Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities

John DiBartolomeo · 05-06-2015, 08:27 AM

Here's the complete story that appears in the printed edition of Drag Racing Scene. We'd like to hear your comments and stories.

http://www.dragracingscene.com/news/...ng-legalities/

Chris1529 · 05-06-2015, 08:47 AM

In the article, it states the following:

"One issue with regards to obtaining the CDL could come at the time of your road test. In most states, you must take the road test with a commercially-registered vehicle. This could become a problem if you’re attempting to use your personally-registered vehicle, be it a motorhome, pick-up truck, whatever. "

.........If the DOT says you have to have a CDL to use your RV or pickup to tow your box trailer, then you should be able to take the CDL test in said vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't qualify you to take the CDL road test, then the obvious answer is that you shouldn't need a CDL to drive your vehicle.

Maybe some of the PA guys can chime in here, but I believe their licenses are structured differently. You get a different kind of license based on the size of your truck and trailer, but not a regular CDL. They also have to get both the truck and trailer inspected on a 6 month basis.

jim powers · 05-06-2015, 09:16 AM

several years ago i went to the new jersey dmv to apply for my class a cdl, when i was asked why a 60 year old guy needed a class a cdl i explained to the dmv rep why, i was told "you don't need a cdl for that", i then went over to the road test area where i showed the road test officer a picture of my dualie and 26 ft trailer, he said" you can't take a road test for your class a in that"!! i said that dot specifies you will take your test in the type of equiptment you will be mostly driving, this is what i will be driving, he said you can't license for a cdl in that!! i just wish they would all get their acts together because it seems the left hand dont know what the right is doing!! around the same time i asked a new jersey state trooper friend of mine what i needed to do to be legal driving my type of equiptment, i was told besides keeping the equiptment free of any safety defects, i must license the truck for the entire weight of what i will be towing, or better said the weight i pay for the plate on my truck must be for the entire rigs total weight, truck/trailer, would seem to be just a money grab but that is how i have been doing it,now for several years, if the " you race for profit" arguement holds any water then every friggin landscaper in america should have a class a!!they don't cut grass for free!!

Bimbo Jones · 05-06-2015, 09:44 AM

In 2012 I gave to the Romney campaign and within five months I get my taxes audited twice for years 2009 and 2010 by the IRS. They say that my racing is a hobby but they sure didn't think so when I had some winning seasons a few years earlier and had to pay in. Now the DMV is claiming racing is commercial if we are competing for money or have racing logos on our operations. And now in Texas they are requiring inspections for my flat bed trailer, inspections were already required for my enclosed trailer. Yet I understand no tags at all are required for flatbed trailers in Oklahoma. But a bunch of my buddies got busted for not having CDL's there if their rigs used air brakes was the charge. It's hard enough to keep up with things to comply in your own state. Heaven forbid crossing state lines to attend a race.

Ed Wright · 05-06-2015, 10:56 AM

You think Obama is getting back at you for contributing to that campaign?? Really?? LOL

My business accountant told me claiming my racing would make me more likely to be audited. Like a business, you need to make money more years than you loose. If I win anything, I turn it in. I stopped claiming expenses. Went through that twice. That was enough.

Jeff Teuton · 05-06-2015, 12:15 PM

Texas has some grant money that they are busy using up on inspections. They got the NHRA rigs a while back. They just like to go through the motions.

Greg Gay · 05-06-2015, 12:42 PM

John,

If you feel that you need a CDL license, can you address why you don't feel that you need to fill out the logbook? I can see the 100 air mile radius exemption applying to many bracket racers for their local track, but not too many Stock and Super Stock racers.

Thanks,

Greg

John DiBartolomeo · 05-06-2015, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Gay

John,

If you feel that you need a CDL license, can you address why you don't feel that you need to fill out the logbook? I can see the 100 air mile radius exemption applying to many bracket racers for their local track, but not too many Stock and Super Stock racers.

Thanks,

Greg

Granted there's a Catch 22 to all of this. I certainly don't have all the answers and I don't think anyone really does. There's no guarantee that holding a CDL will make you legal but it at least proves you went above and beyond the simple driver's license exam and can handle a rig of that size, even though it can be a moot point.

sportsfan · 05-06-2015, 01:09 PM

Jim Powers is right, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing! I do have a class A CDL so that is not the issue.My problem is registered weight.I was told by a NJ state trooper that the truck registration had to carry the combined weight (like a commercial vehicle). But when I went to my local DMV office I was told I can't do it that way.

Bimbo Jones · 05-06-2015, 05:28 PM

Ed that was a little tongue in cheek but the truth. In fact when I was on the phone with the IRS they could tell me in real time what years I had made money back to 1999. Since that was the first year I had made money. Legally I had followed the rules paying my taxes but would have cost me way more to prove I was right than to just pay the difference. The real salt in the cut was when they also hit me with a $600.00 recalculation fee each time. Thank you sir, may I have another. BTW, if Romney would have won I would have considered it a bargain.

