D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

[jkru]

Ok here is the situation:

I have a 28.5' boat which beam exceeds 8'6". I was told I need a permit.

Easy right?

WRONG!!!!!!

I called Washington state D.O.T. which bounced me around to about five different departments until I got to the correct department who said we dont get these requests often and had to look it up. After 30 minutes of holding she comes back and asks me when I would be towing the boat. I replied all summer of course? She then said she needed to know the route and the dates and you need a permit each time. I was like, what? Are you for real? then she said you need a wide load banner on the front of your truck and on the back of your boat two orange flags on eaither side of the boat blah blah blah I felt like I was entering a float in a parade!. Then I told her all this for just towing down a couple of back roads in king county? She replyed Oh your not towing on the interstate? I said no, she goes then you need to call the county for a permit. GEEEEZZZE. Ok so I call the county and the county bounces me around from department to department until I reach transportion. The lady say once agian she needs to look up the RCWs and I basically get the same thing as above but then she says Ill just talk to the head of transportation and get you one for the summer should not be a problem. Kewl now Im getting somewhere right?

WRONG!!!

I get this reply:
I checked the route you intend to take to transport your boat. You will be travelling through the City of Redmond and the City of Bellevue's jurisdiction.
We only issue permits for unincorporated King County roads.

Please contact the City of Redmond at 425-556-2473 and the City of Bellevue, Dottie Schmidt at 425-452-2888.

Thanks,


Ok I give up, if these people don't know the rules a cop aint going to know it. Im frustrated anyone have this experience? I am towing my boat permit or not, im tired of this.

Sorry for the rant

Cheers
JKru

 

[rndn]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

If you tow your wide boat with no permits and something happens you will be in serious trouble. There are reasons they require permits for towing oversized trailers. Most owners of large boats keep them at the boat yard and only tow them at the beginning and ending of the boating season. I'm sure it would not cost too much to leave it at a secure facility instead of taking chances without the permits.

 

[jkru]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

If you tow your wide boat with no permits and something happens you will be in serious trouble. There are reasons they require permits for towing oversized trailers. Most owners of large boats keep them at the boat yard and only tow them at the beginning and ending of the boating season. I'm sure it would not cost too much to leave it at a secure facility instead of taking chances without the permits.

The beam on the boat is 9'6", so we are talking one foot. I guess the point is getting a permit. It should be simple and its not. I see people evertime at the public launch even with 30ft boats launching.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

Hmm...looks like you'll either have to get the permit or tow illegally. I suspect that most people tow illegally in similar situations. That'll probably work, unless you have an accident, in which case the cost of storing your boat in a dry storage at a marina will seem pretty inexpensive.

Why do they have these laws? Because traffic lanes and road design are based on a vehicle no more than a foot less wide than your boat. Anything wider is a hazard, really, since it's entirely possible that two such vehicles will meet each other on those "back roads" that weren't designed for such wide vehicles.

It's a dilemma, for sure.

 

[rndn]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I do appreciate the hassles of cutting thruogh our red tape processes. I agree there should be an easier way of doing what you're trying to do. Have you thought of asking your state representative for assistance in the matter? You are a taxpayer and should feel comfortable using the service they are in office to provide.

 

[jkru]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I do appreciate the hassles of cutting thruogh our red tape processes. I agree there should be an easier way of doing what you're trying to do. Have you thought of asking your state representative for assistance in the matter? You are a taxpayer and should feel comfortable using the service they are in office to provide.

Good idea,

I will do try to do that or write a letter at least. I talked to Bellevue and Redmond and here is what I got. Put a wide load sign on the back and a couple of flags and if I have any problems both of them said to tell the officer to talk to both of them. He said "we are just worried more about the hieght". He said as long as your showing due dilligence they shouldnt bother you. He also said that the ironic thing is if I am more likely to get pulled over if I do put a wideload sign on the boat. He said eaither way you should be fine.

The problem I have with this is you can imagine the conversation if I get pulled over and I say: "Hey relax Mr. Officer John Smith at DOT said no problem I just have to take him out for lunch sometime; give him a call" Thant is not going to fly..

The reason why I dont store it at the dock is because its expensive and I have free covered storage < 10 miiles away.

Cheers!
JKru

 

[Bondo]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

The beam on the boat is 9'6",

Ayuh,...... Forget the Signs,+ Flags......
You won't even be Noticed at 9,+ 1/2'.....

I specialized in Wide, or more usually Heavy when I was Truckin'....

