NC Towing Laws ?

Ron Spencer · **Posted:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:03 pm

If we think about it it makes sense right? How can the DMV say you're not registered for enough weight if there is no weight listed? But hen I'm applying logic to the law and that rarely works:)

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:35 am

if memory serves me, my F350 came from the dealer with a regular everyday tag. granted it is a 2004.

i think the point here is; if you plan to tow a trailer without a weighted tag and you get pulled by DMV Enforcement, you will get a ticket.

Ron Spencer · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:00 am

Steve I don't think that is correct. Only if a weight is listed on your registration do you need to consider getting a weighted plate. No reason to spend the extra $$ if its not needed.

But that's just me......

Ron

Scott Lusted · **Joined:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:52 am **Posts:** 215

Back from the DMV. I talked with two different people and they said that a weighted tag is only required if the vehicle is pulling a fifth wheel.

Trailers must adhear to nc requirements (brakes, lights, breakaway) and GCW must be within manufactures specifications.

So, sounds like I'm goooood. I didn't ask if this was county specific but that is what I got for Iredell.

-Scott

RichardNuss · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:50 am

Scott Lusted wrote:

Back from the DMV. I talked with two different people and they said that a weighted tag is only required if the vehicle is pulling a fifth wheel.

That is definitely not correct. I have a friend who got pulled by NC DMV, weighed, and ticketed for not having a weighted plate on his 1/2-ton pickup when pulling a bumper-pull trailer with his vehicle on it.

The folks at the DMV plate/registration office have no idea what the law is - I get different "suggestions" from them every time.

Scott Lusted wrote:

I didn't ask if this was county specific but that is what I got for Iredell.

None of the DMV towing laws we're discussing are county-specific. They are NC state laws.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:48 pm

Here is the link:

http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/vehicle_servic ... Manual.pdf

See 1.3 starting on pdf page 114 and also search:

Property carrying vehicle
Multi-Purpose vehicle
House Car

Scott Lusted · **Joined:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:52 am **Posts:** 215

OK Guys,

I think this is something that could vary from case to case.

I talked to the DVM HQ and I finally got a reasonable answer. It lines up with what Ron was saying.

First off, the fifth wheel thing is wrong.

The guy told me that in general, most SUV's, vans, and cars do not require a weighted tag. Generally, all pickups require a weighted tag if towing anything. This all assumes the towing is for recreation only. All commercial towing requires a weighted tag irregardless of the vehicle.

The guy even laughed at the rule being backwards but that is how it states.

In my case, he pulled the reg info on both of my vehicles and said I was legal with regular plates. I guess +1 for towing with an suv. Need to consider that in the future...

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

yet another reason to love the excursion

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:22 pm

Here's what Bernie found in the DOT registration manual. I highlighted the part that I believe applies to those of us who tow.

1.1 COMMERCIAL/PERMANENT PLATES G.S. 20-88
Private passenger and property hauling vehicles are those vehicles owned, operated and used solely for personal or
private business purposes and are not engaged in transporting passengers or goods for compensation.
When such vehicles are commercially operated regularly in transporting property, license fees are based on the
owner’s declared gross vehicle weight from 7,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds. Gross vehicle weight is defined by
statute as the empty weight of the vehicle plus the heaviest load to be carried including the driver.
Small Trucks With Declared Gross Vehicle Weight --4,000, 5,000 or 6,000 Pounds:
1. Not classified for commercial licensing
2. Issued the First in Flight plate
3. May not legally park in loading zones
It is important to determine how the owner will use such vehicles in order to indicate on the title application the
proper class of license. Civil penalties for failure to comply with registration requirements can be severe.
Vehicles operating with insufficient license weight as required under G.S.20-99 (a), may be assessed fines ranging
from $l0.00 to $7,000 per vehicle violation.
Effective January 1, 2003 all vehicles with a declared weight of 7,000 to 26,000 will be issued a commercial plate
showing the word “Weighted.” Vehicles weighing 26,001 through 80,000 pounds will be issued a new permanent
truck plate.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:20 pm

Well, after reading all of this, it's now clear as mud.........

:shock:

I guess those of you who choose to not get weighted plates will probably never have a problem, as long as you don't get a DMV inspector who's had a bad day, or who just got back from a training class pertaining to overweight fines. Seriously, you'll probably never have an issue- but the question about what is "right" or "legal" still remains unanswered.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:32 pm

A couple of years ago a bunch of us stopped in Aberdeen for dinner after an AX in L'burg. One of the guys @ the table got a phone call from a friend telling him that we should all just sit tight for a couple of hours before continuing home. It seems there was a "trap" just north of Aberdeen stopping everyone whbo was towing. If you didn't have weighted tags they were handing out citations. Just a side bar tothis conversation.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:51 pm

Gwen Baake wrote:

A couple of years ago a bunch of us stopped in Aberdeen for dinner after an AX in L'burg. One of the guys @ the table got a phone call from a friend telling him that we should all just sit tight for a couple of hours before continuing home. It seems there was a "trap" just north of Aberdeen stopping everyone whbo was towing. If you didn't have weighted tags they were handing out citations. Just a side bar tothis conversation.

actually Gwen, they stopped everyone that remotely looked like they had just left L'Burg. cars with up-graded exhausts etc.

the DMV guy couldn't find anything more than a lack of a trailer inspection sticker for my fine. i still have that sticker dated 2004.

haven't had an issue since.

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

Just in case anyone is doing research on weighted tags....
I was transporting a busted Sentra to the scrap metal yard so I got to drive over the scales going in and out (payment is based on the difference) and discovered that my F250 diesel quad cab + steel deck trailer + Sentra + plus a little household junk came to almost 12K pounds. I figure that would rack up quite the penalty for my 4000 Lb rated tag (that rating was done by the DMV based on the previous owner's declaration). I "suspected" that I was probably risking a fine but hadn't realized just how high that could be.
Sheet 148 of the DMV downloadable PDF file (referenced later) indicates that a vehicle licensed for non-commercial use can have a combined weight (vehicle + trailer + all contents) of 9,000 or less. Above that weight you are basically a commercial vehicle. Pages 138, 148, and 151 are key places to start reading. Page 151 has the rates for various weight limits. There is a big jump from 12,000 to 14,000 Lbs.

NC Title Manual, 14th Edition. Revised August 2011
http://www.ncdot.gov/download/dmv/NCTitleManual.pdf
At only 335 pages this is a great evening read :lol:

Charlie G

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