"Truck" or "Commercial" license plates?

[Rothman]

^ Having a NY tag cost less than half of the standard rate is discrimination of the highest order and should really be illegal.

Heh.  If the rate's too high for you, stay out of the kitchen...

[kphoger]

Wow, is it really possible that the thread has gone this long without mentioning Lake Shore Drive?

[kphoger]

I've seen a lot of personal use pick-up trucks are also having "Commercial" license plates.
Why DMV not issue passenger plates to them, to differentiate them from commercial use pickups?

Or, issuing PASS or TRUCK depending on the car model first.
For example, tow trucks, dump trucks, box trucks, vans designed mainly for commercial (like Chevy Express) => COMM/TRUCK only.
Pick-ups => Ask the owner at the window
Sedan, SUV => PASS only.

Your question seems to be based on an inaccurate assumption of what the categories are for.

This.

I have a neighbor who owns a box truck.  Is it for his personal use or for commercial use?  I don't know.  All I know is that it's parked in his driveway.

The owner of my company has an RV.  He paid the $1000 to set up an LLC in Montana, then registered his RV there under the LLC's name.  Yet he doesn't use it primarily for business purposes.  He primarily uses it for personal purposes.  Note, however, that I said "primarily".  He does occasionally use it to attend auto races with other business associates:  you might consider such a trip to Indianapolis to be a business expense.

My company has a box truck for picking up equipment at the MSO's warehouse.  Before that, though, back when I was the one picking up equipment, we just had a Ford cargo van for the same purpose.

Most field techs use pickups or cargo vans as their work vehicle, carrying their supplies in the back, with ladders mounted on a rack on top.  But other guys use minivans instead.  Another cable company that used to be in town even leased Nissan Cubes (or something like that) to their techs, and they were all tagged in Illinois.  These guys are all 1099 contractors, not W2 employees of the company they do business for.  In the case of a leased vehicle, they should only be using them for work.  But, when techs opt to use their own vehicles instead, their work truck is their personal vehicle.

Some supervisors drive work trucks, others drive sedans.  Either way, driving out to a job site is a commercial purpose.

[mgk920]

Can you legally drive it on a NYC parkway?  If 'yes', then it is a personal vehicle.  If 'no', then it is a commercial vehicle.

So a sedan used for commercial purposes wouldn't be allowed on an NYC parkway?

At least sedan featuring commercial livery, like business name in big letters or pizza delivery markings is not allowed. They may remove Moses name from the road, but his spirit still rules NYC

Cabs, Ãœbers and Lyfts?



Mike

[geek11111]

Can you legally drive it on a NYC parkway?  If 'yes', then it is a personal vehicle.  If 'no', then it is a commercial vehicle.

So a sedan used for commercial purposes wouldn't be allowed on an NYC parkway?

At least sedan featuring commercial livery, like business name in big letters or pizza delivery markings is not allowed. They may remove Moses name from the road, but his spirit still rules NYC

Cabs, Ãœbers and Lyfts?



Mike

Uber and Lyft drivers bring their own personal car.

[kalvado]

Can you legally drive it on a NYC parkway?  If 'yes', then it is a personal vehicle.  If 'no', then it is a commercial vehicle.

So a sedan used for commercial purposes wouldn't be allowed on an NYC parkway?

At least sedan featuring commercial livery, like business name in big letters or pizza delivery markings is not allowed. They may remove Moses name from the road, but his spirit still rules NYC

Cabs, Ãœbers and Lyfts?



Mike

Well, here is the law:

§ 182.24 Insignia and signs on vehicles.

    Nonrestricted vehicles, except taxicabs and vehicles owned and operated by governmental agencies, having any name, insignia or sign painted or displayed thereon are prohibited within the parkway system, except for identification purposes,
    For purposes of identification, the name and address only of the owner of a nonrestricted vehicle appearing on the sides thereof in letters not more than two inches in height shall not be construed as being in violation of this Subchapter.

[tman]

Nebraska treats truck plates differently depending on the county...

In the three (most urban) "ABC-123" counties (Douglas/Sarpy/Lancaster counties, home to Omaha/Bellevue and suburbs to the south of Omaha/Lincoln) personal pickups get the standard plate (just like passenger cars) including the graphics/design currently in use.

The other 90 counties (those with numerical county codes, I.E., 11 County plates, which are issued in Otoe County, home to Nebraska City) issue plates that are marked either Commercial Truck or Farm Truck. These lack graphics, are just black on white, and don't change design on the standard cycle. Your standard personal pickup used for commuting/standard personal use (non-business purposes, but just normal daily driver duty) would get Commercial Truck plates in 90 out of 93 counties in Nebraska.

[mgk920]

Can you legally drive it on a NYC parkway?  If 'yes', then it is a personal vehicle.  If 'no', then it is a commercial vehicle.

So a sedan used for commercial purposes wouldn't be allowed on an NYC parkway?

At least sedan featuring commercial livery, like business name in big letters or pizza delivery markings is not allowed. They may remove Moses name from the road, but his spirit still rules NYC

Cabs, Ãœbers and Lyfts?



Mike

Well, here is the law:

§ 182.24 Insignia and signs on vehicles.

    Nonrestricted vehicles, except taxicabs and vehicles owned and operated by governmental agencies, having any name, insignia or sign painted or displayed thereon are prohibited within the parkway system, except for identification purposes,
    For purposes of identification, the name and address only of the owner of a nonrestricted vehicle appearing on the sides thereof in letters not more than two inches in height shall not be construed as being in violation of this Subchapter.