Most loads up to maybe 10' were permited during the day,+ just run at night....
Depending on it's Shape, makes it more or less Noticeable....
With a Boat,.... They don't start really Looking Wide til you get to 11', or 12'....
With the beam of a boat being so far from the ground,.. Most people won't notice just How wide it is....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I agree with Bondo, Hook to it and go! I doubt anyone will notice.

 

[bhammer]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

Who knows an officer that carries a tape measure anyways.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I can't see an officer boarding and measuring a boat. If you get pulled over say it's 8'6" and I am sure he will believe you, it's a very very common boat size. Other than that avoid anything that could be an issue.

What about having the signs and flags on the truck and boat, and when you see a cop wave to them. My guess is they would expect you to have all the permits and paper work done.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I hate to be nay-sayer in this but the legal width limit on every road I know of is 102 inches or 8.5 feet. Anything more than that you need a permit. The reason for the permit is that towing things wider than 8.5 feet is generally a one-shot deal except with some construction equipment in which there is no other way to get this stuff moved and even then it takes permits and other wide load precautions. Boats with a 9.5 foot beam are not generally trailered on regular basis -- because it is overwidth. They are purchased, splashed, docked and that's the end of the line until winter (if that's an issue) where the boat is pulled, blocked, winterized and shrink wrapped. I understand your frustration but it is all about safety. I believe a normal interstate highway lane is 12 feet wide. Put a 9.5 foot boat on it and you have 2.5 feet of leeway (or 1.25 feet on each side to play with). Hence the safety thing. On rural roads that lane may be 10 feet wide so there is little wiggle room. Enter a bridge on one of those roads and you can easily see the conflict with oncoming traffic. I feel for you, but if getting a permit that allowed continuous towing of an overwidth load, every semi, camper, boat, farm wagon, and motorcyle would be over 8.5 feet wide. In my view, a 9.5 foot wide boat is not a trailer boat.

 

[woosterken]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

just go to a major truck stop,at the fuel desk you can get permits there.
woosterken
reitred trucker

 

[ondarvr]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

For many years I made and installed fiberglass swimming pools up to 40' long and 18' wide, it was a simple phone call for the permit, we rarely got checked and we installed 6 pools a week all summer. The widest permit we ever got was for 12' because it had the fewest regulations.

If we did get stopped and the officer wanted to measure the width, he could only hold one end of the tape and my boss held the other end. Strange thing was the width always came out to 12' or less.

This was in Washington State also, take woosterkens advise, or stop another trucker and ask them where to get it. You can get a trip permit at the local title transfer location too.

 

[jkru]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I liked the comment about what cop carries a tape measure LOL

Anyways the permit thing is a pain in the *****. I agree no one is going to notice 9'6" and I am Canadian so ill keep telling the cop the measurements in Meters. That should throw him off

 

[fishmen111]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I'm with Silvertip on this one. That boat was manufactured to be slipped, not towed on a routine basis. If you are in an accident, I bet someone finds a tape measure then! Then it's your aas.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

Don't confuse what I said. Getting a permit for an overwidth load is not a problem. But once that permit is in hand, its a one-way trip. Move the boat again and it's another permit. I also suggest that a 9.5 foot load is very noticeable -- because it hangs six inches off each side of a 102 inch trailer. Up here in the tundra, snowmobilers are frequently ticketed for hauling multiple sleds sideways on the trailer. Oops, they are over 8.5 feet long. Once again, it doesn't take a genius to spot an overwidth load.

 

[dave11]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

A boat wider that 102" is kinda like a mobile home. CAN you drag them down the road? Yes. SHOULD you? Probably not on a regular basis. If you do as has been said above, I sure hope you are never involved in an accident. It won't matter who caused the accident. Since you are operating illegally, a large portion of blame will rest on you.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

I stopped by the local title transfer place today and asked them about an over width load permit. They said it's a D.O.T. only item, they can do over weight, but not over width, they were surprised you got the run around because it's a common permit.

 

[arboldt]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

Guys, if we read Jkru's original post, he's willing to get a permit. The problem is with the multiple jurisdictions each requiring a different permit, and giving him the run-around about how to get one. Thus the issue is not whether or not to get a permit, but where and how.

I'd suggest he get one from one jurisdiction and go with it. They may tell him he also needs to get one from each of the cities, but I'd probably ask them where that office is, then forget it once I'm out the door.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: D.O.T. Towing Permit: The most convoluted thing ever

The issue is more than just getting the permit. Those are generally temporary, one use permits. There is no way this boat can be towed on a day-to-day basis legally unless a new permit is obtained for each trip. No jurisdiction is going to issue a permanent permit to tow an overwidth load.