Pulled over by the FHP today (Florida Highway Patrol) - Bumpers too high

[Mike Phillips]

Pulled over by the FHP today (Florida Highway Patrol) - Bumpers too high

An officer with the FHP pulled me over today to tell me my bumpers were too high.  He proceeded to pull out a tape measure and measure the distance between the ground and the bottom of the front and rear bumpers.

Here's the results

Front legal distance = 28"

My truck = 37"

Rear legal distance = 30"

My truck = 31"

He didn't give me a ticket just a verbal  warning.  He printed out the 2015 Florida Statutes and gave them to me.


I've been reading how police are pretty lax about enforcing height laws in Florida for years and I've never had an issue in the past.  Bought this truck almost 3 years ago, drive it every day and this is the first time I've been pulled over for height issues.

I'm not a law breaker historically but I do like driving a tall truck.

[Mike Phillips]

Here's the link to the page he printed out and gave me,

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.251.html

There's 3 sections to the statute.

Section 2 states this,

(2) “New motor vehicles” as defined in s. 319.001(9), “antique automobiles” as defined in s. 320.08, “horseless carriages” as defined in s. 320.086, and “street rods” as defined in s. 320.0863 shall be excluded from the requirements of this section.


I was hoping the portion on antiques would apply as it would have to do with the age of the truck but after reading the section is appears to be about rates charged for license taxes.

The truck is a 1987 Chevy Silverado so it's 29 years old.

[Mike Phillips]

I've never weighed the truck but I'm guessing it's under 5000 pounds.

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL View Entire Chapter
 
316.251 Maximum bumper heights.—(1) Every motor vehicle of net shipping weight of not more than 5,000 pounds shall be equipped with a front and a rear bumper such that when measured from the ground to the bottom of the bumper the maximum height shall be as follows:

NET WEIGHT FRONT REAR

Automobiles for private use:
  Net weight of less than 2,500 pounds 22″ 22″
  Net weight of 2,500 pounds or more, but less than 3,500 pounds 24″ 26″
  Net weight of 3,500 pounds or more 27″ 29″

Trucks:
  Net weight of less than 2,000 pounds 24″ 26″
  Net weight of 2,000 or more, but not more than 3,000 pounds 27″ 29″

  Net weight of 3,000 pounds, but not more than 5,000 pounds 28″ 30″



 

[Irish_Alley]

it wont due no good to weigh your truck now. as net would be without the added weight of the tires and people and anything else not from the factory afaik. it should be on the title maybe??? but i wouldnt think they would weigh more than 4500

[berserk]

I am always finding new reasons to be glad I live in Oklahoma, there's guys running around here with 12" lifts, over 35" tires and HUGE ranch hand bumpers and no issues with the law.

Is your truck lifted or have aftermarket bumpers? It would be crazy if they wanted you to alter a stock truck to meet there regulations.

Edit: I was curious so I looked up your old post and found your truck to on around 38" tire and 8-12" of lift.
If you knew the law and still modded the truck like that its a risk you knew you were taking.

[Irish_Alley]

if you look at most cars the reason behind the height limit is so your bumper hits the door and not just the glass and then peoples heads. we had a guy around here that had a newer ford with a diesel and his lifted truck made my 6+3 lift and 38s look like a regular stock truck. if he hit someone it would of been like a monster truck crushing cars. most cops around here wont bother you with bumper height as long as your not being stupid and they want to burn you for every little thing they can. ive been through road blocks with my mud truck and open headers.