DOT can't search my truck without a warrant. Wrong.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by tscottme, Jan 18, 2026.

  1. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    They can inspect the truck, in a weigh station or elsewhere, for all of the FMCSA compliance issues without any sort of warrant. They can't dig through your stored away personal effects, bags, cabinets, locked boxes unless they have a warrant, in most cases. I don't know if locking a firearm into a locked box will keep you from trouble in a communist state. I'm not a lawyer.

    Whether you agree or disagree, think it wright or wrong, have another theory of how the DOT officer should behave, the first two sentences are true and DOT doesn't need your agreement to do their job or to issue you violations. PLEASE do not confuse the 4-wheelers on YouTube making cop's job more difficult when they are stopped by standard cops with what the rules are for you. You are a commercial operator and you already signed up for commercial vehicle enforcement. Argue in court, not on the side of the road or in a weigh station. If the officer is wrong, use DataQ.

     
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  3. Gomer1969

    Gomer1969 Medium Load Member

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    His channel is awesome and very informative. I've been watching him for awhile.
     
  4. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    I just can't get past all the cuts in the video. Why can't he just speak normally in an unedited and uncut video?
    It's all very fast speaking and cutting for no reason.
    Maybe I am too old and just want to see something like a real prepared narrative instead of a blipvert.

    Don't know what a blipvert is?
    Look it up and watch the show, because that is what media is coming to these days.
     
  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Thank you, very good video, and his channel is very good.

    Except that warrants are not needed for one thing - alcohol. Because alcohol on board is a violation of the regulations, some states have laws regarding it. If there is a hint of booze being used, or an indication that there is on board, they have the right to inspect the sleeper for alcohol. This is an administrative inspection, not criminal. If alcohol is alcohol found or empty containers are found, then they request a warrant to get a pee test or a blood test. The truck can be impounded if there is an indication of impairment.
     
  6. mjd4277

    mjd4277 Road Train Member

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    And the CFRs are VERY CLEAR on this matter. Alcohol can only be transported as part of a shipment,in the trailer!
     
  7. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    I did fire off on a dot officer in Mississippi a while back.
    I had my cb Velcroed to dash on the mount [don’t like drilling holes and my 44 galaxy wouldn’t fit in overhead] anyway during a level 1 he got in truck tons be to unhook redline, he was gonna watch air go down, se buzzer/light and make sure the button popped out.

    When I walked back up he had the old washcloth i had under for the cb to keep it from shaking out and was looking at it unfolded.
    I asked what he was doing. He said searching for drugs. I told him to get the heck out of my truck and put that back where he found it. I went and told the scale master who is known for a few years (when I ran that same route 7 years having to stop and buy trip permits because cheap boss)

    he said he’d handle it. He told him not to be rummaging around
     
    OLDSKOOLERnWV, Concorde, Oxbow and 6 others Thank this.
  8. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Because the current population has the focus of a housefly in a hurricane. People of our age aren't the target audience. He's talking to the 20 & maybe 30 year old people who think a 9 minute video is longer than War & Peace.
     
  9. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Is there any official guidance somewhere, not someone's theory, story, or possibility, that suggests the search for alcohol can go further than the "plain view" scope?
    In the video the officer clearly says no to looking in a fridge or closet, duffel bag, etc without probable cause like smell of those beverages, etc.
     
    mjd4277 and hope not dumb twucker Thank this.
  10. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    I'm not surprised, Mississippi has many problems.
     
    hope not dumb twucker Thanks this.
  11. mjd4277

    mjd4277 Road Train Member

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    To be more specific
    49 CFR Section 392.5.
    Federal Register :: Request Access

    Even if it’s unopened in a fridge in a truck cab,it’s still prohibited!
    We’ve had drivers try to find loopholes to get around that-and those drivers don’t work for us anymore!
     
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