| Author | Message | ||
| Dave (Virtual)
Registered Member Username: Virtual Post Number: 14 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 67.186.253.131 Rating: N/A |
Him: Hi. What you going to do with that commercial vehicle over there? Me: That's a motorhome. Him: I'm following up on a complaint about a commercial vehicle parked at your house. Me: Well, it's not commercial. It's titled as a truck. Him: Is it registered? Me: No, the code says I can have an unregistered vehicle at my house for 60 days. I'm at about 20 now. Him: That's not for commercial vehicles. Me: It's not a commercial vehicle. Him: I'll have to ask about that at my meeting tomorrow. I just had a complaint about a commercial vehicle here. Me: I'm doing everything I can to follow the code. I'm not going to be a hassle. It's not a commercial vehicle. I _was_ going to move it out of here this week but now I need to know because there is going to be one of those here either way (see my post comparing MC8 and Phantom). Him: I'll stop by tomorrow and let you know what they say. Me: I'll be waiting here. He didn't come back on Wednesday or Thursday. I'm going to bet he shows up on Monday to ask why it isn't gone. I'll remind him how I told him I _WAS_ going to move it but I had to find out his interpretation of the code. edited for speling.  (Message edited by Virtual on June 04, 2009) | ||
| Bill Laird (Billaird99)
Registered Member Username: Billaird99 Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 24.163.34.244 Rating: N/A |
Do you live in a HOA? Bill | ||
| Dave (Virtual)
Registered Member Username: Virtual Post Number: 15 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 67.186.253.131 Rating: N/A |
We are in unincorporated county and I guess technically we are also a PUD with CC&Rs, but he was talking about county code. The neighborhood association has't enforced any of the rules in the 9 years we've been here. I pointed out to him the 40' MH with 20' enclosed trailer that parks around the corner. I'm actually smaller than him. Mine is also parked on concrete and does not stick out past the front of the house (also code). I guess the question is, "what constitutes a commercial vehicle?" | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1113 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.3.157.139  Rating: N/A |
We had a similar problem many years ago when we had our 4106. I had the interior stripped except for the drivers seat. A code enforcement officer pulls in my driveway as I was stepping out of the bus. I asked if I could help him. He started explaining that they had received a complaint and I could not operate a bus from our residence. I said "No problem, let me show you the inside of this "bus". He stepped inside looked at the bare interior with a puzzled look. I showed him my title which said MOTORHOME. I explained I was converting it to a motorhome. He said "no problem, have a nice day". I asked who complained. He said they do not give out that information, but kept looking at the house at the end of the block as he said that. So after that, every time we left in the bus, I would go to the end of the street, and as I turned the corner, I had to double clutch to shift, blowing a cloud of black diesel smoke into his yard. Jack | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 357 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3  Rating: N/A |
It depends on the definitions of your State's vehicle code and, how the vehicle is plated and titled per that code. For example, when I purchased my bus it was titled as a bus and had commercial plates from California. Before I took possession of it, I paid the seller a fee and they re-registered it with Calif DMV as a house car, with non-commercial plates in California. So we live in an area of the County with an HOA that does not allow overnight street parking of "commercial vehicles". My coach (bus) normally is not parked on the street, but if it was, it is not a commercial vehicle and hence does not have to comply with the "commercial" provision. When our domicile becomes South Dakota instead of Calif, the distinction above will remain the same. That said, your comment "Well, it's not commercial. It's titled as a truck." is interesting. It appears you were talking about your bus. This can complicate the issue, depending on the motor vehicle titling laws in your state. So you need to do some research on Utah DMV codes. Lot's of quirks to deal with from one state to another. For example, if you purchase a pickup or van in Calif they give you commercial plates, and it is titled at such. More revenue for the state. Another quirk in Calif law (as in other states) I can go out and by a class 8 truck tractor, classified as a "motor truck" in Calif DMV code. I need a Class B commercial drivers license to drive it home (Class A if pulling a trailer over 10K lbs), because it is titled as a commercial vehicle. But I can get it re-titled at DMV as a "house car" and now it is a non-commercial vehicle that only requires a Class C (non-commercial chauffeur's license)to drive a 26K lbs, 13 speed, air brake equipped semi-truck. Yes I know, for those who will say "It requires a non-commercial Class A or B (depending on what your towing) license to drive that." That is true only of the tractor is plated over 26,000 GVW. But that's another story. So Dave, if you have commercial title and plates on the bus, you need to have it titled as a house car or motor home, or whatever Utah has to designate their RV's on the road. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 779 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.202.4 Rating: N/A |