05-06-2015, 08:27 AM	#1
John DiBartolomeo Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Beaver Springs, PA Posts: 494 Likes: 1 Liked 1,282 Times in 159 Posts	Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities Here's the complete story that appears in the printed edition of Drag Racing Scene. We'd like to hear your comments and stories. http://www.dragracingscene.com/news/...ng-legalities/ __________________ John DiBartolomeo DRC Race Products DragRacingActionOnline.com

05-06-2015, 08:47 AM	#2
Chris1529 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,366 Likes: 6 Liked 70 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities In the article, it states the following: "One issue with regards to obtaining the CDL could come at the time of your road test. In most states, you must take the road test with a commercially-registered vehicle. This could become a problem if you’re attempting to use your personally-registered vehicle, be it a motorhome, pick-up truck, whatever. " .........If the DOT says you have to have a CDL to use your RV or pickup to tow your box trailer, then you should be able to take the CDL test in said vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't qualify you to take the CDL road test, then the obvious answer is that you shouldn't need a CDL to drive your vehicle. Maybe some of the PA guys can chime in here, but I believe their licenses are structured differently. You get a different kind of license based on the size of your truck and trailer, but not a regular CDL. They also have to get both the truck and trailer inspected on a 6 month basis. __________________ Chris Bowman The Mountain State Mustang 1984 Mustang GT350

05-06-2015, 09:16 AM	#3
jim powers Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: manville nj Posts: 359 Likes: 198 Liked 13 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities several years ago i went to the new jersey dmv to apply for my class a cdl, when i was asked why a 60 year old guy needed a class a cdl i explained to the dmv rep why, i was told "you don't need a cdl for that", i then went over to the road test area where i showed the road test officer a picture of my dualie and 26 ft trailer, he said" you can't take a road test for your class a in that"!! i said that dot specifies you will take your test in the type of equiptment you will be mostly driving, this is what i will be driving, he said you can't license for a cdl in that!! i just wish they would all get their acts together because it seems the left hand dont know what the right is doing!! around the same time i asked a new jersey state trooper friend of mine what i needed to do to be legal driving my type of equiptment, i was told besides keeping the equiptment free of any safety defects, i must license the truck for the entire weight of what i will be towing, or better said the weight i pay for the plate on my truck must be for the entire rigs total weight, truck/trailer, would seem to be just a money grab but that is how i have been doing it,now for several years, if the " you race for profit" arguement holds any water then every friggin landscaper in america should have a class a!!they don't cut grass for free!!

05-06-2015, 09:44 AM	#4
Bimbo Jones Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities In 2012 I gave to the Romney campaign and within five months I get my taxes audited twice for years 2009 and 2010 by the IRS. They say that my racing is a hobby but they sure didn't think so when I had some winning seasons a few years earlier and had to pay in. Now the DMV is claiming racing is commercial if we are competing for money or have racing logos on our operations. And now in Texas they are requiring inspections for my flat bed trailer, inspections were already required for my enclosed trailer. Yet I understand no tags at all are required for flatbed trailers in Oklahoma. But a bunch of my buddies got busted for not having CDL's there if their rigs used air brakes was the charge. It's hard enough to keep up with things to comply in your own state. Heaven forbid crossing state lines to attend a race.

05-06-2015, 10:56 AM	#5
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities You think Obama is getting back at you for contributing to that campaign?? Really?? LOL My business accountant told me claiming my racing would make me more likely to be audited. Like a business, you need to make money more years than you loose. If I win anything, I turn it in. I stopped claiming expenses. Went through that twice. That was enough. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA Last edited by Ed Wright; 05-06-2015 at 10:59 AM.

05-06-2015, 12:15 PM	#6
Jeff Teuton VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 2,717 Likes: 2 Liked 325 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities Texas has some grant money that they are busy using up on inspections. They got the NHRA rigs a while back. They just like to go through the motions. __________________ Jeff Teuton 4022 STK

05-06-2015, 12:42 PM	#7
Greg Gay Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 385 Likes: 21 Liked 283 Times in 70 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities John, If you feel that you need a CDL license, can you address why you don't feel that you need to fill out the logbook? I can see the 100 air mile radius exemption applying to many bracket racers for their local track, but not too many Stock and Super Stock racers. Thanks, Greg

05-06-2015, 01:09 PM	#9
sportsfan Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville,New Jersey Posts: 34 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities Jim Powers is right, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing! I do have a class A CDL so that is not the issue.My problem is registered weight.I was told by a NJ state trooper that the truck registration had to carry the combined weight (like a commercial vehicle). But when I went to my local DMV office I was told I can't do it that way.

05-06-2015, 05:28 PM	#10
Bimbo Jones Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clear As Mud-Towing Legalities Ed that was a little tongue in cheek but the truth. In fact when I was on the phone with the IRS they could tell me in real time what years I had made money back to 1999. Since that was the first year I had made money. Legally I had followed the rules paying my taxes but would have cost me way more to prove I was right than to just pay the difference. The real salt in the cut was when they also hit me with a $600.00 recalculation fee each time. Thank you sir, may I have another. BTW, if Romney would have won I would have considered it a bargain.