2007 H3 Vantari

[rfoster]

I am going to Chicago next week in the bus on the way to OKC (yea really) to see if ACORN will assist me in my new business endeavor. I sure would hate to get a ticket that might soil my record prior to receiving funding. (Its a sheep farm).

Please tell me what interstates to avoid, I dont want a ticket.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I'm thinking a set of TN dealer plates on the toad and bus could be easy to explain. You sold the bus with the condition it have new awnings, right? Then you are delivering it, but wanted to spend money for awnings in IL. That and a $50 bribe ought to get you through IL easily.

[truk4u]

I'm with Sid, Montana plates are going to be a target and the money hungry states are looking for revenue anyway they can get it. Lets face the facts, most Montana LLC's were set up to avoid sales tax and the state weenies have figured that out!

[jack14r]

Jim,They left St Louis headed for North Carolina,I don't know what interstate they were on but there was no other violation,the officer saw the Montana plate and he told them that they were a sitting duck.

[Kevin Erion]

Just get California plates, help a good friend out. Last year my registration fees where $2000.00, this year, $3300.00. With over 12% unemployment, they are going to make up all the losses on car registration.

[hobobimmer]

Last year my registration fees where $2000.00, this year, $3300.00. With over 12% unemployment,

Kevin:

By way of comparison, our annual registration for our bus is $24, and our county's unemployment has been over 20% and last month was 19.9%, the highest unemployment rate in Tennessee (and that's the reporting folks - it doesn't include the folks kicked off the rolls who still are not employed).

Love this country living.

Eric/Deb Faires

[sawdust_128]

Illinois is yanking people, trucks, buses, cars left and right off the I70. In 100 miles I counted 16 pulled vehicles. I also saw the price of diesel drop $.30 per gallon at the missouri line and gas dropped $.38 per gallon.

The action was greatest out of the work zones. The Truckers seemed to be well aware of the situation. I only had three pass me at 62 mph the whole time I was on the 70.

Lots of motorcycle cops.

[garyde]

Troopers can pull you over if they want I guess but if they don't have probable cause, you should be able to get it thrown out.
I don't believe checking a guys papers is probable cause.
There is a huge distinction between commercial plates and a Montana plate.
Being that it is a private coach and not a commercial transport would be just one thing.
I would speak with the Montana Attorney the LLC is with and maybe send a letter to law inforcement in that state. Where's the pushback on this?

[Sid Tuls]

Gary, you don't want to ask the Ca. Highway Patrol. They said they are out to shut them down. Believe me they made were going to make me a poster boy But then again I had Montana plates on the bus and Ca. plates on my tow.(a dead give away)

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

From what I know of this event, the person pulled over and cited was stopped by the same kind of "official" that weighed the buses at Spearfish. He was not a Ill trooper. The driver did not get a ticket, just had to write a check for the travel permit and get the verbal abuse of a tongue lashing. The "ticketing officer" did not leave his name or badge number.
I think that with that department the probable cause is that they want to see your "papers" and make sure you are legal.
If it looks like a bus it might be a bus, or it might be an RV, I'll just stop it and see what it is and if everything is in order. That might be the scene?

I still say that ownership of any vehicle by a corporation does not make that vehicle a commercial vehicle. It is the use of the vehicle that conveys that classification. Conversely there can exist a commercial vehicle that is not owned by a corporation, but by an individual.

The scary thing pointed out with this incident is that one can be stopped at any time at someones whim and shaken down for no good reason, with the only recourse an expensive and time consuming confrontation in court, or pay the fine/tax and be done with it.

JIM