IN,IL 53' spread kingpin laws

I ran a 53 spread all over Indiana and Illinois. Was never an issue

 

There's a lot of 48' spreads out there crossing indy and illinois.

 

I think the Illinois and Indiana rules are for state routes and even then I've never heard of them actually enforcing the restrictions.

 

Honestly the only states I've ever heard someone getting hassled about that besides the obvious. California, have been Florida, Tennessee and Connecticut.

 

I see 53' dry vans rolling past the house all of the time with the tandems slid all of the way to the rear. Chances are, you won't have any issues because you'd have to be noticed by a cop who is familiar with that particular law. I'd venture a guess that cops are a lot like truckers in that MOST of them are clueless, except for what they've specifically been told to do over the years. The difference is, if the cop is oblivious, it doesn't affect his job, reputation, or pocket...he just doesn't enforce laws he doesn't know are on the books. If the trucker is oblivious, he gets a big fat fine and possibly loses his job.

That being said, I've heard the fine is pretty stiff IF you are caught here in Illinois. But, as I pointed out, I see it all of the time and nobody seems to ever get caught...and that's with obvious issues with the bridge. On a 53' flat with a spread, chances are they will be less likely to notice than they are with the 53' vans that get away with it all of the time...especially if you've got overhang in the rear.

 

Do they make 53 spreads with permanent axles that cant be closed? To deal with kingpin states.