I can’t recall seeing one actually in operation for what seems like at least ten years.
A few years ago the somebody must have put millions into updating weigh stations signs; now they all have illuminated “CLOSED” signs.
Anyone see them working around some parts of the country?
Here’s STSTAFF Jill on weigh stations. Please check the vast Straight Dope archives before asking a question.
Thank you.
Out here in CA the weighing stations operate normally, although it’s been noted they are kinda M-F guys, so I guess if you haul on the weekend, you can get away with anything. 
Depends on the state. I never see them open in Texas, but they’re frequently open in Florida and Georgia, from what I’ve seen driving through.
Weigh stations aren’t open all the time because truckers would just find a way to get around them. By not leaving them open all the time, they keep the drivers alert. They aren’t all closed all the time, either. They usually switch them around. Truck drivers could easily use their CB’s to tell other drivers which place is open or closed if they didn’t rotate which station is open.
The station(s) about 10 miles north of me (they have one in the north and south bound lanes of I-25 in Monument) are open about 75% of the time I drive by them when heading to Denver or back.
The odd thing is, I don’t recall seeing one on I-70 from the Utah border through to Denver, but they have them along I-25. I often wonder if a lot of it has to do with the fact that I-25 (which runs from the New Mexico border to the Wyoming border) is often used for transporting illegal substances, illegal aliens and other illegal cargo. I could be wrong as I haven’t travelled from the Kansas border on I-70 west to Denver.
Most of the drug busts and illegal stuff is usually in passenger cars, both on I-25 and on I-70.
Oh and they do, during hunting season, have many unannounced DOW (Department of Wildlife) stops on I-70. Every vehicle is hurded off the road to a rest stop. If you are driving a truck with a topper or a camper, they stop you and search your vehicle for illegally hunted animals. The rest get through. But that’s a different story all together.
Your federal tax dollars at work.
I went to my state representative and asked why the local weigh station (I-495 in Raynham, MA) was never opened even though it was build over 8 years ago. Answer: The weigh station was built with federal funds, but it would have to be staffed with state funds. In other words, we have no problem spending federal dollars even though we know it’s a waste of money.
I pass one on my way to work every day: CA N-101 in San Rafael. Funny thing, but there are always cops there, too (on motorcycles); would this be for enforcement?
On a seperate note, with many having a several lane design, traffic could be easily diverted off the main road through the ready-made checkpoints in an… emergency.
Last year I drove from ME to CA and back, using Rt. 95 and 80. I never saw one weigh station open. It was so striking an absence of regulation that I noticed it. I drove last week from Maine to NY (Yonkers) and back and also never saw a station open. Not only could many of those thousands of trucks traveling across our country be overweight and the driver in violation of God knows what, but they could also be carrying illegal loads. If the government is so concerned about terrorists blowing up bridges and biological terrorism, etc. why the hell aren’t they making sure trucks are not carrying explosives, munitions, or chemicals illegally?
I suspect that since 9/11 we’ll see greater enforcement; not that anyone really expects to find terrorists that way, but the knowledge that one’s vehicle might be inspected may work as some deterrent. FWIW, when for Thanksgiving I went to my parents’ (NYC-DC) via Greyhound, the bus actually pulled over at the first weigh station in Maryland. I used to ride the same route pretty often in the early 90s and never saw that.
bizerta,
I have seen the 495 southbound side weigh station open, maybe 4 or 5 months ago. MSP was there with their Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (those nice blue pickup trucks, et al) pulling over what seemed to be random trucks. So it is used, just nowhere near as much as you’d expect it to be.
The weigh stations on 195 in Seekonk are both closed…one is used for storage of construction materials, the other is just fenced off. Same with the 95 south weigh station in Attleboro. Go figure.