Dread, I have had your same thoughts and observations and would only add one other thing. Many times a law is on the books and many flaunt it or are unknowing about etc., etc. and get away with the violation. ( I ulually get cought/ why me!! bo ho) Sometimes the enforcer will not make an issue out of minor or insignificant infractions but if you are ticketed for some other incident or infraction they will throw the book at you. This has been going on for a long time. It all comes down to attitude. Obey the law or not. ( if you would be involved in an accident with an illegal long load would your insurance cover you?) ( I personally don't think the shorter and legal trailer you mentioned would look that bad with the right graphics to conpliment the bus. See if some trailer mfgr. could work out a 3 level stacker with a lift mechanism or some other unique way of consolidating the load. I bet they would sell a lot of them.