The State is broke and I have been noticing more CHP side of the road inspections going on.
Anyway,I got flagged at the I-5 scales and written up for no MCP(motor carrier permit).I have driven the same truck (77 F350 10000 GVW))through these scales for years without ever being stopped. The way I read the law is 10,001 lbs and up GVW is the dividing line for the commercial truck, OR any truck used to haul OTHER peoples property for compensation. The CHP dude claimed ANY truck used for profit of ANY type had to have the MCP. Am I wrong on this?
Will be on the phone Monday to try to get clarification.
Because the increased insurance cost would be more than the truck is worth,I will just non -op it (a tank of gas is worth more than the truck).
I like the small flatbeds because so many of my yards are too tight for anything bigger.
Any thoughts or comments appreciated.:applause::applause:
Mike;
Go see the CHP up by Benton Air Park. I know some people that had good luck with them sorting things out.
Oh when you pay the fine don’t forget the $25.00 for each violation.
Thanks Dan. Will check it out. I don't have any problem with just paying 35 bucks for a number if that would be the end of it. But there really isn't any category on the I.D. # application for a 10,000 GVW truck.It says specifically MORE than 10,000.
I found this section of the Vehicle code that could be what they are using:
260. (a) A "commercial vehicle" is a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under this code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
No mention of GVW there.
Too many contradictions in the laws.Written by lawyers to assure themselves and their progeny plenty of work.
Maybe this thread is getting boring for anyone not in Ca. but hey you're all here for the almonds ,Right
Sounds like a shoot first, ask questions later operation. Their quotas probably jumped way up with the tax situation, they are hoping you don't ask too many questions.
I hope you get this cleared up with out too much trouble. -rick
We have this state route that the stateys work hard. I have bees in the fence row about a 100 yards from there turn around. Last year after the flow was over I was taking honey off, when a statey put a van of people over. They must have only been about 60 yards away. By this time I had all the honey off and ready to blow them out and the bees was robbing really bad. Well to make a long story short, the statey got the point. I think he got it real good too. I had 80 supers on my half ton and I would have love it if he would have pulled me over that day LOL.:lookout:
Mike;
I think that you said that your truck had a flatbed on it that opens up a whole new can of worms. I went up to the scales last year to see if my 77 Chevy 350 flat bed 1 ton with a boom could be registered as an implement of husbandry. The first thing they did was look at the sticker on the door to see if the GVW was less than 10,000 lb. Since it was originally designed to hold more than 1 person they would not buy that it was a farm truck. I license it for 15,000 because once you remove the pickup bed and change it a flatbed you have to deal with the CGVW. Both truck and trailer if you are pulling one.
Ask about putting NOT FOR HIRE on the sides of the truck.
Both of my trucks are one ton flatbeds with booms. The scale guy did say they could be registered at a higher GVW than the 10,000 on the door. Which would make sense as 1 tons are often(shall I say usually) overloaded. As long as the tires and brakes are up to the job and can pass the safety inspections.I see these side of the road inspections more frequently now,and have been pulled in on a few occasions.Ive seen out of state bee trucks pulled over too.
I was thinking the reason the Northbound scales are a major operation, but the southbound is still just a shack, might have to do with the huge amount of drugs going north up I-5 (thanks to the Mexican Mafia).The CHP knows this stuff is going by all the time.For a while the CHP was busting these drug runners almost every day, till the L.A. politicians accused them of racial profiling.
I have been told by hotshot drivers that putting NOT FOR HIRE on the door is a red flag to the CHP
sqkcrk, well of course there are not just targeting beeks (not enough $$ in that), however they are "in season" right now. The guys I know have been doing almonds for 20-30 years and have never even had a ticket for anything and there equipment is top notch, their loads tight and right the way they usually run, and no accidents. However this year there seems to be lots of extra scrutiny.
The news reports I have heard lately is that Ca may have to issue IOUs for tax returns and for payroll for state employees. This could mean every permit fee and ticky tacky citation they can come up with will be necessary to keep funding flowing to the state.
Loggermike I hope we get to hear the bottom line on your situation before it is time to trek down ourselves. I am wondering if I need the same permit?
The news reports I have heard lately is that Ca may have to issue IOUs for tax returns and for payroll for state employees. This could mean every permit fee and ticky tacky citation they can come up with will be necessary to keep funding flowing to the state.