Jack...glad "that neighbor" didn't hold a gridge...could have responded with some tire distortion,,etc. I "looked" at a fellow in the 70's who was upset I had taken the parking place he must have wanted at a rural restaurant....later, as if he was going to the men's room he went outside and did a number...both sides..to the vinyl top of my automobile....discovered only when we exited the "very nice" restaurant. I have learned to not even look upset or retaliate.... now, I just grab my cell phone, put it to my ear, and "look as if" I am talking.... and begin to look at street numbers...license plates etc etc....seems to diffuse most any situation every time....even though I am not talking to anyone..... Works especially good on traffic situations..... FWIW RCB | ||
| Dave (Virtual)
Registered Member Username: Virtual Post Number: 17 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 67.186.253.131 Rating: N/A |
Jack Likewise I know where the complaint originated. I've done everything in my power to be a nice neighbor. In fact I showed the nice officer inside so he could see there is only one seat. Chuck All I have so far is the title signed by PO. It is not a commercial title. He never registered it and before that it was a UTA bus so never registered. It has never had non-exempt license plates. The title I have (in PO name) shows it is "original title" and 0 miles. It lists it as type "truck," body type "bus." It has never been "commercial," in that sense. I know the titling as a truck is a problem. Of course the way to get it titled is as a MH. I'm not certain how that will look. My skoolie was titled as a light "truck" with body type "bus." Our first shuttle was simply titled as a van. I think the best way for the title to look would be "motorhome," body type "coach." Anyway, it was an interesting experience. I think he's hoping I'll just move it and he can forget it without coming back. The funny thing is I was going to move it to the ranch that very evening. I delayed so he could come back to see me. | ||
| Dave (Virtual)
Registered Member Username: Virtual Post Number: 18 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 67.186.253.131 Rating: N/A |
Chuck The "unladen weight" listed on the placard is 27,260. Without knowing, I'm going to assume that is curb weight. I've taken out all the seats and will soon remove the interior panels and rubber flooring. It *should* be under 26k then, but I don't know. If titled as a MH, I don't think it matters. That said, I think I'm going to get a CDL and air brake endorsement just so I don't have to mess around with the law. I really prefer to just be left alone. | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 358 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3 Rating: N/A |
Dave, I find it hard to believe the bus was never registered OR had any plates while it was in service at UTA. But I stress, each state has different laws and you need to find out what they are in Utah. I would guess if Utah labels it as a "truck" it most likely comes under a "commercial" classification. The 26K lbs comment is a Federal standard that the states comply with, be it a commercial or non-commercial vehicle. It affects driver licensing and other factors, but that's not the issue here. Without digging into files, as I recall, Utah like most states does not require a CDL to drive a motor home. Again it varies by state. In Calif, for example, the deciding factor on required driver license for a motor home is length, not weight. A motorhome over 40 ft requires a Class B non-commercial license, but a 40 ft motor home weighing 40K lbs with air brakes only requires a (standard) Class C license. Towing is a different matter. See: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/lic_chart.htm I think most would agree leaving your bus titled as a commercial vehicle is not a good idea, unless you plan to use it in business. Commercial vehicle status, especially big and heavy, opens lots bureaucratic doors to much greater expense and red tape. | ||
| Dave (Virtual)
Registered Member Username: Virtual Post Number: 19 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 67.186.253.131 Rating: N/A |
Many good points. I'm sure it had EXEMPT plates when it was in service as UTA is a government agency. They are not, however, commercial. They surely would be covered under FMCSA, but they are not commercial. PO did not register it, but as far as the state is concerned, it was new when the state sold it. I've had the same experience when buying vehicles from Federal surplus. "I think most would agree leaving your bus titled as a commercial vehicle is not a good idea" I think I agree as well. The question remains: does a vehicle which has 'never been registered' and is legally on private property qualify as commercial. I don't think the answer is in how it wouldacouldsshoulda been treated when it is registered in the future. My point is, I'm not required to be registered so they don't know how I'll register it. I'm sure we're all overthinking this. We all know why trucking companies are moving out of Cali. "Fifth largest economy in the world," or whatever they used to say before the bad times. I'll find out and post here. I can't talk with DMV until Monday. Perhaps UtahClaimJumper will jump in and tell us what his title says. | ||
| Roger Baughman (Roger)
Registered Member Username: Roger Post Number: 109 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 69.232.65.139  Rating: N/A |
