Quote:
Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB
I have lived in a small communist country and California and I can assure you that Califoria, in spite of what some people would like to think, is far from being a small communist country.
You did not need to return to California to fight the ticket. You could have submitted a declaration stating the basis why you believed you were not guilty.
Assuming that you were in fact given a ticket (and I still do not believe it) for smoking (alone) in your truck's cab, this would have been the perfect ticket to fight by way of declaration. The question of guilt or innocence would have turned on: (a) what the law says and (b) the fact that you were alone in the truck's cab.
This would have been the world's ultimate no-brainer.
What you see as being trucker-unfriendly, is reallyj ust an effort to protect the rest of the state's citizens. And, in any event, as you should know by now lots of trucking regulations are pre-empted by Federal law under the provisions of the Commerce Clause.
I too cannot see a tractor-trailer combo doing anywhere near 110 mph, let alone 130 mph.
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They did assume correcly, that I would not do my homework, and just mail in the money. Hind-sight being 20/20 however, I would have faught the ticket, and won.
The federal government sets standards for trucks. But the states are allowed, individually to modify, and enforce the laws as they see fit. Length, and bridge laws for axle distance is not a federal law, but a California law. Trailers come now, from the factory with a Cal.on the spot where the axles should be placed, for California, and nowhere else. There are quite a few other laws that California, has developed, which set it apart from the rest of the country's federal laws. There is a law, about log book usage, which is also a California only law. There is a seperate weight law for California. There are also a bunch of other California laws which other states wouldn't dream of passing.
The state of California, as big, as it is, has very few truck stops, and a billion no truck parking areas. There are no trucks signs at every parking lot entrance, and every curb line, exit, or entrance ramp etc. where are we expected to sleep? By 1pm, if even that late, the few truck stops the citie's have allowed to be built, are full. They are half pint sized to begin with, and there are tons of us out here in trucks who need to sleep somewhere. California doesn't want anyone falling asleep at the wheel, yet refuses to build, or allow to be built, sufficient truck parking for us to get some rest without a ticket, or worse. They are a contradiction to their own principals. The good of the people is put more at risk with sleepy, unparked truck drivers than it is with a few trucks parked, and perhaps running so the driver can be sorta comfortable when he sleeps also. See what I mean? They are the most un-trucker-friendly place to deliver to. I refuse runs out there. If you go to a truck stop anywhere in the country, and so much as mention a California run, and drivers cower, and criticize the very idea of a trip out there because of the crap the state pulls. They are not, by any means up to speed with the rest of the country for a long list of reasons. The smoking ticket was given to me.I did not fight it, because I knew it was like trying to feed a dead horse, when you talk , or try to reason with a California judge, jury, cop, or other authority. It's like talking to a wall. Yet they let O.J. off, for mutilating his wife..