John, Its my understanding that if you are legal to run commercial in your own state ,you should be ok here.Anyone correct me if thats wrong.
Putting bees on semis for the long haul looks better all the time, but you still need these small trucks for the final moves into the yards and orchards.
Well my one ton dodge flatbed says passenger vehicle on the reg and ins and we will be following a big rig down with the lift, despite this, we almost got a ticket in Ca last year for passing a scale and was told we have to stop at every one. In Oregon we never have to stop at scales. I am hoping for a trouble free pollination. Will I need to purchase a ticket to the dance to get the lift and feed tanks down there?
I was just talking with a friend who is a fairly large operator here. His opinion was to just do what you have been doing.Be safe, and secure everything, and if any problems develop just tell them you are a small family farm operation and don't know all the laws that are in effect here.
Its the truth -you don't-no one does!
Was also told not to make a mountain out of a molehill,that this stuff wasn't as bad as it might seem.
Sounds like good advice to me.
Lets see.Jack,Keith and HRS will be buying steak dinner for Jim. You can email him to make arrangements
I talked to the supervisor at CHP commercial. Then got a call from the officer at the scale who wrote the ticket, with a promise to dismiss it.He was very helpful and admitted that the law has some vague interpretations,but in Ca., if the manufacturers sticker says 10,000 or less it is not subject to the ID# and MCP permit.But only if you are not hauling someone elses property for compensation.
Get a truck with a sticker over 10,000 and Ca trucks are subject to it.
Now, you can go to the DMV and get a higher declared weight(as Ishi did) and still not be subject to the MCP.This will cover overload tickets, as long as the truck is within safety limits.My truck was 1300 lbs over and the chp gave us a break by not writing that up.
I asked about small out of state bee trucks.The CHP does not enforce registration issues for out of state at the scales , just weight and safety issues.He said anyone with questions should feel free to call the Cottonwood scales and just ask.
All right, thanks Mike.
Jack has already called to make arrangements to pay his gambling debts. As for Keith and HRS, I'll make it easy on you guys. Since HRS wanted to car pool and leave the tip, you two can meet Jack and I at Franks in Moke Hill (you guys say when but not Wednesday, they're closed) and since I can only eat one chicken fried steak, one of you can buy mine and the other can buy Jacks since he's looking a little puny lately, and I'm going to make him drive.
Salivatingly Yours, :waiting:
Jim
I wonder if the almond board or someone would consider producing a publication outlining rules and requirements for truck operation in California?
It is REALLY OBVIOUS that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing in regards to permits, licencing, rules, ect between departments in CA.
For example:
The first year that I went to almonds, a friend of mine told me that I needed a "trip permit" and a "Deisel permit" prior to entering CA.
So, I got on the phone and called CA DMV, Cal Dot, the state police; they all said that they had no idea what I'm talking about.
They said that as long as I was hauling my own cargo, no permits are necissary.
That same year, a few Oregon beekeepers were fined for no trip permit.
Last year a friend of mine was returning to Oregon in his truck and was waved off to a closed weigh station and "THEY" inspected everything with a fine tooth comb.
My friend was treated nicely and politely and told what they need to run their rigs in CA.
They were not fined.
They need their name and city on the door, DOT number, and some 3 or 5 year permit for $35.00 that no one has heard of, along with other requirements.
Once again, when my friend called around for the permits, no one had a clue.
I would like to see all of this in a pamphlet, with supportive quotes from respective agencies.
There is no excuse for all of the mystery. We want to do whatever we are supposed to to be legal! Who will take up this project?
Jack, Keith and I finally found time to have breakfast. High Rate of Speed didn't show up. He was probably busy moving bees. :scratch:
Like the gentleman he is, Keith paid, and since HRS wasn't there Jack left the tip. Breakfast is always good at Moke Hill and since I won the bet it was even better. Thanks again guys.
Jim
Hey jim.sorry i missed the party,been busy moving,We still have another week or so to go.Hope you will take a rain check or an IOU.[like the state of CA].LOL.DWe will definately have to go when I come back out to ca.
Hey HRS
No problem. Good reason for another breakfast meeting. As far as the IOU, I know you have to be in better shape than the State, no worries.
Jim
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