Q. I read your answer to the question about truck registration fees with great interest. But it seems there needs to be some clarification. It concerns the difference between a “camper shell,” which to me is just that, and a “habitable camper.” I have a shell, it bolts onto the bed and protects items from rain, wind and theft. And I could sleep back there if I wanted to. But the Department of Motor Vehicles’ definition of a “camper” is much more if you want to avoid having your truck considered a commercial vehicle so you can knock off the weight fee. For the DMV, a qualifying camper is for “human habitation,” which is defined on form REG 256A as a “living space” that includes “closets, cabinets, kitchen units or fixtures, and bath or toilet rooms.” So you did get me excited that I might be able to get some relief – but I (and most people) don’t qualify.
– Tom Macfarlane, Temple City
A. Sorry, Tom.
But let’s consider the positives – Honk can go deeper into the answer now, and your name is getting some ink.
A camper shell can indeed cancel out the commercial weight fee that shows up on truck registrations, letting that vehicle carry auto instead of truck license plates (On a 2011 Ford F-150, that annual fee alone is $154).
“(But) the addition of a camper shell must meet the definitions for human habitation or camping purposes,” said Angelica De La Pena, a spokeswoman for the DMV.
And, yes, to hit that mark, Tom, you do need those elements you mentioned.
Winning approval doesn’t take a DMV inspection. But, as De La Pena pointed out to Honk, the owner “must certify under penalty of perjury the vehicle meets the definition for human habitation” or face a possible citation if nabbed.
Q. Hi Honk: The curb out front of our house, from the driveway to the intersection with a stop sign, is painted red. This is quite good. However, it is so faded it is almost not visible. Neighbors took it upon themselves to paint…
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