Texas Now Enforcing Trailer Inspections

[WM75Guy]

Just FYI with the new one sticker registration/inspection process all trailers over 4500 GVWR except farm trailers have to be inspected prior to registration. Trailers over 4500 GVWR always required inspection, it just was not enforced until now. Not all inspection stations can accommodate large trailers. Motorists | Two Steps. One Sticker. Texas DMV

 

[Bird]

When we were RVers, I always got my trailers inspected as required by law, but usually the guy doing the inspection had no idea how to do it, so they just took my money and gave me the sticker.:laughing:

 

[EddieWalker]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

 

[STx]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

Yes but if you do that and tow more than 4000#, including the weight of the trailer, you can get a ticket and they can make you leave the load where you're at until you get it below the registered carrying weight. Probably easier to just get it inspected.

 

[WM75Guy]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

That's correct. Also if it's over 4000 it requires a title. I have two registered as home made at 4000#, no title or inspection was required. My other 3 trailers are all over 4500# but two have farm tags.

 

[newbury]

When we were RVers, I always got my trailers inspected as required by law, but usually the guy doing the inspection had no idea how to do it, so they just took my money and gave me the sticker.:laughing:

In Mississippi they just dropped the requirements for inspections. Part of the argument was that one could always find a station that did not really inspect, so if 1 place turned a vehicle down another would pass it.

 

[STx]

In Mississippi they just dropped the requirements for inspections. Part of the argument was that one could always find a station that did not really inspect, so if 1 place turned a vehicle down another would pass it.

In Tx its all computerized and stored in a state database so if one station was showing a lot of passing inspections on trailers that were failing at other stations, they'd get caught. I don't necessarily agree with this rule, I think it's just another "tax" but it is what it is.

 

[Bird]

In Tx its all computerized and stored in a state database so if one station was showing a lot of passing inspections on trailers that were failing at other stations, they'd get caught. I don't necessarily agree with this rule, I think it's just another "tax" but it is what it is.

In the late 50s, the state had troopers in plain clothes driving cars that had some problem that would cause them to fail inspection. They visited inspection stations to see if they were really doing the inspection. I remember a local Ford dealer who got caught passing one. I think that cost the dealership a thousand dollars (which was a lot of money in the 50s) and I know they also got a 30 day suspension. It was a bit comical because they had to get the Oldsmobile dealer down the street to put inspection stickers on any NEW Fords they sold. I don't know whether the state still does that or not.

But I had two different dealers put stickers on a motorhome I had in the early 70s without doing the inspection. Of course I had inspected it myself before going to a dealer so I knew it would pass if they did the inspection properly.

 

[dusty3030]

When Arkansas still had inspections when I was younger and worked for my Dad I would take a check to the place that did them (a car dealer) and all the renewal paperwork and walk out with a stack of inspection stickers for all the pick ups and semi trucks we had for the farm - the lady never got up from her desk and no inspections were ever done on any of them.

 

[bdog]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

That's good until you get caught loaded heavy. Texas revised their overweight fines a few years ago. It is now roughly $1 per pound you are over your registered weight. Sure would stink to get a 5k fine pulling 9,000 lb with a 4,000 lb registered weight.