Texas Guys a heads up.. DPS/Trailer Inspections

[chane]

I just received a $114 lesson that my 2004 21i trailer is rated for 6000# and must have an inspection sticker in Texas. I have been around boats all my life and towed several all over Texas and never heard of this. There has never been an inspection on this trailer that I am aware of. I also received 2 warnings. One for not having a break away cable and and the other for not having my trailer registration receipt in the vehicle. I guess Dorsey should have installed this cable? :( :( He also came up and read the door Jam on my F-250 to verify that my vehicle was rated to tow that much..

Anyway the DPS guys where driving buy all boats really slow looking for these items.

[Fuh Sho]

wwwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttt? ???????????????

that is re effin tarted

[Domsz06]

Interesting...

[chane]

Here is an update on what I have found out so far.

Basically if the "Gross Weight" (weight of trailer + carrying capacity) is greater than 4500 lbs you need the inspection certificate. (Every dual axle trailer is rated more than 4500#) This is not just for commercial vehicles its for every trailer that is rated over 4500 lbs.

Here is the link to where it is defined.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/inspection/veh_class_list.asp?class=Trailers+or+Mobile++Homes&classsubmit=Go

Below is a link to where to find a place to inspect trailers.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/inspection/new_locator.asp

Here's what's inspected by vehicle type.
Items of Inspection

05.06 Inspect All Trailers, Semitrailers, Pole Trailers, or Mobile Homes Exceeding 4,500 Pounds Actual Gross Weight or Registered Weight For: (Listed in suggested order of inspection) Refer to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, if required.

* Check for evidence of Financial Responsibility on towing vehicle

1. Brakes (system) (If gross weight exceeds 4,500 pounds)
2. Tires
3. Wheel Assembly
4. Safety Guards or Flaps (if four tires or more on rearmost axle) Pole trailers exempt.
5. Tail Lamps (2)
6. Stop Lamps (2)
7. License Plate Lamp (1)
8. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
9. Turn Signal Lamps
10. Clearance Lamps
11. Side Marker Lamps
12. Side Reflectors
13. Side Marker Lamps and Reflectors (30 feet or more in overall length)
(Refer to Reference Section as per lighting diagrams and as applicable to the particular trailer being inspected.)
14. Serial or Vehicle Identification Number

Good Luck, I hope this helps someone avoid the ticket I got due to ignorance...

[raythompson]

Another source of revenue.

[laserfish]

Wow, been towing boats here for 35 years and have never heard of such a thing. Also never heard of having to have your registration with you, I thought that is what the license plate was for. Where do you get an inspection for the trailer??? New way for the govt to raise revenue.
How do they know what the boat and trailer weigh to see if your vehicle is rated to tow the weight?

[Timmy!]

How do they know what the boat and trailer weigh to see if your vehicle is rated to tow the weight?
That's what I was wondering. Did they pull you into a weigh station? Guess the state has to get revenue anyway they can these days! In CO you are always supposed to have the trailer registration with you.

[chane]

He said any truck (anything except a passenger car) is also required to carry the registration receipt. I happened to have that in the glove box but I had just put the new sticker on the trailer plates and left the receipt in my garage.

They said it doesn't matter that my boat is only 3800lbs. The rules are based on it's GVWR and mine is rate for 6000#.

[laserfish]

Just something else to pay for and keep up with. Gonna need a file cabinet in the truck now. Wonder what the cost is for the inspection and how long it lasts?

[chane]

$14.50 yearly. I am trying to contact Dorsey for that break away cable before I take it.

[Thomas Hohl]

I found that out last year when my driver was hauling a 20' gooseneck and got a DPS ticket for no inspection sticker on the trailer. WHAT???? Rediculous!!! Hell, the inspection place I took it to had never even heard of this one. It's just another tax to help pay their salaries and buy them new DPS stations and buildings that is disguised as a "law"

The DPS in Texas are the absolute worst at roughing you up and finding any excuse to give you a ticket.

Burns my a$$:mad::mad::mad::mad:

[Domsz06]

He said any truck (anything except a passenger car) is also required to carry the registration receipt. I happened to have that in the glove box but I had just put the new sticker on the trailer plates and left the receipt in my garage.

