Some pondering: How many bus conversions exist?

[daveola]

I'm currently fighting the city of San Jose, specifically an ignorant officer and judge's claim that my bus conversion is a "commercial vehicle").  I had this happen in court, almost amusingly, if it wasn't for the $500 fine:

Dave:  <explains that the bus has been converted to a motorhome>
Judge:  If that's a motor home that's the biggest motor home I've seen in the 67 years I've been on this earth.
Dave: Would you like to see the registration showing it's registered as a motor home?
Judge:  No.  I'm looking at the photographs.  I don't care how it's registered.  You're looking at a bus the size--that's bigger than a Greyhound bus.

It is amusing to note that he somehow determined it's size from looking at a photo just showing the bus.  A bus that once *was* a Greyhound.  I didn't know it had gotten bigger.

Anyways, it got me to thinking - the judge's ignorance over the bus conversion community and market doesn't keep it from existing.  And I was wondering - how many bus -> motorhome conversions are there?  Both on the road and retired?  I couldn't figure out any good way (without getting bulk info from the DMV) as to how to estimate this.

Any thoughts?

[ol713]

   Hi;
      In order to educate the judge,  show him a copy of BCM.  He would then lean
      in your favor.  Hope your bus is registered as a motor home.  That would
      also guide him in the right direction.   (it's not a commercial vehicle)
                                                Good luck,   Merle. 

[pabusnut]

You should have asked him if he was aware that a Supreme Court Judge tools around the country in one very similar!

[daveola]

Well - I'm not talking to the judge anymore, the judge has already (foolishly) decided that something "big" must be commercial, even though the law is very simple and clear on this issue.

Ask me sometime about how I feel about traffic "judges" if you can't already tell.

The case is going to the appeals division of the Superior Court, and I expect to win, because appellate judges are generally intelligent and law-minded.

But it still raises the question - how many bus conversions are there?

[Geoff]

Well - I'm not talking to the judge anymore, the judge has already (foolishly) decided that something "big" must be commercial, even though the law is very simple and clear on this issue.

Ask me sometime about how I feel about traffic "judges" if you can't already tell.

The case is going to the appeals division of the Superior Court, and I expect to win, because appellate judges are generally intelligent and law-minded.

But it still raises the question - how many bus conversions are there?

What makes you think you will win on an appeal?  The Superior Court most likely won't even read your appeal papers.  That is my experience over many years. You probably will get a letter saying "The decision of the lower court is upheld".

--Geoff

[DoubleEagle]

Since the judge is ignorant in this matter, you should have referred to it as a diesel pusher RV. That might have clicked in his brain. Also point out that it has RV plates, and it does not require a CDL. Keep on going up the court system until you reach the judge with a bus conversion, and get a lawyer (you should be awarded legal fees). This sounds like the California registration hassles that others have experienced. As far as how many conversions are out there, use the total number of Bus Conversion Magazine subscribers and/or the number of members on this board. Not everybody on the board has a conversion, but not everybody who has a conversion is on the board, so 5015 would be a good documented guess.

[Iceni John]

As far as how many conversions are out there, use the total number of Bus Conversion Magazine subscribers and/or the number of members on this board. Not everybody on the board has a conversion, but not everybody who has a conversion is on the board, so 5015 would be a good documented guess.

Then don't forget all the thousands of skoolies  -  OK, I know that most folk here don't think of them in the same light as their own conversions, but they are technically bus conversions nevertheless.   I think the total number of conversions may surprise us.   I suspect that for every nicely-converted MCI or Eagle or whatever, there may be several "others" also out there.   It's just that their paths usually don't cross ours.

John

[Dave5Cs]

There is also a Blue Bird board.
Prevost Board
Eagle Board
BusGrease monkey Board etc.

The reason some people have a hassel in California is because they go in all excited to the DMV and tell them they have a Bus or Bus Conversion they want to register. That makes it a commercial vehical to them. It is a Motor Home... Privately owned and not for commerce...Just saying... .
Dave5Cs

[luvrbus]

You may not win that case even registered as a RV when it exceeds 26,000 lbs the weight laws apply the same as a commercial vehicle in most states.
Here in AZ we get a 8 cents gal break on fuel but at 26,001 lb with 3 axles we pay the extra 8 cents just like a commercial truck.
If the weight limit sign on a street says no trucks over 26,000 lbs the same applies to us RV'ers it's a gray area for sure BTDT in Arkansas for a $250.00 ticket.You cannot always hide behind RV license plates on a converted bus,they run the VIN numbers it will come back a XXXX brand of bus     

[daddysgirl]

My dad had the exact same argument with a toll collector 40 years ago.
I don't know about the number, but it was the first time I ever saw "the bird". Dad was mad.

You might also point to every single national campaign ever run. Candidates, staff and media travel in buses. Just look at McCain's 2008 campaign. Surely, the court will understand that.

[luvrbus]

McCains Eagle wasn't registered as a RV it was registered as commercial but was a RV  and AZ doesn't issue RV plates all of our plates are the same for all vehicles.Mine was registered as commercial till I changed it and dropped from 800 bucks a year to 65 bucks for 5 years here   

[Utahclaimjumper]

   Bring up the FMCA, established in the early 60s when most "motorhomes" were converted busses,vans,or trucks.  This spawned a worldwide industry and the laws to deal with it that this judge is ignorent of.>>>Dan

[luvrbus]

FMCA has long ago abandoned people with bus conversions he not getting any help there 

[Oonrahnjay]

  I'm currently fighting the city of San Jose, specifically an ignorant officer and judge's claim that my bus conversion is a "commercial vehicle").  ...

    Would the judge rule that a "stick and staple" RV is automatically a "commercial vehicle"?

[Dreadnought]

And this is why California is regarded as being full of nutters. I used to live there.
Its similar to Europe (where I grew up)- you live to work, get taxed heavily and you live to obey strict regulations which are usually strictly enforced.

Good luck