Why no uniformity in laws, state to state?

Ron;

Yes, it is a moneymaker as I stated. But in my opinion, much of it is derived from drivers as well as motor carrier personnel not knowing the applicable rules, or even taking the time to think about it, as well as some motor carriers and drivers such as you in here.

For example; I have seen CA inspectors around Needles cite drivers coming out of Lake Havasu City (interstate as opposed to intrastate) under a CA state statute that said you had to be within 3-hours on your RDS and drivers/carriers paid the $1,700.00 civil penalty. The citation was even written under a CA state statute and there was nothing on the citation mentioning a 49 CFR rule. If these drivers and/or motor carriers would have realized that the CA law was intrastate and not applicable they would have realized that the citation was illegal under the applicable 49 CFR rules (last change of duty) and could only be imposed upon a driver that never left the state of CA. A $75.00 an hour lawyer could have fixed that a lot cheaper than the $1,700.00 citation. But we put a stop to that after the complaints started arriving .

That brings to mind another fiasco down at truckee. Headquarters started receiving complaints from motor carriers that there was a problem with the CA state inspectors down there concerning brake adjustment. It seems that several company drivers had their brakes adjusted B-4 leaving AZ but at Truckee they were placed O/O/S for improper adjustment so DC sent us in with our undercover unit. We first investigated the repair facilities to find them properly adjusting the brakes. So we then decided to check out the Truckee inspectors. Three of us at different times of the day walked in through the desert with a television style video camera (back when you had those 20 lb. battery packs strapped on your belly). To make a long story short, we caught those inspectors with a 9/16 wrench in their back pocket. I think you know what they were doing. When we got done, we made the state return all fines for brake adjustment from that scale/inspection station. These 7 CA inspectors were fired and were sent to prison based upon our testimony at trial.

 

It's been a long time since I've gone through Truckee. But I've never heard of that one. Quite interesting, and nice work. Thanks for postin'

 

That was a long time ago W'chester Magnum. I could have reversed the locations because it's been so long ago like late 1980's/early 90's.

 

The same scam happened over at the Cabazon Scales too.

My hat's off to those officers who work just as hard we do but, just like there are "outlaw" truckers, there are "outlaw" cops too.

 

Not pointing fingers at you but the way you have that worded is "we let it go on until we were found out". Why not fix something when you know its wrong rather than after people start complaining?

p.s. I also am grateful for all that DOT does I just wish they could get more drivers off the road, we all know who they are.

 

You must realize sir, that those inspectors worked for the state. We feds didn't know it was transpiring until such time that we were notified. I've stated this many time on many posts in this forum that if you drivers would report stuff that carriers and state inspectors do wrong, we feds could have cleaned it up for you. But what happens in truth is that drivers in general just put up with it and say nothing except on forums such as this.

The reason it was stated that way is because after it was reported we confirmed it. I was attempting to make a long story short.

I've been retired now for quite a few years. But I assume it can still happen provided there are drivers with enough courage to report misdeeds.

 

psanderson,
I find your comments on the board very informative and useful.
You bring in your perspective which many of us can only venture a guess.
Keep up the good work.....
IMHO...you deserve a time-slot on Lockride's show.... and the Loading Dock as well.

 

Did you know that your handle on this forum is the name of the company that owns Chrysler and is attempting to sell it off piecemeal?

 

I admit there needs to be uniformity between states.
This is what happened to me,
( 1 ) I have a trailer that the mud flaps are attached just behind the ICC bumper and no state had a problem with it except OR, and I was fined for the mud flaps not being right behind the trailer tandems.
( 2 ) I have tinted windows on my truck and no state had a problem with it except ID and I was fined for it.
( 3 ) I have 7" straights on my truck and no state had a problem with it except ID and I was fine for excessive noise.

All this happen on the same trip, and ID had no problem with mud flaps, and OR had no problem with tint and straight pipes. What gives, and I ran this every week, but only after doing it for almost 6months did I get these tickets.