2" inch letters on the side "Not For Hire". I drive a truck for a living, and all vehicles licensed as Commercial Motor Vehicles, regardless of the use at that time must stop at the weigh stations if they are open. Non-Commercial Tractor/Trailer combos are not required to stop for inspection or weight. Although, the DOT of that state does have the option to pull you in, if they suspect you are transporting for-hire. If your units are not CMV's, make sure they say "NOT FOR HIRE" or "Private Motorhome" on the sides. Also, if you are operating a tractor/trailer combo - licensed for over 28,000# (I think that is the correct weight), the drivers of that vehicle are still required to have a Class A (non-CDL) with an air-brake endorsement from the state of origin. I have seen race haulers pulled over and the trucks impounded because the driver was not properly certified for the combination and weight of the unit. Another note for Florida, regardless of the classification of your unit, you are required to stop at the Port-Of-Entry's marked for produce and livestock inspection - These are almost always located just befor the Weigh Stations. Hope this helps! Unless Florida has changed the laws lately, this should still apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie49 Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 What they were referring to was a few months back many of the DPS was issuing tickets based on what they were hauling, not whether they were commercially licensed. Fla. DPS were being somewhat arbitrary, capricious, and downright arrogant in their interpretation of state law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted October 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 Although, the DOT of that state does have the option to pull you in, if they suspect you are transporting for-hire. They had decided that going to a short track race with a racecar was for hire. They were pulling in vehicles that were clearly marked recreational and not commercial. That fine lady at the Pensacola weigh station would look at the name on the car, call the track, and if the driver was paid a purse, the load was deemed for hire. BAM, there's a couple thousand in the coffers. And that leads to the next problem. You cannot pull in and ask what you need to be legal, and get it taken care of. On these matters, Florida is not considered a port of entry state. Instead of inspecting to determine what you need, they cite you for what is wrong. You are already in Florida, so you have already violated the law, and you are getting tagged. But it may have changed for now. Several folks have called as high as the Governor's office complaining, and maybe it has payed off, as they have had so many complaints about the enforcement, backed off for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiTech Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 isnt this the state with hanging chad.s .. what do you exspect .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trlrider Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Wow, that was the first I had ever heard of that! Interesting! Like you said, interesting intrerpetation. Even if the driver is paid a purse, that is winnings, and has nothing to do with interstate commerce. Has anyone taken the case to court, there is no way they could ever make it stick. Maybe that has something to do with them backing off. Even the NASCAR teams are not considered commercial, as they are hauling for a team owner, and not involved in interstate commerce. I will have to check into that with a friend that has a brother with the Florida DOT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted October 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Trlrider. To add to that post, the weigh station also told the teams they stopped that, since they were paid purse money, they were a business, and they could not register the hauler vehicle as an RV or non-commercial. In Florida they were considered commercial, and since they came from other states, they were interstrate commerce, and thus were required to have a US DOT stocker. To get that, you would have to register your racing as a business, and your vehicle as a commercial carrier. If you would like to hear more about what transpired, go back and search for postings by Kathy Smith, who goes by Casey19 on this board. Kathy and others were at the forefront of the questioning that went all the way to the Governor's office, the head of the Florida DOV, and also the Sheriff's and Highway Patrol offices. Anyone who gets to 5 flags without a weigh station hassle owes a debt of gratitude to Kathy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trlrider Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Trlrider. Kathy and others were at the forefront of the questioning that went all the way to the Governor's office, the head of the Florida DOV, and also the Sheriff's and Highway Patrol offices. Anyone who gets to 5 flags without a weigh station hassle owes a debt of gratitude to Kathy. TxTom, Thanks for the additional information, will look at the previous thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tps48 Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 I read recently that Floridas governor signed in to law legislation that exempted weekend racecar haulers from commercial vehicle status. I wonder if they refund fine money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Definitive Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Sounds like somebody is a race fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpiracing Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 This is the link for that particular revison of the law in Florida: http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2008-179.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landlord Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 They race EVERYTHING in Florida!!!!!!I'm sure they were scared it was going to hurt revenue!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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