The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reminding bus drivers that they are not exempt from stopping in for an inspection at certain weigh station facilities.
According to a May 2 social media post from CHP’s Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, located in San Martin, California, a passenger bus registered out of Texas and Mexico failed to enter the open scale, resulting in a traffic stop.
Troopers used the incident as a reminder of the “En Route Program,” which requires all commercial passenger vehicles to enter participating open scale facilities and submit to a commercial vehicle inspection when necessary. Loaded school buses are exempted from this rule.
According to CHP, there are three scale facilities that are certified to inspect buses and that participate in the En Route Program requiring buses to enter:
- Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility on US 101 North in San Martin, California
- Cordelia Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility off I-80 East in Fairfield, California
- Mountain Pass Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility off I-15 South in Nipton, California
Troopers say that there are four signs posted at the Gilroy facility instructing buses to stop at the scales.
CHP also reminds drivers that bypassing an open scale is a misdemeanor offense that can result in:
- A fine up to several thousand dollars
- A point and a half moving violation on your driving record (no driving school allowed)
- Increased insurance costs
- Possible disciplinary action from your employer
See below for more from CHP on requirements for buses to enter open scale facilities.