They said it doesn't matter that my boat is only 3800lbs. The rules are based on it's GVWR and mine is rate for 6000#.
what I don't get is they require the registration but never ask for it. And all your insurance agents say not to carry it since theifs can steal your car so much easier. I just don't get it...

[raythompson]

And don't think about being caught with fence pliers in your vehicle. There is a law on the books in Texas that will land you in jail with heavy fines for such a tool. Goes way back to the cowboy days when rustling was a way of life.

So DPS can probably find something wrong to justify their stopping you.

Back when I lived in Oregon on a cattle ranch I had to transport cattle. You had to have a transportation certificate signed by the owner the identified each animal. Our animals were tattooed in each ear with serial numbers. It took some skill to locate and read the numbers and it required a flashlight.

Well I was about 20 miles south of Salem Oregon when I got pulled over by an Oregon trooper. He checked my papers and they were valid. He then decided he was going to check the ears of both of those young bulls. I said fine, go ahead.

He climbed into the back of the truck to try. At that time one of the bulls decided to clear his nose of the accumulation from the traveling. Huge wads of snot were plastered all over the front of the trooper with some dripping off his tie.

The trooper got out of the truck and said, while dripping with snot, "Everything is in order". It was so difficult to keep from laughing, which I promptly did when the trooper was back in his own vehicle.

[Domsz06]

And don't think about being caught with fence pliers in your vehicle. There is a law on the books in Texas that will land you in jail with heavy fines for such a tool. Goes way back to the cowboy days when rustling was a way of life.

So DPS can probably find something wrong to justify their stopping you.

Back when I lived in Oregon on a cattle ranch I had to transport cattle. You had to have a transportation certificate signed by the owner the identified each animal. Our animals were tattooed in each ear with serial numbers. It took some skill to locate and read the numbers and it required a flashlight.

Well I was about 20 miles south of Salem Oregon when I got pulled over by an Oregon trooper. He checked my papers and they were valid. He then decided he was going to check the ears of both of those young bulls. I said fine, go ahead.

He climbed into the back of the truck to try. At that time one of the bulls decided to clear his nose of the accumulation from the traveling. Huge wads of snot were plastered all over the front of the trooper with some dripping off his tie.

The trooper got out of the truck and said, while dripping with snot, "Everything is in order". It was so difficult to keep from laughing, which I promptly did when the trooper was back in his own vehicle.
ha ha ha!!

Man I bet that was funny funny!

[jbort]

where's the video on that one?

[Dave S]

I always shred my receipts along with my other old papers. I was told that I did not need to keep my receipt for my trailer, they said that is what the licens eplate is for. But this was from my old I/O boat dealer, not the Tige.

[raythompson]

where's the video on that one?This was in the '60s. There were no easily available video cameras.

[kenr08]

I found this out when I went to register the trailer. We bought the boat and trailer from out of state and registering the boat was fairly easy (after two trips because I needed some more information)but the trailer is a complete different story.

When we went to get it registered at the DPS, they told us we needed to get it inspected first. Fine, no problem, only they could not tell me where to go and get it inspected. Since then, I have asked around at some trailer places and no one seems to know where I can go to get it inspected.

The link that was posted by chane is for your typical car emissions inspection not a tralier inspection. If anyone knows where I can go in the Houston area to get it inspected, please let me know. Until then, the trailer sits with it's Oregen license plate. :)

[chane]

Well I spoke to the JP and she is going let me off with a $20 court fee and proof I spent the $14.50 for the sticker.

Here it is:

[Bradley]

What a load of CRAP. The registration receipt says on it "this receipt must be kept in all COMMERCIAL VEHICLES".

[Tanner]

when im not on my phone ill tell you guys a good similar story later

[strohlde]

Son of a .... wish I saw this before I tried to register my trailer. Smucks. They're also making registering the boat a royal PITA!

[strohlde]

On this topic...as mine is coming from out of state I need to get the damn thing weighed...anyone know where I can do that around Austin?