Jack, I thought that was funny about the double clutch to get your neighbor a little smoke. Thanks for the laugh. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1115 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.3.157.139 Rating: N/A |
That same neighbor filed a complaint against a friend that live about 3 miles from his house because my friend had installed a basketball hoop for his boys alongside his driveway. The post was to close to the road by about 2' I helped my friend move the basketball hoop. then we took his camera and drove slowly back & forth past the complainers house slowly in my jeep, pointing and talking as we drove by. After doing this a couple times we slowed and my friend acted like he was taking photos. When the complainer came out and asked what we were doing, my friend said "oh, just getting photos, you will know when the county sees them and makes a determination". We never had any more problems from this person. Jack | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 370 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 69.77.157.8 Rating: N/A |
Wow, Jack. You always seemed to be such a nice guy. Remind me to never get you riled up. Gee, you can never tell about the quiet ones! (Actually, you fit right in with my crowd.) Jim-Bob | ||
| David Guglielmetti (Daveg)
Registered Member Username: Daveg Post Number: 64 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 71.139.244.152  Rating: N/A |
I was thinking the same thing about Jack! I suppose we all have some of that type in us, some just keep it deeper than others! | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 420 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.113  Rating: N/A |
Dave, every state is different, but in NC, I took the DMV my United Kingdom registration document and the bill of sale. They asked me "what kind of vehicle is this?" and I told them it was built as a bus but I'm going to convert it to a motorhome, meeting the NC definition of a "House Car". The lady then wrote up the title (first ever in North America) as "HC" in the vehicle type, making my vehicle entirely non-commercial. So long as my GVWR is below 26,001, I can drive it on a regular car license. (I'm going to get a air-brake-option CDL, too, but that's my own option.) | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 503 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.197.237  Rating: N/A |
Here in the great state of FLORIDA, If you have a motor home,whether it is a coach,or stapled together if you can drive it,which I have my doubts about some people, You do not need anything but a drivers license. No CDL is required even if it has air brakes. I have my class A with passenger endorsements that I have had for years.I have never been ask if I had a cdl to drive a private coach either. Gomer | ||
| Dan West (Utahclaimjumper)
Registered Member Username: Utahclaimjumper Post Number: 186 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 208.66.38.115 Rating: N/A |
Dave, When I licenced my bus in Iron county they listed it as a 1962 GMC LT truck 8 cyl. GASOLINE. It has never given me a problem so I figured if thats what they wanted I dont care.>>>Dan | ||
| Frank Allen (Frank66)
Registered Member Username: Frank66 Post Number: 112 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 64.12.116.203 Rating: N/A |
some can be a pain, i will not live where they have a hoa, i think it is wrong to tell others what they can and cannot do on there own land and home. Frank Allen | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 819 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.195.79.226 Rating: N/A |
i will not live where they have a hoa, i think it is wrong to tell others what they can and cannot do on there own land and home. So what country will you be leaving for? FF | ||
| Kevin Sweeney (Sweeney153)
Registered Member Username: Sweeney153 Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 216.6.130.4  Rating: N/A |
Some one complained to the building inspector of the town when I first got my bus. They set me a letter saing I was in violation for having a comercial vehicle over 34feet on my property. I called and said Id like to meet the inspector and have hime show me the vehicle. He came about two weeks later looked at the bus, checked the plates and said no problem. You can have any size private vehicle on your property as long as its registered. He also said you can have 1 noregistered vehicle uncovered on your property. If they are covered you can have as many as you like. Thats the way it is in my town in NY. but we dont have an HOA. | ||
| Bill Laird (Billaird99)
Registered Member Username: Billaird99 Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 24.163.34.244 Rating: N/A |
Bruce, I haven't gotten my bus registered here in NC yet but I thought that if the coach was being used as a MH then it was exempt from the GVWR of 26,001 lbs. I know of a motorhome that tips the scales at over 50,000lbs and I didn't think you needed anything other than a regular car license to drive it? Did they need to see any type of weigh scale receipt to validate the weight when you applied for the title? Bill | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 421 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.113 Rating: N/A |
