DOT right to search without prob. cause??

I have been stopped several times and there has never been a request to search my truck.

The only time my truck has been searched is as follows:

In the 4 years running to Canada, once entering through North Portal into Canada.

Returning from Canada, about 50 percent of the time.

 

Trooper One just as you are bothered with stereotypes you must admit that even today there is corruption in law enforcement as there is in the trucking industry. The bad apples in both industries give the hard working professionals a black eye and unfortunately the "publics perception" has more play in the media than the actual facts.
It should not be an us vs them mentality but it is tough to be open minded when a truck driver is attempting to make a living and is pulled over for speeding after a dozen 4 wheelers have just gone by the "officer with the radar/laser gun" at a faster pace than the trucker himself.
It is commonly believed here in the trucking industry that Officers are nothing more than revenue agents for the municipality they are based out of. When a trucker is targeted it is believed the driver is an "easy mark" and will simply pay the ticket rather than go to court to fight it and forfeit even more money through missing work.
Please correct me if I am wrong in this but aren't Police Officers paid to go to court? Win or lose?

 

My post wasn't about tickets, although I do agree with some points. I'm not a ticket writer or a revenue agent for the state. We have no qouta or dollar value to reach. There are bad apples in all branches.

The initial post was regarding searches of trucks and planting of evidence to substantiate PC to open a locked safe.

The unfortunate part of my job is that people have their perception built from media, friends and some times personal experience. Maybe I do stop a truck for speeding, how would you know if I just stopped 300 cars for speeding prior to that truck? You wouldn't.

Are we paid to go to court- yes if it requires presence during off time. I've been to court "0" times in 9 yrs. That is just a supreme example of my stops. If I stop you, you screwed up bad.

Most truckers I deal with are pleasant, even though they will talk #### once they get on their CB after the stop!

 

He's right!!! I understand that many truckers can feel some annimosity toward Law Enforcement, and I won't argue the point that there are good and bad in any profession. This is one hesitation I have on becoming a Pro Trucker, because sometimes the "public perception" of the Trucker, can spill over into Law Enfoprcement. While we know the perception of the pill-popping, speed demon avoiding radar, scales, and cheating every document he writes is of a very low percentage, the same can be said in Law Enforcement. Please don't even go there on the "Planting Evidence or Dope" thing. That's a line that dopeheads use for excuses and pass around to other dopeheads. It just seems to spill over into the public mentality. AND I never knew a cop that deliberately targeted truckers for ANY violations. (that was Smokey and the Bandit) I was a cop for over 17 years, until being run over by a car. (not a truck) The agency I worked for was local, but on the I-10/ I-12 Corridor and had truck stops. I dealt with Pro Drivers regularly. During that entire time I issued ONE pro driver a ticket. It was an accident that was clearly his fault, and I might have found a way to just write the report showing fault, without issuing a ticket to a guy who makes his living, driving. BUT the guy was a complete *sshole from the time I got there. I even tried to make him feel more at ease and lose the attitude, but that didn't change a thing. He was too deep in the us vs. them mentality and was getting somewhat abusive. HE EARNED HIS TICKET. ............................. I can't tell you the number of times truckers helped out. We all had CB Radios in our cars and would get info on traffic, weather, accidents, etc. There were even times when I had to shut down the interstate for a few minutes while a tow truck yanked a car, and I was by myself. I radioed to them, and 3 truckers blocked both lanes and the shoulder and stopped traffic. That is the kind of relationship I would like to see between Pro Drivers and Police. I know the vast majority of truckers are doing their job, making a living and doing it safely. As far as I was concerned, truckers were the last drivers I had to worry about. When I become a driver, I'm going to make it my job to try to tear down that wall and change things. Because people on both sides of that wall mean alot to me. Sorry for the novel. NEWB

 

hmm...i live in baltimore city..cops here used to make guys sell drugs for them..so u can save that we r one b-s!

 

Yeah, I've heard that story too. I forget how many times and places now, but anyway it is kinda funny! O.K. In your case I will cut the "B-S". How do you want me to stereotype you? Read the post. I didn't say all cops are perfect. Personally, I've never seen anything like what you describe. But there have been some sleezebags in Law Enforcement. They usually get weeded out sooner or later. If that's your experience with the Police, I'm sure you don't know many. But I'm not going to let one chump with a bad story of the old neighborhood convince me of something thats not the norm. As far as "saving the we r one b-s", sure... you're right! you and I are not one...... I have a decent attitude. Gee, you just got here today, and already making friends, huh!

 

Its a shame that people can be so narrow minded. Ooops... I mean some people can be so narrow minded.

Everybody in all walks of life have good and bad influences. We just have to do the best we can.

 

lol..idk man..maybe if i was on the road and that was the type of police behavior i was used to i would have a better view of them.but im just used to the street side of things...lol