Stopping at weigh stations could be a real bummer. Especially if the station’s busy, the weather is hot, and you’re in a hurry.
Imagine the scenario. You’re driving between states and you catch a glimpse of a weigh station ahead. Would you risk losing time and get your day spoiled? or should you just drive through? Do RVs have to stop at weigh stations?
The short answer is mostly no. You could just drive through and nobody will stop you. Even in states where RVs are required to stop by law, most drivers just drive past the stations without complications.
But what if an officer stops you and directs you back to the station? This is when things get complicated as the rules vary between different states.
Do RVs Have to Stop at Weigh Stations?
Most weigh stations have trucks and heavy semi-trucks as their main targets. This is mainly why those stations were built, to begin with.
Vehicles that go over the weight limit of the state can be dangerous to themselves and other vehicles. Many states require any vehicle that weighs above 10,000 pounds to stop at weigh stations.
Then why should you worry about weigh stations if you drive an RV? It’s not like you’re driving a 10-ton truck. Well, large, fully decked RVs could reach that weight or even exceed it.
Additionally, many other states require RVs to stop by law. What makes things even more confusing is that sometimes they don’t refer to RVs as RVs.
RVs could also be named recreational vehicles or vehicles registered as trucks. You might read the state rules and think that they didn’t mention RVs in the rule book.
In reality, the word “recreational vehicles” may have been mentioned and when someone stops you, you get a huge question mark over your head.
So what’s going on? Should you stop or not?
If the law says so, you have to stop. But in most cases, drivers don’t stop. That’s mainly because they know the difference between written law and applied law.
RV Weigh Station Laws by State
Many states require you to stop your RV at weigh stations by law. Out of the 50 states, around 20 require you to stop at weigh stations if the RV’s weight exceeds 10,000 pounds.
These states include but are not limited to Arkansas, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Some states like Colorado raised the weight limit to 26,000 pounds.
There are states like Maine that don’t need RVs to stop regardless of their weight or size. On the other hand, some states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas require every single RV to stop at weigh stations for inspection.
Should I Stop My RV in Weigh Stations or Not?
We understand the hassle and the waste of time you often experience when you stop your RV for inspection. We would like you to give an absolute answer that you can simply follow all the time.
Unfortunately, we can’t do that. It’s true that most officers and weigh stations don’t bother too much if they spot an RV passing by without stopping. They’re often too busy with loads of trucks to deal with most of the time.
However, you don’t want to run into some bad luck with a strict officer that could force you to pay a hefty fine.
For that reason, we advise you to read and understand the transportation laws for the state you’re intending to take your RV to.
If there are no inspection requirements for the state you’re going to, Maine for example, you could simply drive by without worrying that someone may stop you.
If someone does stop you, the law is on your side so there’s nothing to fear.
As for the states that have a weight limit, you are required by law to stop at these weigh stations. This is to make sure that your RV is indeed below the maximum limit.
If you’re unsure of your RV’s weight, go to a local weigh station before traveling to know the exact numbers. Local stations are often calmer and they won’t take too much of your time.
If you are new to a state or don’t know where you could find a weigh station, just type “weigh station near me” in Google and you’re good to go.
Final Words
If you are driving to a state while aware that you are below the weight limit, you may ignore the weigh station if you’re in a hurry.
If you’re stopped, you’ll be fined for ignoring the station even if you are below the weight limit. We recommend that you don’t ignore these weigh stations unless you have a good reason to.
You should be more careful if your RV is above the weight limit and you’re aware of that. The fine you’d get from ignoring the weigh station will be even more if you’re above the weight limit.
You should follow the rules of each state. Especially if you are visiting for the first time.