ST - is it a SUV? SUT? Truck?

[Joe Rampino]

Does anyone know how are vehicles are classified? I was visiting my in-laws this weekend at their condominium village in Connecticut. For some reason that I don't understand, the bylaws do not allow overnight parking of "trucks". Since we neeeded to park overnight, and the condo associations "tickets" are only warnings, I parked overnight. I was also curious if the condo-cops would consider the ST a "truck". Well Sunday morning, there it was, on my windshield, a bright pink ciatation, declaring I violated the truck parking ban.

 

[Ben Poche]

in Louisiana it is not a truck. the type of license plate is the way you can tell down here, three letters and three numbers are for cars and suv's all numbers with a letter or two mixed in is for a truck

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Oklahoma registers it as a Utility Truck (UT)

 

[biznaga]

Truck here in Washington.



Consumer Reports calls it "a crew-cab Ranger pickup."

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

You can show the condo assoc. that Ford classifies it as an SUV, but here is Calif. (as with most other states) the ST is registered as a truck because of the open bed. If you put a permanent shell or cap on it then it can be registered as a car. We on this site some time ago came up with the fact that the ST is a Sport Luxury Utility Truck. Don't go there.

 

[TrainTrac]

Look closely at the association's by-laws. What's their definition of "truck"? Are they referring mostly to commerical trucks? If not, then that would mean that no resident could own a Ranger, F150, Silverado, etc. That sounds a little bit extreme to me.

 

[Heather Kudela]

Actually...the ST is a SLUT- a Sport Luxury Utility Truck

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

Rampo, I'm in CT and my ST is reg. as a car with pass. plates because of the tonneau cover. Gary D. in CT

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Rampo, it's a truck by most all definitions and jurisdictions. But, regardless which definition you are pursuing, the only one that holds any water here is the definition of the condo association. Not that it matters, but what does your license plate/registration say: Commercial, Truck, Passenger?



Regardless, private property owners can give all "red vehicles" a citation if they so wish, and as long as people are properly warned.



Sounds like you knew this might happen, were concerned, pressed your luck, and it did. Seems to me that a call prior to the association could have cleared it up and maybe gotten you a "pass" or would have given you an indication if there were any way around this.



Oh, and one last thing, the condo association no doubt has this "law" because it wants to make sure that work trucks from crews working in the condo, and work and service vehicles owned by members within the condo are not parked there overnight. Sure, the enforcement and letter of the law seems a little heavy handed, but it seems you knew about it beforehand.



Sorry if my tone seems harsh. I am just a stickler for following rules and personal responsibility.



Pay the fine, lodge a complaint, move on with your life.



TJR

 

[Bill Ellis]

In Missouri the ST is registered as an automobile as are SUV's. State laws do not define the vehicle; rather, the design is the defining factor. The ST has a small truck bed and looks like an extended [crew] cab pickup. Ask any five year old boy and he'll tell you the ST is a truck. As far as I'm concerned, my ST is my truck.

 

[G M 2]

In manitoba you can take your pick. Register as an auto or a truck. Truck insurance is less.

 

[Joe Rampino]

Everyone, thanks for the great feedback! Just for clarification, my ST is registered in Massachusetts as a "passenger vehicle". I feel the ST really is a truck, and I was just looking for loopholes. I used the Bill-E test with my daughter, and got the confirmation. If I wanted to push it with the condo association, I could, but I can see TJR's point.



Next question, how about if I was driving a Honda Ridgeline, or one of those Subaru things?

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Ridgeline is a truck, the Brat probably is too.



BTW, there's a Ridgeline in my 'hood now. The maroon one, drivin by a maroon.



TJR

 

[Dre L]

In NY it is a passenger vehicle, but is registered as SUBN (I think that's for suburban)

 

[TrainTrac]

Funny, dmv's see the ST as a truck due to the bed, but my insurance company (State Farm) classifies it as an SUV because it's an Explorer Sport Trac. They must see the Explorer name, and associate it with regular Explorers and their roll-over problems (not to mention the higher insurance costs when SUV's are involved in an accident). Another excuse to charge higher premiums.:angry:

 

[Fer Echegaray]

CA DMV says it's a truck, so does my insurance (21st)... I did since the first day I saw her

 

[Johnny O]

They have rules like that to keep out rednecks like you. :lol:

 

[Chris Taylor]

In Ohio it's registered as a passenger vehicle, but my insurance(State Farm) says it's an SUV...

 

[Larry Phillips]

By truck, I think they mean 2-ton HD's and up.



-Edit, Stupid me, didn't read the whole story. That blows that they cited you!



(Oh, and it's an "auto" in Kansas.)

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

Both my insurance (Farm Burearu) and state (Arkansas) register it as a passenger truck, but in Arky, there are not special plates for trucks or cars. My 96 Taurus and my ST are 1 number apart in non-custom license plates...