Weight restricted road ticket, I won...

I was driving a chemical tanker from Little Rock AR to West Helena AR earlier this year. When I turned onto highway 17 to avoid going through Brinkley, I was shocked to see a "ROAD WEIGHT LIMIT 4 MILES AHEAD" sign 100 yards down the road. For 4 miles I was looking for a place to pull over or turn around. There is basically NO shoulder on the road, the road was busy, there were a couple roads that I could have taken but I know better than turning onto an unknown road. I decided to go straight. Long story short, the DOT stopped me after I got on the restricted portion of the road.

I knew something was wrong when I got "trapped" on the road. Representing myself, I plead "not guilty" and a court date was set. I researched and researched for months until I found the MUTCD... the US Dept. of Transportation/Federal Highway, Administration, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices aka MUTCD.
THE BIBLE on all traffic control devices (signs, etc...). Every state follows the MUTCD in order to have the same signs (mostly) across the country.

The following cut and pastes are from the MUTCD and are applicable to "No Hazardous Materials" and "No Trucks" as well. I cut out everything except the Section number and the portion that applies.

Section 1A.02 Principles of Traffic Control Devices Support:
Guidance: 02 To be effective, a traffic control device should meet five basic requirements:
E. Give adequate time for proper response.

Section 1A.04 Placement and Operation of Traffic Control Devices
Guidance: 01 Placement of a traffic control device should be within the road user’s view so that adequate visibility is provided. To aid in conveying the proper meaning, the traffic control device should be appropriately positioned with respect to the location, object, or situation to which it applies. The location and legibility of the traffic control device should be such that a road user has adequate time to make the proper response in both day and night conditions.

Section 2B.59 Weight Limit Signs (R12-1 through R12-5)
Standard: 06 If used, the Weight Limit sign (see Figure 2B-29) shall be located in advance of the applicable section of highway or structure.
Guidance: 07 If used, the Weight Limit sign with an advisory distance ahead legend should be placed at approach road intersections or other points where prohibited vehicles can detour or turn around.

The same theme is followed with "No HM" and inferred to "No Trucks"

Section 2B.62 Hazardous Material Signs (R14-2, R14-3) Option: 01 The Hazardous Material Route (R14-2) sign (see Figure 2B-30) may be used to identify routes that have been designated by proper authority for vehicles transporting hazardous material. 02 On routes where the transporting of hazardous material is prohibited.
Guidance: 03 If used, the Hazardous Material Prohibition sign should be installed on a street or roadway at a point where vehicles transporting hazardous material have the opportunity to take an alternate route.

Bottom line is: They can't put a sign wherever they want, the must place it where a truck has adequate time to SAFELY and LEGALLY turn around or detour. ALL of the Arkansas weight restricted road are not marked correctly, the signs are only seen AFTER turning onto the road. I'm working on getting that changed.
Hope this is helpful.

 

Thank you.
Yes, I was born and raised in Camden, now living in Conway. I'm 57, been around a while but new to commercial trucking.

 

Monroe County. Had to go to court in Brinkley

 

I was going east on 70