Non-commercial use

So,

I have a CDL. I bought a truck in Indiana and drove it down to Florida. This truck:

- Is a 1997 Peterbilt 379
- Is registered and titled in my name
- Has a license plate registered in my name (not a company name)
- Is not used to haul freight for hire
- Has non-commercial insurance
- Has a valid annual DOT inspection sticker
- Does not have a USDOT number
- Does not have apportioned registration
- Does not have an IFTA sticker
- Is not used to pull any kind of trailer (bobtail operation only)

The way I read the law, these facts mean I am not a "CMV" and not subject to a log book, scales or other commercial vehicle rules. Nevertheless, I did keep a log book and pulled into scales along the way, because it's never a good idea to get into an argument with law enforcement.

In Tennessee, a scalemaster signaled me to pull into the back. She said it was because I did not have a valid IFTA sticker. I calmly explained that I was not hauling freight for hire, was not REGISTERED to haul freight for hire, and therefore should not need one.

She told me all vehicles with three or more axles needed one. I asked her, as an example, if that meant a three-axle RV would need one. She said no, offering only the explanation that "that's different." I politely asked to see the relevant rule, and showed her a preceding introduction that explained that entire paragraph only applied to commercial motor vehicles. After that, she let me go, but she was clearly unhappy about it.

So far, that is the only time I've been stopped in my truck, but I have a nagging feeling that sooner or later, I will meet an officer with a poor understanding of the law who will write me a ticket and force me to contest it in court. Needless to say, this can be a major expense, especially if I get a court date five months in the future far away from home.

So my questions are:
- What can I do to minimize this problem (e.g. put "Not for hire" on the doors, other ideas?)
- Other than carrying the text of the federal law with me, how can I increase my chances of not receiving a citation in the first place? I'm not crazy about the idea of having to carry traffic laws from all 50 states.
- If I do get wrongfully cited and win in court, can the relevant authority be held liable for my expenses in fighting a wrongful citation (as would be the case in a civil court case, where the losing party usually has to cover the cost of litigation)?

In short -- how can I lawfully operate my vehicle without being hassled (or alternatively, without paying thousands of dollars for insurance/apportioned registration/irp/ifta that I am not required to have by law?)

 

Thanks. The key point here is that I'm not engaged in interstate commerce.

 

I will be. Mid-America, GATS, Iowa 80 Trucker Jamboree, ATHS meets, that type of thing.