Dot problems

I checked my old 2005 RM atlas today because I couldn't figure how a state can impose a restriction on a designated highway. First, I checked the restricted highway list..... Didn't see any restrictions on VA on that stretch of US 15. Then I looked at the map..... Voila..... That part of 15 wasn't highlighted in yellow, which means is not part of the national system, which means state laws apply. At least that's how I figure it. Gotta follow the yellow roads with a 53.

 

Virginia also wants you off that northern part of US 17. B/c of the scale in Winchester on I-81. Which is kinda bogus, ran that road for over 30 yrs, there's no reason for a truck restriction other then scale evasion purposes. Now I run the real skinny roads to avoid scale which seems more dangerous. But I think all of us know dot imposes new legislation for cash reasons, not safety.

 

i got the same kind of ticket few months ago in VA on us route 60 . prepayment for this ticket was 320 , i did not pay and waited for court day but couldnt make it . long story short after they found me "guilty" i only had to pay 200 . i just dont understand their logic prepayment vs court appearance.prepayment should be less than court decision .

 

Dont take this the wrong way,.. please. Not meant to insult.

But its not their job to warn you. The signs are posted. Thats like hitting a 13'1 bridge and saying no one warned you it was there.

You as the driver should be able to figure out your own routes. The RM Atlas has Rt 15 marked as a restricted route. So its not like the information isnt available to truckers.

Hurst

 

Scuttlebutt is that you can thank Willard Scott, the TV guy for that stretch of 17 becoming restricted. Seems he had bought a horse farm down there, and didn't want trucks "scaring his horses."

 

This is in the 2011 edition.




I never go anywhere with out pre routing.

Atlas
GPS
Google Satellite map.

I use them to set my route and never rely solely on just one or the other. We need to use common sense when choosing our routes. Never blindly assume a road or route will be acceptable. If you choose a route that you know you shouldnt be on,.. as I have many times and gotten away with it,.. you need to understand the risks,.. and have a back up plan. IE,.. a hand written BOL that says you are delivering on that road/area. I've done that in PA a few times to use an easier route to get to where I needed to be.


Hurst

 

Yeah I used to avoid the Winchester scales all the time back when I was running to the northeast a lot. Never got hassled for it. I tended to always be right under gross weight and I was too cheap and lazy to cat scale. Eyeball the tandem setting, go by the suspension gauge on my drives, and call it "cat scaled" lol.

 

Winchester is easy to get around,take 522 north,you can stay straight or make a left on 277.
Last time I went up 17,there was a hill that the road bed was sliding down,that was the reason for the restriction. That was back around 97.

 

Road Warrior Rank. Doing the legwork that Opie should have done before posting. All men are not equal.