It specifically exempts taxicabs (I assume with ptoper attached NYC medallions), but at least around here, Ãœber and Lyft drivers have special lighted signs on the dash boards of their cars, so they're not allowed (I wonder if the cab company lobby will get sufficiently weak to see the NYC council adjust that law).

Mike

[hotdogPi]

but at least around here, Ãœber and Lyft drivers have special lighted signs on the dash boards of their cars, so they're not allowed

This is an option for Uber and Lyft drivers, but they're not required to have the lighted signs. I've been in many Uber vehicles without one.

[kphoger]

Ãœbers

Ãœber

Why do you keep putting an umlaut on 'Uber'?  The company name doesn't have one, nor did its former name of Ubercab.  Are you trying to be like Mötley Crüe or something?

[mgk920]

Ãœbers

Ãœber

Why do you keep putting an umlaut on 'Uber'?  The company name doesn't have one, nor did its former name of Ubercab.  Are you trying to be like Mötley Crüe or something?

Are you addressing the points of the posts or any perceived grammatical errors in them?

Mike

[kphoger]

Ãœbers

Ãœber

Why do you keep putting an umlaut on 'Uber'?  The company name doesn't have one, nor did its former name of Ubercab.  Are you trying to be like Mötley Crüe or something?

Are you addressing the points of the posts or any perceived grammatical errors in them?

Fair enough.

Then I'll also point out that a car with a Lyft or Uber sign on its dashboard does not have an "insignia or sign painted or displayed thereon".  Rather, it has it displayed therein.

[Brandon]

Wow, is it really possible that the thread has gone this long without mentioning Lake Shore Drive?

Commercial vehicles per se are not banned on Lake Shore Drive.  Trucks (2 axle six tire and above) are banned.  On the other hand, city and other buses use Lake Shore Drive all the time.  Likewise in the Kennedy and Ryan express lanes.  Pickup tucks, even B-plated, are fine.  Box trucks and bigger are banned.

[kphoger]

Wow, is it really possible that the thread has gone this long without mentioning Lake Shore Drive?

Commercial vehicles per se are not banned on Lake Shore Drive.  Trucks (2 axle six tire and above) are banned.  On the other hand, city and other buses use Lake Shore Drive all the time.  Likewise in the Kennedy and Ryan express lanes.  Pickup tucks, even B-plated, are fine.  Box trucks and bigger are banned.

For reference, here is the actual city code.

The pertinent question is whether pickups are "designed primarily for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise" or not.

Chapter 9-72 – Size and Weight Limits

9-72-020 – Operation of vehicles restricted

It shall be unlawful to operate any vehicle upon any boulevard (a) when such vehicle is used for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise for commercial purposes, (b) when such vehicle is designed primarily for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise, and (c) when such vehicle is used for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise on the outside of the vehicle; provided, however, that vehicles carrying freight or other goods from or to any building or premises abutting any boulevard where it is impossible from the location of the building or the character of the freight or other goods to be received or delivered, to receive or deliver the freight or other goods and merchandise from an alley or a side street or a street other than the boulevard, shall be permitted to enter the boulevard at the cross street nearest the building or premises to receive or deliver the freight or other goods, but shall not proceed further on the boulevard than the nearest cross street. Operators of emergency vehicles and such vehicles excepted by permits issued by the executive director are exempt from provisions of this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, it shall not be unlawful to operate any of the vehicles described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) on those portions of Interstate Route 55, and the exit and entrance ramps thereto, which lie between the King Drive Interchange and the north and southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive and the most easterly lane of northbound Lake Shore Drive and the most westerly lane of southbound Lake Shore Drive and the exit and entrance ramps of Lake Shore Drive which lie between Interstate Route 55 and 31st Street; provided that such vehicles are traveling to or from the McCormick Place complex and its support facilities.

[NJRoadfan]

The NYC Parkway thing is an "issue" locally since NJ allows any vehicle to wear commercial tags, regardless of ownership or type. The biggest difference is that commercial tagged vehicles get business auto insurance. Further, big trucks can wear standard passenger plates, which means if they aren't too tall, they can drive on NYC parkways!

[frankenroad]

Up until the late 1970s, Ohio required "TRUCK" plates on any pick-up truck.  Then they introduced a new classification of non-commercial for personally owned pick-ups, with their own plate series ("NON-COMM").  Since 1996, personally owned pick-ups are issued the same plates as passenger cars, but are still classified as non-commercial vehicles, as opposed to passenger vehicles.

[geek11111]

Up until the late 1970s, Ohio required "TRUCK" plates on any pick-up truck.  Then they introduced a new classification of non-commercial for personally owned pick-ups, with their own plate series ("NON-COMM").  Since 1996, personally owned pick-ups are issued the same plates as passenger cars, but are still classified as non-commercial vehicles, as opposed to passenger vehicles.

How do they know your pickup is personal or not?

[kalvado]

Up until the late 1970s, Ohio required "TRUCK" plates on any pick-up truck.  Then they introduced a new classification of non-commercial for personally owned pick-ups, with their own plate series ("NON-COMM").  Since 1996, personally owned pick-ups are issued the same plates as passenger cars, but are still classified as non-commercial vehicles, as opposed to passenger vehicles.

How do they know your pickup is personal or not?

Maybe by looking at the title? It may say either owner: John Doe or owner: J. Doe LLC

[geek11111]

I often see some sedans, without any logos or DOT#, had Louisiana commercial tag

[Scott5114]

That probably just means they're owned by an LLC or corporation. A company car.

You don't need a DOT number if you're not transporting hazardous materials, more than 8 passengers, or over 10,000 lb gross vehicle weight. In Louisiana, you don't even need one if you're doing any of those things so long as you don't cross state lines.