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03-30-2010, 10:54 AM
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#29
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Administrator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
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Escapees, being a Texas based club found that there were different interpretations of the drivers license requirements for RVs at each DPS location and by various individuals at each DPS location.
Escapees got with DPS officials and determined the correct requirements.
The DPS folks at Livingston, TX all know the correct requirements as that's where Escapees is located.
From the Escapees web site;
Quote:
RVs operated for personal pleasure in Texas may require either a class B or A driver’s license if they meet certain weight ratings.
Here's the relevant info, excerpted from the DPS Driver’s License Handbook:
CLASSIFIED DRIVER LICENSE (Texas Transportation Code, Section 521)
The following listed Class A, B, C, and M licenses will be issued to persons who are exempt from obtaining a Commercial Driver License or persons who are not required to obtain a Commercial Driver License:
- Class A driver license permits a person to drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds; including a vehicle included in Class B or Class C, except a motorcycle or moped.
- Class B driver license permits a person to drive the following vehicles, except a motorcycle or moped:
- a. a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, and any such vehicle towing either a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating that does not exceed 10,000 pounds, or a farm trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating that does not exceed 20,000 pounds;
- b. a bus with a seating capacity of 24 passengers or more, including the driver; and c. a vehicle included in Class C.
- Class C driver license permits a person to drive the following vehicles, except a motorcycle or moped:
- a. a single unit vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that is not a Class A or B; and
- b. a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds, towing trailer not to exceed 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or a farm trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating that does not exceed 20,000 pounds.
- Class M driver license permits a person to drive a motorcycle or moped.
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__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP
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03-30-2010, 02:24 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: DFW Area, TX
Posts: 2,040
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne M
Do hang onto that message as a security crutch.
I wonder if you were to go down and get an instruction permit for a class B, if they would take the class C from you, and you could still drive a class C with a class B instruction permit. Hmmm! When I get home next week I'm going to take a trip down to the DPS station and ask some more questions - if I can get two inspectors at the same time. I'll make sure I have the book with me also. .
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It will be interesting to see what you get as a response, Wayne. What would be even more interesting, if you can get consensus from your two inspectors, is what other DPS locations would say about the same circumstance. In Dirk's post on the next page of this thread, he says that the Escapees have found different interpretation of the rules from DPS location to location. I believe that. If they cannot agree on the rules, it would be surprising to me that they could agree with more sophisticated questions like "what is a legal path to obtaining a Class B non-CDL license?"
The next question is:
If the organization charged with the administration of the RV related licenses cannot agree with itself regarding the interpretation and application of the associated statutes , how is the general public expected to comply? Further, how can benefit be derived or determined? Since there isn't agreement on the principals, generating any kind of reporting against those principals would be next to impossible.
Folks, we have far too many situations just like that. Our governmental entities do things like this that are supposed to serve the common good. I've just gone through a nightmare with our Town over building codes for exactly the same kinds of reasons. Through terrible interpretation and even worse implementation, the original purpose is almost completely lost and the result is simply a list of rules that have to be followed. We all blindly follow them. It think that it is time to start challenging some of them. "Because I said so" as an argument and justification is pretty weak in the knees.
I do agree that we need "something." As long as we have what we have, that something is never going to achieve the intended purpose, IMHO
__________________
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36' DP
2018 Equinox toad
KF5-NJY
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03-30-2010, 02:50 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 402
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Since this is already a bonfire, I'll add my log. When I went to the local, customer-oriented State of Texas DMV the almost surly woman (after she took a half hour personal phone call) told me my current license did not authorize me to drive my motorhome. I asked her what I needed and she said she didn't know, but what I had was not right. So I said, "well can we just renew it and I won't drive my motorhome (fingers crossed behind my back)." And she said that would be fine and renewed it. Go figure.
So I decided to 1) hope never get stopped, 2) the trooper would no more understand Texas licensing for motorhome operation than local DMV and 3) worry about it all later.
So far, so good.
__________________
Richard
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03-30-2010, 04:44 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Somewhere....
Posts: 4,054
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne M
Do hang onto that message as a security crutch.
I wonder if you were to go down and get an instruction permit for a class B, if they would take the class C from you, and you could still drive a class C with a class B instruction permit. Hmmm! When I get home next week I'm going to take a trip down to the DPS station and ask some more questions - if I can get two inspectors at the same time. I'll make sure I have the book with me also.
