Man you can say that again!

 

Another good reason to have a GPS unit on the truck. At least you can see if the off ramp will have an off ramp before risking the exit.
Chicago can be famous for the "where the hell am I?" scenario.

 

I think I might have passed the scale in Butte, MT the other day going north on I15. I was running with another guy from Canada and we came up on the exit where the scale is along with the Flyin hook. We were stopping at the J anyways, but the sign for the scale said "CLON". Kinda half way between closed and open. The way we figured it it was closer to closed then open so we passed it. We boogied over to the J and grabbed our coffees and took off again. Well, on our way back to the Interstate there was a swift truck rolling across the scale. Nobody ever came after us and never did find out if the scale was actually opened or closed. I might be in for a surprise next time I get to Montana.

 

I used to pass scales all the time when traffic has been backed up on the shoulder past the starting of the off ramp, my reasoning being that the shoulder is not a travel lane, its for emergency stopping only, and you cant have your truck out in the slow lane causing a hazard for everyone else

 

I was heading in to make a delivery in Fort Morgan and my exit was Harmony Road. Well, apparently DOT sets up on Harmony Road from time to time to check on trucks that might be going around the Fort Collins Truck Scale. I didn't realize that's what was going on- I just thought it was construction. So I drove right by their portables and the inspectors started waving me over. So they came up and asked if I had been over a Colorado scale since I loaded (meaning, that I hadn't entered the state and then loaded- that my load had been weighed already in Colorado). I had- at the Dumont Weigh Station. Anyway- that satisfied them, plus, my bills showed my destination right down the road.

And the Maryland Scales at 495/95, I hardly ever go in there. I know I'm supposed to- I just can't bring myself to do it most times...

 

Oh- and Arizona scales have infrared cameras set up along the freeway- if you blow by them, they've got you on camera.

I've heard the same thing about New Mexico, but never seen it myself. Arizona's cameras are really big- and I know I've seen the monitor when I've had to go inside the scale house.

Thank God for that little green light... ha ha!

 

Dlux:

I had a similar situation occur as I was driving from Texas into Louisiana.

The BEST advice that I can offer you is this: KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS!!:

I had fueled up at the Pilot in Orange, Tx., and grabbed something to eat at the Wendy's before I left. After departing, I crossed the state line into Louisiana, and blew right past a chicken house. Sure enough, the blue disco lights were flashing in my mirrors, and I pulled over.

The DOT cop asked me why I failed to stop, and I pulled out my receipt for a Wendy's Tripple Decker Cheeseburger, the Biggie order of fries, and an extra-large Diet Coke.

I showed him my receipt along with the empty Wendy's bag, and told him;

"Officer, the sign that I passed before I came to the scalehouse said":

"BYPASS WEIGH STATION WHEN FULL"!!

 

NOW THAT'S SOME FUNNY S#IT!

 

I only missed a scale once. Along I-25 in northern NM. I was a bit concerned about it at first. Didn't really have anything to hide, but worried nonetheless. Kept looking in the mirrors for a DOT, but never happened. Never happened again though.

 

A couple of nights ago, around 2 in the morning I was headed North on I-25 through Ft. Collins, CO. As usual at that time of night the northbound scales were closed, but they leave the pre-pass on for some odd reason. I got a red light, the sign to the scales said CLOSED. Just a moment of 'wtf' as I kept on truckin'.

This afternoon I was coming North again, same scale. I got a green light this time, and the sign on the scale.... CLOPEN