Overweight Truck Axle Attorney of Metro Detroit
Are you a domestic or Canadian CDL truck driver with overweight trucking violations?
Then you know first hand that traffic violations for overweight axles (overweight cargo) can be very costly. CDL overweight tickets are issued more frequently than you might think, because in the state of Michigan, police officers have the power to stop trucks, waste haulers, and and other commercial vehicles if they have "reason to believe" that your cargo is overweight (see MCL 257.724).
In some cases, officers issue so many overweight tickets to certain companies, that the stops are almost expected. This can be particularly true in the waste hauler business, where the loads vary throughout the day during a driver's route.
Overweight Ticket Costs
The statute has a scale for issuing civil fines for overweight CDL vehicles, calculated on a per axle basis:
- 3 cents per pound for each pound if the excess weight is over one thousand pounds
- 6 cents per pound for each pound if the excess weight is over two thousand pounds
- 9 cents per pound ... 3 thousand pounds
- 12 cents per pound ... 4 thousand pounds
- 15 cents per pound ... 5 thousand pounds
- 20 cents per pound ... 10 thousand pounds
Additional Imposed Fines
Misloaded Vehicle Fines
The court may issue a fine of $200 per axle if they determine your vehicle was misloaded, only on axles of 4 thousand pounds or less (up to 3 total axles).
Lift Axle Fines
The court may also assess fines to vehicles with lift axles. In short, axle weight requirements do not apply to vehicles with lift axles fully engaged in order to negotiate turns, driveways, etc. depending on distance and time needed to negotiate the driveway, turn, etc. Determining the necessary measurements needed to negotiate a turn, driveway, etc are fully up to the discretion of the officer during the time of stop.
Professional Legal Assistance for your Overweight CDL Tickets in Michigan
If you are a CDL driver, including waste hauler, trucker, etc, or own a company with CDL vehicles, whether domestic or Canadian, it's important to know the law, and options for reducing these fines. Attorney Paul C. Youngs is a Michigan CDL attorney with over 20 years experience in the arena of overweight trucking and CDL law. Mr. Youngs has represented many Michigan and Canadian CDL drivers / companies with the Michigan traffic courts to secure reduced fines through plea agreements and other methods.
FREE Ticket Analysis
If you have any CDL overweight tickets issued in Metro Detroit or Southeast Michigan, contact Paul C. Youngs today for a FREE phone consultation: (734) 309-5076 or submit your ticket for a free ticket analysis: