Ohio DOT

[Germ]

I just got word that Ohio has dropped the 10001-26000lb rules for commercial vehicles.

 

[730d se]

Whatever the states do, they cannot go below the Federal DOT rules.

 

[Oldmax]

What do you mean by droped the rules. That they aren't going to check rigs under 26.000 or they are. The state Of OH. stoped me pulling a 16' tandom empty. to check for brakes. break away, tires, Lights & any thing else they could think of.

 

[Germ]

They are not going to be checking for now. The press release is in the link below.
PUCO

 

[mkirsch]

States could save a LOT of money in these hard financial times by lightening up on the DOT enforcement. I think Ohio might've figured that out.

I know you guys say the fines for violations are a revenue maker for states, but that just doesn't make sense. With the way government operates, fines would have to average thousands of dollars per violation for the state to make any sort of profit on the deal, and/or officers would have to be writing tickets every minute of every shift.

No, it's just a taxpayer-funded job mill guys.

 

[Germ]

I agree, but the more fine money they bring in, the better they can justify their existence. It's all government math so it won't add up for those of us that are in the private sector.


There might be more money in it than we think. I'm in an area with 3 interstates and 11 state routes within a 10 miles radius. I probably see more DOT than highway patrol, sheriffs, and locals. DOT always has someone pulled over. Figure minimum of 8 stops a day and an average of $120/ stop (1 light out or "deemed" dimmer than the rest) and that's $960 per shift per DOT officer. Last fall there were 10 of them in a 100 mile stretch of I71 in Ohio and every one of them had someone pulled over.

On Tuesday, we took lunch and drove past a local truck stop. One of my employees saw 2 DOT driving through the lot. He said they look just like hookers prowling the lot.....

 

[Oldmax]

I don't have a falt with checking for Lights. chains. brakes. hitches, tires & ETC. but to have a DOT # to haul your tractor to your farm twice a year.

 

[Dick L]

This is just funny! (roadside educational stops)

They already edjamacated me to the point I dont by tag for three commercial units.

They dont get tag money, fuel tax and the loss of revenue to tire sales, fuel of food while on the road. I also don't hire drivers anymore. I only carry insurance on those units that takes care of damage while parked. That is the way they boost the economy.

I think our Governor here in Ohio has figured that out.

 

[Dick L]

You think not. Explain why the feds turn their backs on our boarder problem. They inforce laws where it get the most votes or where it looses the least votes.

 

[john_Bud]

(quoted from post at 05:07:59 03/18/11) States could save a LOT of money in these hard financial times by lightening up on the DOT enforcement. I think Ohio might've figured that out.

I know you guys say the fines for violations are a revenue maker for states, but that just doesn't make sense. With the way government operates, fines would have to average thousands of dollars per violation for the state to make any sort of profit on the deal, and/or officers would have to be writing tickets every minute of every shift.

No, it's just a taxpayer-funded job mill guys.

I hate to break it to you, they are paying for the officers if they write tickets or just eat donuts, but writing tickets keeps them all busy, happy and pays a few bills. Oh, most DOT tickets ARE well over $1000. Last 2 I heard about were $2200ish and $1800ish.

Now if they quit writing those tickets AND fired the enforcement officers, judges, etc then they might save some $$. But that ain't gonna happen.

 

[Germ]

I see your getting a new warehouse distribution center up in your corner of the state soon. The need access for 120000lb trucks coming from MI and hadn't been able to get a waiver. Took the new gov 90 minutes to make it happen, otherwise the project went to Iowa.