Accidently going past scales

Just so's everybody knows.... NEVER, ever back up on an interstate. This is a bigger fine than missing the scales.

 

I blew by alot of scales over the years. sometimes on purpose and sometimes by accident, never got chased down! The south bound Mineral Wells scale was out of the ground for a long time, all they did was run you thru and sometimes look you over.

 

I drove past one of the bypass photo scales in Oregon (totally on accident) and thought for sure I was going to be getting a massive ticket in the mail for that one. Sweat that one for several weeks, didn't help Oregon DOT site says they go up to $2,500 for passing those.

 

95 south, just south of Selma, NC. TWICE I ran past that scale by accident after leaving Sysco. Never got stopped but banged my head against the window for a while.

 

Pennsylvania had one of their rest area scales open and I totally missed the sign flashing because I was just starting to pass another truck. As soon as I saw the other truck pull in, I immediately pulled over to the shoulder. DOT came to meet me and actually laughed about it. Said not to worry and let me go. I like when DOT understands mistakes can happen rather than these zero tolerance imbeciles.

 

My first year I blew by three scales I remember by accident. The longer you are out there, you know where they are all at.

There's another thread on this somewhere. Mine usually happened on foggy nights and boom, there was a scale. Oops!

I think the experienced DOT understand newbie mistakes. I got dirty looks, but no one come after me.

Running TN alot, I took advantage of their ramp full, keep going rule. Like the Knoxville scales, I'll slow down and let a bunch of trucks pass me a few miles before. It works most of the time.

 

yes like they all reckon don't stress out over it if you did wrong they would of been after you i guess they we eating do-nuts or something , i've missed DOT scales a few times not on purpose of course, none the less i could of been in trouble not sure what i would of said but i've always found if your just strait up with them and tell them the truth that you just messed up and made a mistake i'm sure they'd understand , unfortunatly if someone annoyed the cops and they've gotten abused by truck drivers and if this has just happened and they chase after you guess who there going to take it out on?

 

Heheheheehee, all you "Maps Only" folks...

Didn't your map open up and tell you, "Weigh station three miles ahead"?


I was pulled into one scale by the "open" sign. The signs directed all trucks to stop on scale. So I did, and waited... and waited, as the line grew behind me....

But there was neither a green or red light! After trying to look into the mirrored glass building and then all around for someone, I just had to move on. Nobody chased me down.

Mikeeee

 

I've got pre-pass on my truck. I always watch for weigh stations, and sometimes the transponder doesn't beep, so if it's open, of course I go in. The pre-pass makes two very distinct noises. Green light means bypass, red light means go in, and there's no mistaking the difference between the sounds it makes. Never the less, I am always obsessive about watching that green light like a hawk even when I know it's green, lol like it's going to suddenly change to red as I drive past... It's like I'm making really, really, really, absolutely, really sure that I got the green light.

 

What i did was when started out for the day, was look at that big book, with all them colorful maps in it, then i see my route, then i would take those fancy post it markers tab's the pointed ones, put on the edge of the page , then with anthor post it note i put on the mile marker and state on dash for that state, then as tour my route and stop too shake the dew off, i look at my big map book again and see if i had hours too make the next scale, i didnt care if was opean or not, if there no gate, i'm pulling in for my rest break, and most state's allow that, but your at risk for there inspections too, but scales never bother me, i used them as a teaching tool , becuse each state is differnt, what work's in one state , may not work for anthor and with now modern gps , you dont even too do that anymore, it's all built in.