Non-Commercial Trip

Ok folks, before I tell you about my recent trip let me provide the background.
I own a semi and trailer that is 100% for personal use. I haul my own horses for personal use and 0% of it is commercial. The horses are not for sale. I am also in the process of moving from MI to OH so I bought this set up to move my belongings myslef. The combo weigh over 26000 LBS.
Many people have their opinions on the requirements for doing what I do and I have spent tons of time researching the requirements for both me and the truck/trailer. I have spoken to countless Michigan Department of Transportation officials as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Saftey Division.
Several years ago I received an F endorsement. This enabled me to drive the truck for any reason within 150 air miles of home. At the time, I did not even have a truck but thought I needed this so I went and got it.
Bought the truck in the spring and the trailer a few months after that. Important to note that the truck is registered in Michigan as a Farm vehicle in my wife's name and the trailer is registered in Ohio as a commercial trailer and agin in my wife's name. They are registered this way because it was the only way to not have apportioned plates that cost thousands. It was not our request!
After getting the truck I thought I needed a DOT # so I applied for one. Put the # and "Not for Hire" on the doors. After discussions with the DOT folks they said I do not need a DOT # and fall under no more regulations than a passenger car because nothing I was doing was considered commercial. So I pulled the information off of the truck and had absolutey no markings anywhere on the truck or trailer.
So we left with me only having an F endorsement (no cdl) and I ran no log book the entire trip. We routinely drove for 16-18 hours a day and I was the only driver.
Anyway, so a few weeks ago we leave Michigan for a trip out west. When I say we, it was me, my wife, and our 10 month old son. We left our place to with two horses on board. We headed south to OK to visit with friends first. I guess we got lucky because we left on Saturday morning and most if not all of the scales were closed. First open scale was in Missouri and sign said "All commercial vehicles must enter". We rollled on by an nobody ever came to get us so we kept going.
Next open scale was just north of Denver. Got red lighted there and went inside. Never showed a single piece of identification. Only showed the registration paper for the truck and one health cert. for one horse (remember we had 2 on board). Never opened a door to confirm anything I had. Charged me $23.70 for "Special Fuel Tax" and $1.00 for "Special Fuel Permit" I argued that unless they charge every passenger car the same that I am not required to pay either. Paid with the wife's debit card. Kind of pissed off but away we went.
Sailed through Utah with not being stopped at any scale. If my memory is correct, we did hit one scale that was open but the trucks were backed up and we got sent around the scales.
Hit Idaho and once again here comes the red light. Went inside and asked if I did anything wrong. Response was not at all but he didn't know what I was due to no markings. Again, never showed a piece of identification. This guy wanted to charge me $180 at first. I argued and argued and he finally dropped the charge to $120 and said that I can write the state and will probably get reimbursed. I said if that is the case then why charge me even to begin with. The $120 here was labled as "POE 120-Hour Trip". Again paid with the wife's debit card.
Less than 2 hours away in Montana we are once again red lighted and inside I went. Again, did not show one single piece if identification. Registration and insurance only. This guy tried to tell me that I needed a CDL. I argued and he did not back down then finally agreed that if I paid a $30 Tempory Fuel Permit. Paid again with the wife's debit card and away we went.
Spent a few days at a ranch in Montana where dropped the two horses off we left with and bought two other horses. While there I decide that perhaps if I had the DOT and "Not for Hire" on the truck I would not get stopped. My thinking was that according to all of the officers that I aksed, they indicated they pulled me in simply becauase they did not know what I was with no identification on the truck.
On the way of Montana we got stopped again at the scale in Butte. Guy inside was trying to be a hardass. Claimed he had been doing this job for 25 years and he knew all of the requirements. Again I never showed a single piece of ID. He came out and dipped the tanks after he saw the farm plates. I was clean so I was not worried and away we went. Notice, this time I did not have buy the stupid Fuel Permit. For those that say that is because he knew I already bought one, these permits are good for 72 hours only and we had been in Montana 6 days.
Next stop Wyoming and sure enough we get stopped there as well....at 2AM in the morning by 2 women who are sticklers. The older of the two wears a safety vest at all times and just like every other officer we had met, she claimed she knew all of the requirements based on her 25 years of experience. Only here I dicsovered something......I left or lost the registration to the truck. Last time I saw it was at the scale in Butte. I explain this and she finds the Butte scalehouse # and makes a call......hello, Ms. Idiot...it is 2AM and they are CLOSED. She tells me I need an IFTA sticker. I say no I do not and do not fall under any more regulations than a passenger car. She makes me drive over the scale 2 times to make sure she has the accuate weight. Charges me $15 special fuel and I pay cash and away we go.
Now for some reason, we make it all of the way back into Michigan before we get stopped again. I think we hit one open scale in Minn. and we did not get the red light.
Hit Michigan so we should be home free.....wrong. Michigan State DOT officer sitting in the median about 1 1/2 hours from home on I-94. As soon as we went past he pulls out and I tell the wife he is coming after us. A few short miles later there are the red lights in the mirror. Pull of an exit ramp and the story begins all over. This guys knows everything and before I can explain much he pulls a level 2 inspection and heads back to his truck. At this point I am fuming. I have been on the road way too long and just want to get home. Any issues this guy may have should not be an issue given at this time I am 90 miles from home, well within the 150 air miles for driving with just an F endorsement and remember, at this time I have a DOT# and Not for Hire on the doors. 15 minutes later he reappears with a Driver/Vehicle Examination Report that cites a violation for "Carrier naem and/or USDOT Number not displayed as required. This time I get the chance to speak and explain to him that we do not require the DOT # and what our set up is. He agrees and indicates that if he had know that he never would have done the inspection. Nonetheless I am required to sign and fax it in within 15 days. Now mind, even if I do require this, the truck is grey and the lettering is in black and is 4" in height so I am not clear of where the violation would have been. This guy did check my license which was the first time I showed anybody my ID.
I have already received reimbursement from Idaho for the $120 and am working on the other states. But what a pain in the ### and it is just comical how these guys claim to know the regulations and then don't have a clue. I printed out a copy form the Michigan Secetary of State that shows the exemptions of those that do not require a CDL. I had to pull this out on several times when they asked for my log book and I told them I do not require one.
That's my story folks.............