Portable scales don't meet certification requirements?

In some states they allow a 3% variance for portable scales. It's up to the DOT guy. Some are ok and give it ,some have a "I got you" mentality and don't give it because they are looking to write as many violations as possible ,basically miserable POS.They do have the option to escort you to the nearest fixed ,certified scale if you make a stink about the portable scales not being accurate. If the guy is a real miserable POS,he can write down any number he wants when he tallies up his totals ,he's reading the numbers on the scales and just writing them down and adding them up on a calculator. I've had them screw up before ,sometimes I'm sure on purpose.If you have a question about the accuracy of being weighed on portables the best thing to do is go right to a CAT scale
after they let you go and take it to court if it shows in your favor.Thats if they let you go,if your way over they can impound the truck right there and make you get it off loaded to a legal weight.
I have to go to court later this month for a DOT cop who prides himself on writing overweight tickets and voiding overweight permits. He measured my inner and outer bridge lengths and said I was 18" shorter than my permit stated and I was 1000 lbs over my permit . He had me towed off the NYS thruway by a very lucrative towing company (the owner has a Prevost motor coach) who he seems to have a very "Friendly "relationship..I had the truck measured by a certified inspection mechanic onsite and my measurements were dead nuts accurate to what my permit stated and I took the load to the. nearest CAT scale and I was 1000 lbs under what my
Permit allows. This was a case of very blatantly going overboard by this cop,and I know over 20 drivers who he has done the same exact thing to.He blatantly tells you ,your getting towed , even though I was off the highway in a tandem trailer parking area where I could have legally left the trailer. I told him my
Friend owns a NYS thruway authorized towing company and I'll call him.He got all pissed off and threw his clip board said " This is MY TOW, and Roberts towing is getting this tow,and I already called him and he on his way" The tow truck showed up within 5 minutes with a big wrecker and the DOT cop was all buddy ,buddy with him and smiling . I wouldn't let him tow the trailer with the big wrecker since my tractor was fine and I dropped my trailer in a trailer parking space. He went back to his shop and got a daycab tractor and towed it to his impound yard. I have been driving for over 30 years and running a dump trailer and walking floor with an overweight permit for over 19 years and have never had this happen. I felt like I was shanghaid by a pirate! Lol!
All this will come out later this month when I go to court . I have all my documents showing my truck is legal to my permit and my load was under my permit. It just sucks that I lost 2 loads to this guy and have to go to court for no reason

 

What area of the nys t-way did this happen?

 

Did he check the tow company's set up for correct bridge length and permit before he let him haul it out on the highway?

 

Right before exit 22 Northbound .the Selkirk exit. The cop sits in the middle of the highway about a mile before the exit and chases you down and pulls you over and tells you to get off the next exit pull in where the double trailers switch there trailers.
The funny thing is ,I was pulled over and DOT inspected the day before on Route 81 in Whitney Point and everything was fine . I did have a low tire which the officer let me plug and air up. He didn't measure my truck but he did a thorough level 2 inspection and actually complimented me on my truck and paperwork.We actually talked like friends for about a half hour about family,race cars (he raced dirt cars) and the area were I just bought a small farm. He was very professional and a nice guy .

 

No. He has a very friendly relationship with this company.They are only a few miles off that exit.
The owner was actually a nice guy, but the cop was not going to be denied me being towed by this company.
I should have never been towed in the first place . I was off the highway already in a place where trailers are parked. I've talked with a bunch of drivers who go through there with walking floors and tippers and many have had the same thing done to them , and the cop demanding that they be towed by this towing company.

 

I'd question the legality of the forced tow when you go to court. You don't get an option in the case of an accident but in your situation, I don't think you can be denied your choice of towing company.

 

Absolutely!
Along with my auto transport co.
I own a general repair shop which includes towing.
I have been requested by my customers many times over the years when they were being towed because of police impound.
I also live a short distance from where this has happened and have heard these stories before.
It's becoming a little concerning.

 

I run that area almost daily, never had a problem in the Capital District. My problem has always been down in Newburgh, they have a motor carrier enforcement officer working for Troop F, Middletown that has a real hard one for car haulers and tow trucks. The Troop T guys have always been real good to me, heck a few of them even joke with me about the Troop F officer. Not saying there isn't a Troop T guy with a problem with oversize or bulk haulers, just haven't been harassed in my car hauler up there.

As for the forced towing, although you were in a safe place, the tandem area is still Thruway property and unless you have a Thruway Tandem permit you are not permitted to park there, so Troop T will call a Thruway tower. That said, as a commercial vehicle over 10,000 pounds you have the right to have any service provider of your choice, even non-Thruway authorized towers, as long as you purchase the $2 road service permit.

Sounds like someone has to make a stand, maybe it should be you? I would challenge the tow, DOT violation is not usually an impound, so you should have been allowed to have the tower of your choice move the trailer. In reality, you should have been given the opportunity to correct the perceived violation and have the permit reissued. As for the collusion, I known Roberts Towing and doubt they are in bed with the officer. Given the controlled and exclusive nature of towing on the Thruway the tow drivers and the Troopers usually get to know each other real well. The driver that came out to get you most likely was just an employee so even if there is some collusion he would not benefit. The other reason I doubt there is any collusion, the Thruway audits every tow request and invoice and they have been known to force towers to refund over payments as little as .02 cents. The tower would be foolish to risk his multi-million dollar exclusive contract as would the officer be foolish to risk his cushy job for a few dollars on the side.

As for the Prevost motorhome, that is chump change compared to the cost of some of Roberts working trucks. Heck, back when I had my heavy wreckers in 2004 I was making six figures clear working a tiny little county in Pennsylvania. I had I-84 from the NY/PA line to the 40 mile marker, just 14 miles and it was good money.