Can you bypass scales when traffic is backed up? CHP weighs in — and truckers aren’t happy

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recently stirred up a social media firestorm with a Facebook post about the legality of bypassing a scale house when traffic is backed up.

On September 26, the Donner Pass division of the CHP wrote:

We are getting lots of questions about the legality of bypassing the scales because traffic is backed up onto the freeway. We do our best to monitor traffic and shut down the scales when traffic is backed up, However there is NO provision in the CA vehicle code that allows the driver to make the decision to bypass the scales because of traffic. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE SCALES regardless of traffic conditions. I know many of you strongly disagree with this. If you bypass the scales you could be cited for 2813 VC which is a misdemeanor.

In less than 24 hours, the post stirred up nearly 1000 comments, many from members of the trucking community who questioned whether the requirement to stop at the scale regardless of traffic would decrease highway safety and put lives at risk.