New Jersey Traffic Defense Attorneys for Commercial Motor Vehicle Charges Including Overweight Tickets and Summonses
Commercial vehicles are required to comply with rules and regulations adopted by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. A condition of registration under N.J.S.A. 39:3-20 is a compliance with specific standards for equipment, tires and loads, and dimensions and weight. For example, the maximum gross weight of a commercial motor vehicle such as a tractor trailer is 80,000 pounds. Construction vehicles, including cement and dumb trucks, cannot have a gross load above 70,000 pounds. If a commercial operator, owner or registrant violates these or other weight or measure requirement, they are subject to significant penalties. Hiring an attorney who is highly familiar with commercial motor vehicle ticket defense, especially those involving excess weight violations, is extremely crucial to avoiding extreme fines and other penalties.
Our firm has exactly what you need with a team of accomplished attorneys to ensure you achieve the outcome needed to protect your commercial driver’s license. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall can offer you:
- Over 200 years of experience defending commercial motor vehicle charges in municipal courts throughout New Jersey
- 11 lawyers whose practices are dedicated exclusively to defending the accused
- Former municipal prosecutors in over 25 towns
- A long history of success in representing truckers charged with excess weight offenses
To obtain a free consultation with an accomplished NJ traffic offense lawyer on our staff, call 855-450-8310. Lawyers are available 24/7 to provide a free consultation.
Weight Limits for Commercial Vehicles in New Jersey
Excess weight violations can arises out of either N.J.S.A. 39:3-84(b) or N.J.S.A. 39:3-84.1. The headings below outline some of the more common questions posed by truckers and commercial owners served with a ticket or summons for operating an overweight vehicle.
- Do the Commercial Weight Restrictions Apply To Out-of-State Registrants? Yes. the weight limits apply to all commercial vehicles operated in NJ whether the related vehicle is registered here or not.
- Is Probable Cause Required For Police To Stop A Commercial Vehicle To Take Its Weight? No. As long as a vehicle is being operated on a roadway within the state, there is no need for police to effectuate a stop for a weight inspection.
- Can a Commercial Vehicle Be Impounded If It Is Found To Be Overweight? Yes. N.J.S.A. 39:3-84.3(b) gives police the authority to impound/detain a vehicle until such time as the excess weight is removed by the driver, operator, owner, lessee or bailee.
- What Is The Weight Limit for a Commercial Vehicle?
- Single Axle: 22,400 pounds
- Tandem Axle Group: 34,000 pounds
- Two or More Axle Maximum Weight: 80,000
- Class 7 Dumb Truck: 59,500-61,500 pounds
- 38 Foot 4 Axle Trailer: 67,500
- How Is The Fine For Operating An Overweight Commercial Vehicle Computed? The penalties for excess weight violations are set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-84.3. The fine is 2 cents for every pound overweight when the excess load is less than 10,000 pounds. The per pound fine is 3 cents when the excess weight is 10,000 pounds or more.
- Can A Carrier Obtain a Permit to Carry a Load Over the Standard Limits? Yes. A special permit can be secured so that a load exceeding the customary limits can be transported. An overload or overdimensional trailer permit can be obtain under Code 23 and you can obtain more information on this subject by clicking here. You can also refer to the NJ Oversize/Overweight Reference Guide for further clarification.
Excess Weight Trucking Attorneys in New Jersey
The New Jersey Office of Weights and Measures takes its responsibilities very serious and gives the State Police marching orders to strictly enforce rules when a commercial vehicle operator or owner violates the law. You need a lawyer at your side who is going to take your interests just as serious by ensuring you have every chance of eliminating or reducing a ticket or summons for being overweight. The team of talented New Jersey defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is capable for fully protecting you in this role and is ready to discuss the specifics of what would be involved in this assignment. Call us at 855-450-8310 for a free consultation anytime 24/7.