Bill, a group of us were sitting around talking a couple of days ago. One (CDL holder) says "doesn't matter what GVWR, if it has air brakes, you must have a CDL to drive it". Another CDL holder said "don't think that that's right". Somebody's sister-in-law is an inspector with DMV in their drivers licence office so we called her -- she told us immediately "if it's a private vehicle registered as a 'house car' in NC, and it's under 26001 GVWR, then an ordinary driver's license is all that's needed (assuming no commercial use) - no matter what kind of brakes". I did have to have a NCHP inspector confirm the VIN on the vehicle; he also verified that I was converting it to the legal definition of "house car". But that's a kicker - my bus's legal weight wasn't recorded on the British paperwork so there is no weight listed on the NC papers. I will establish a GVWR (but since my empty weight, stripped to convert, is down to about 17,000 pounds, I don't expect that a less-than-26001 GVWR will be any problem) and it will be listed as less than 26001. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 913 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.162.95.172  Rating: |
Re: "So after that, every time we left in the bus, I would go to the end of the street, and as I turned the corner, I had to double clutch to shift, blowing a cloud of black diesel smoke into his yard. " Doing that just serves the the complainant. He can point out exactly why a bus or truck should not be allowed in a residential area. All he has to do, is demonstrate the noise and pollution present. And, he's very likely to gain help with his testimony from his close neighbors. Spite never manages to do anyone good..... Especially the spiteful. | ||
| David Guglielmetti (Daveg)
Registered Member Username: Daveg Post Number: 66 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 71.139.244.152 Rating: N/A |
John MC9, you are right....but in the spirit of things I'm with Jack! | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 923 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.162.95.69 Rating: N/A |
David - Yeah, so am I, actually! We have a neighbor (a woman) that gets drunk and plays the radio as loud as she can, during the hours after 11:30 pm, until morning. She stays on the rear porch of the house she's staying at, and the porch is directly across from our bedroom window. She'll turns the thing on loud prior to leaving for the day, and it stays that way until she returns. I'm in the midst of paying for a "spite fence"... A 6' high fence to dampen the noise a bit. We'll probably end up with noise resistant windows, as well. I had a million of ideas that would put Jack's amount of spite to shame. But what good would it do? There's web sites that deal with neighbors and what to do in cases like Jack's and ours... They all say the same thing: "gettin' back just ain't worth it". So I guess I'll sell my electric fence, big bag of road-kill, and anti-freeze tainted beer on Craigslist... I'm gonna' keep my 45, tho.,, just in case I get a good opportunity. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 802 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.209.56.32 Rating: N/A |
RCB | ||
| Wec4104 (Wec4104)
Registered Member Username: Wec4104 Post Number: 47 Registered: 7-2008 Posted From: 68.80.242.72 Rating: |
Seeing Jack's earlier post made me smile as I remembered something from 5-6 years ago. It was about 4:00 pm on a Sunday afternoon, and I was in the bus heading home. I was on Interstate 95 in Delaware and ran into heavy traffic. It was bumper to bumper, and my clutch leg was feeling the stop-and-go crawl. We were stopped on the highway, waiting for the next opportunity to creep ahead 50 feet, when I heard horns honking behind me. Some joker in a Mustang convertible decided he was "special" and chose to make his own lane using the shoulder of the highway. I was expecting that he was going to jump off at the next exit and was "streching" the exit ramp. But then he forced his way back into the traffic lane creating more horn blasts. It was a hot summer day, and with his car top down, I could see the driver and his girlfriend laughing at all the PO'd drivers they created. Another mile down the road, this guy decided to leave the right lane and force his way into the left lane. More horns. Eventually he worked his way up even with the tail end of my bus. We were both stopped, and I could see him just sitting there next to my tailpipe. You can pretty much guess the rest of the story... This was all back before my engine rebuild, and I was still running oversized injectors. With the clutch in, I punched the accelerator hard, tach'd it up to 2000 and held it for about 5-8 seconds, enough to engulf the guy in soot. My wife asked me what I was doing and I just smiled and replied "Nothing." as I watched the couple in the Mustang cleaning their sunglasses. Shortly down the road, traffic opened back up and we started getting back up to highway speed. As expected, Joe Cool flipped me the bird as he cruised past. But two other drivers honked and gave me a thumbs up! Childish? Guilty as charged. (Message edited by wec4104 on June 12, 2009) (Message edited by wec4104 on June 12, 2009) | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 807 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.248.140 Rating: N/A |
Old adage...."he who laughs last, laughs best... RCB | ||
| Dave (Virtual)
Registered Member Username: Virtual Post Number: 45 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 67.186.253.131 Rating: N/A |
I got the old bus moved out today. It was a trip I won't soon forget, but everything worked out in the end. I might need a new 7.3L engine in my pickup. It was acting as chase vehicle for the day. Hopefully it is just a bad water pump and it didn't overheat too badly. I never did hear back from the county code enforcement. I'll probably call him on Monday and ask him, "what's up?" Just kidding. |