I'm curious as heck. I have a Class A Non-CDL that I just converted from a CDl this past year. I don't drive commercially anymore and with a CDL if you get a ticket there is no relief with defensive driving.
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DW has a Class B Provisional. The provisional part only applies to vehicles requiring a Class B license. It's fully valid for Class C vehicles otherwise.
I have a Class B CDL that I want to downgrade to a non-CDL. What was the process?
joe
__________________
2008 King Aire 4562, Spartan K3(GT) w/ Cummins ISX 600
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L V8 Hemi w/ Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar and baseplate, SMI Air Force One brake
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03-30-2010, 04:48 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Don't mess with Texas
Posts: 3,118
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Y'all ain't ever going to believe this. I was told that since my MH weighs 25892 when I had it weighed recently I didn't need any special license. I give. I quit. Of course I could not get her to put that in writing.
I'm not even going back to the drawing boards on this. I'm considering getting a Class M and to heck with all of them.
__________________
Jim with Judy
2017 Newmar Ventana 4369, 2005 Jeep Wrangler (Rock Crawler), 2016 Jeep Wrangler (Mall Crawler)
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03-30-2010, 05:14 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: DFW Area, TX
Posts: 2,040
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elkhartjim
Y'all ain't ever going to believe this. I was told that since my MH weighs 25892 when I had it weighed recently I didn't need any special license. I give. I quit. Of course I could not get her to put that in writing.
I'm not even going back to the drawing boards on this. I'm considering getting a Class M and to heck with all of them.
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I do believe. It might even be correct. Initially, I would have said that the weight number to be used for licensing should be the GVW. You could, at any minute, legally load enough weight on board your RV to bring it to the GVW. But I'd go with curb weight, too. Make them drag out the portable scales to prove you wrong.
I'm guess if you had said "GVW" the the lady who was helping you at the DPS office, you would have gotten a blank stare in return.
Get your Class M, Jim. I really want to see pictures of you on a Vespa.
__________________
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36' DP
2018 Equinox toad
KF5-NJY
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03-30-2010, 05:20 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cypress, Texas USA
Posts: 8,854
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As has been quoted both in the actual Texas Transportation Code statutes (Section 521) and the Driver License handbook, the Class B license requirement is based on a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 26,001 lbs or greater. It's too bad that some of our DPS personnel don't even know what the governing law is.
Rusty
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03-30-2010, 05:22 PM
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#36
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RoadRohrers
Since this is already a bonfire, I'll add my log. When I went to the local, customer-oriented State of Texas DMV the almost surly woman (after she took a half hour personal phone call) told me my current license did not authorize me to drive my motorhome. I asked her what I needed and she said she didn't know, but what I had was not right. So I said, "well can we just renew it and I won't drive my motorhome (fingers crossed behind my back)." And she said that would be fine and renewed it. Go figure.
So I decided to 1) hope never get stopped, 2) the trooper would no more understand Texas licensing for motorhome operation than local DMV and 3) worry about it all later.
So far, so good.
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Richard,
You better add "hope never to have a wreck, especially to be deemed at fault" to your list. It is clear that if you are driving a vehicle weighing more than 26001 lbs, you do need a class B license if you are a Texas resident. I won't defend that it makes sense, but it is a legal issue, and a rogue lawyer could possibly make you life miserable...... and I did not retire to have that kind of issue to deal with!!
This is the reason that I got the Class B. The DPS told me that if I picked up a new RV at the Sherman, MS location where I bought it, I would be driving in violation of the law the minute I left the RV dealer's property. As I saw it, the possible consequences just weren't standing my ground. Marriage has taught me to pick my battles carefully!!
Another "Richard"
__________________
Richard & Patsy King
Victoria, Texas
2008 Allegro Bus 40QSP / 2012 Honda CRV
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03-30-2010, 05:48 PM
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#37
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,291
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Flying Diver
Joe,
The process for switching from a CDL to a non-CDL is painless. Yes, there was a fee involved. I don't remember what it was. Just go to the DMV Licensing place, provide your CDL license and tell the clerk you want to change it to non-CDL. When I did that I also included a statement that I did not drive commercially anymore, but that I did drive a motor-home that required me to have the same class license, just not CDL. Just a few minutes later I was walking out with a "temporary" Class A. She will give you a receipt for the Class A, and cut a corner of your present license off. If you were to get stopped you would show both your cut corner license and the temporary paper.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Jim,
I have the Class M endorsement, so if you need instructions, come see me.
