Blown by scales

One time I was in line at the scale on 95 in ga and they were checking logs when a truck passed ther scale all the dot waived everyone through and jumped in their cars. A few miles up the road they had him pulled over.

 

The one time I blew a scale NB going into Kansas. Had at least 5 other trucks on my governed 65 mph tail. Looking in my mirrors with no other traffic thinking what the?? All of the sudden they hit the off ramp for the scale while I kept going. Looked for an off ramp to go back, but after 3 miles of no lights I just kept going and nothing happen. Not a good feeling while that was going on. When it happens don't panic and don't do something stupid to cause an accident.

 

Was cruising (empty) on I-90 from Spokane to Yakima. Radio station was fading, reached down to select a new station.... looked up and saw "oh crap! That scale is OPEN!!!". They came out to say Hi. That "failure to obey a traffic signal" cost $150.

 

I've missed scales a few times...usually not a big deal and they normally understand when there's heavy traffic. They've never come after me. However, never run an ag inspection point in Florida...they get pretty irate. I almost blew one, but at the last second, saw the guy inside. I ended up backing in the other end so he could see my paperwork. He thought he'd give me a butt-chewing and when he asked me why I went by, I pointed out the cone in the middle of the ramp. In most places that means it's closed. No ticket, just a dressing-down.

 

I blew by a bunch when I first started by accident. I know where they are all at now and know most detours too. The funniest one was I-95 headed into Florida about 3am. I come out of a fog bank to see me going past the scale. The guy looked me right in the eye. I just threw my hands up! Oops!

I have blown by a few deliberately since then. Tennessee with their full ramp rule, I'll slow down and let a bunch of trucks ahead of me prior and then just go on. Works alot of the time.

If you take notice scales that have a prepass have a TV monitor inside. It lists the trucks info. Green names for bypasses and red names for redlights. If someone buzzes it with a red light, the screen flashes their name. If you have no prepass, you are not on the screen and can be mistaken for a green name. When they are busy, they don't pay attention to that screen. Redlight prepasses are the only ones that really have to worry. When traffic is light I wouldn't try anything. Only when they are busy can you get away with it.

 

If you get a green lite on your prepass, you can Ignore those lit up highway signs that say "Truck must enter scales". Ive blown by a few scales by accident. Each time that i did it i would check my mirrors for the d.o.t, but they never came. Then I wandered if they would bust me at the scales on the other end, or maybe mail me a ticket, but they never did.

 

My first trip west I ever made was from MI to Las Vegas. I blew by the w/b scale on 70 in Colorado just east of Eisenhower tunnel. I was even looking for it... read the sign and all but missed it. Same trip coming back I blew by the e/b scale at the same dam spot. Nothing happened either time but boy was I ever confused. The next time I went through there a few weeks later it was light out and I could see what I did wrong.

 

I've blown by a couple by mistake...Most have a CB on 19, holler and tell em you'll be back as soon as you can turn around...just make #### sure you come back.

 

Oh, so you're saying that (very) young cop in Colorado heard me making fun of him when I asked over 19 if his momma knew he was playing policeman?

 

Yes....probably.