By Rick Stoff
SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Transportation is planning a series of “soft enforcement” actions at weigh stations to identify buses and motorcoaches that are operating over weights declared on tax registration documents.
Compliance with the declarations is important here because Oregon bases its commercial vehicle fees on weight and mileage and does not participate in the International Fuel Tax Agreement.
Signage will alert bus and motorcoach drivers to enter weigh stations when enforcement actions are underway. During these visits, “A warning rather than a citation will be issued for failure to operate within the declared weight on the first occasion,” ODOT stated in a notice to Oregon motor carriers. “This gives the operators the opportunity to adjust their declared weight and comply with current requirements.”
When this violation is discovered during routine enforcement activities, the fine for a commercial motor vehicle “exceeding tax declared weight” is $440.
In its August newsletter, the Oregon Motor Carrier Transportation Division reported that the weight checks follow actions by the International Registration Plan:
“Beginning in 2016, charter motor coaches became subject to the requirements of the International Registration Plan. In 2018, calculation of the registration weight for motor coaches changed from a formula that was based on the motorcoaches’ empty weight, plus seating and cargo capacity, to the heaviest actual weight that the motorcoach operates.
“The Oregon Department of Transportation’s policy does not generally required loaded motorcoaches to enter Oregon weight stations. However, to assist motorcoach operators in gaining compliance with the Oregon weight-mile tax and registration requirements, we will be conducting soft-enforcement operations throughout the state at various times.
“This will require all motorcoaches with a gross vehicle weight over 20,000 pounds to enter weigh stations to determine if the motor coach/bus is operating within their declared weight. Motorcoaches in violation will be process quickly to avoid any unnecessary delay to passengers. Safety issues that pose an imminent hazard will be addressed as necessary.”
An ODOT official said the trip over the scales and issuance of a warning, if needed, should take five minutes. Dates for motorcoach weigh-ins have not been determined but may be conducted randomly.