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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03-30-2010, 07:41 PM
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#38
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 402
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[QUOTE=kingrl0214;620808]Richard,
You better add "hope never to have a wreck, especially to be deemed at fault" to your list. It is clear that if you are driving a vehicle weighing more than 26001 lbs, you do need a class B license if you are a Texas resident. I won't defend that it makes sense, but it is a legal issue, and a rogue lawyer could possibly make you life miserable...... and I did not retire to have that kind of issue to deal with!!
Good point. I guess at this juncture for me the topic is moot as current vehicle is well below threshold. However, I would also point out that regardless of doing everything right, there is no guarantee that a "rogue lawyer" will not make your life miserable anyway on any variety of issues.
__________________
Richard
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03-30-2010, 07:59 PM
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#39
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Don't mess with Texas
Posts: 3,118
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Quote:
Originally Posted by [LEFT
RustyJC[/LEFT];620806]As has been quoted both in the actual Texas Transportation Code statutes (Section 521) and the Driver License handbook, the Class B license requirement is based on a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 26,001 lbs or greater. It's too bad that some of our DPS personnel don't even know what the governing law is.
Rusty
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Ain't it so. And don't ever try to explain to two DPS personnel your interpretation of the law. I'm gonna bite the bullet and take the test and get me a Class A or B or C or M or maybe even a E-I-E-I-O license .
__________________
Jim with Judy
2017 Newmar Ventana 4369, 2005 Jeep Wrangler (Rock Crawler), 2016 Jeep Wrangler (Mall Crawler)
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03-30-2010, 10:47 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: DFW Area, TX
Posts: 2,040
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kingrl0214
Richard,
This is the reason that I got the Class B. The DPS told me that if I picked up a new RV at the Sherman, MS location where I bought it, I would be driving in violation of the law the minute I left the RV dealer's property. Another "Richard"
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Yep. Exactly. And the opportunity for you NOT to be in violation was what again? Borrow someone else AND their RV to go take the test in it before you go buy your own vehicle??? If I understand it correctly, you must show up to take the test in the kind of vehicle for which the license is intended. In other words, you couldn't go rent one of the CDL trucks and take your test in that if you were getting the Class A or B non-CDL license for an RV.
It is rampant. Do you want to get a license to install burglar alarms in Texas? The only way to do it is to work for someone else who already has a license for 3 years. They are "protecting the public from bad installers." Yeah, right. The current license holders have the market place locked up. For electricians and plumbers, you can go take a test and get a license. Not on alarms. "They are much more critical" P...L..E...A...S...E!
You just gotta love laws that make everyone criminals.
__________________
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36' DP
2018 Equinox toad
KF5-NJY
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03-31-2010, 09:23 AM
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#41
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chasfm11
Yep. Exactly. And the opportunity for you NOT to be in violation was what again? Borrow someone else AND their RV to go take the test in it before you go buy your own vehicle??? If I understand it correctly, you must show up to take the test in the kind of vehicle for which the license is intended. In other words, you couldn't go rent one of the CDL trucks and take your test in that if you were getting the Class A or B non-CDL license for an RV.
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Yepper.......... that's exactly what I did. A friend of mine here in Victoria read about my 'lack of test vehicle" and my frustration on another forum, and offered me his Vectra to take the test. I insisted to him that I wanted him to ride with me for the test so that he would be with me in case he found damage later on and he agreed. When we showed up for the test, the DPS tester told he 'no riders' and made him exit!!! All worked out anyway.
Regards,
Richard
__________________
Richard & Patsy King
Victoria, Texas
2008 Allegro Bus 40QSP / 2012 Honda CRV
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03-31-2010, 09:45 AM
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#42
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,291
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chasfm11
......... If I understand it correctly, you must show up to take the test in the kind of vehicle for which the license is intended. In other words, you couldn't go rent one of the CDL trucks and take your test in that if you were getting the Class A or B non-CDL license for an RV.
.........
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Unless they changed the laws, that is not exactly correct. I believe you must be in a class of vehicle for which you want your license. Years ago, my Class A CDL had a restriction of, "No air." Meaning I could drive any Class A vehicle as long is it didn't have air brakes. We upgraded our truck to one with air brakes. I rented a box truck with air brakes and used it as the test vehicle with no questions asked. If you can find a rental truck that has a GVW of 26,001 pounds or more, you should be able to take your test in it.
Jim,
E I E I O? Is that for riding a Hog?
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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