New CMV LEO vs. Experienced Driver

I just had an encounter with an Oregon state trooper that I'm still having a hard time believing actually took place. To tell the whole story would sound like just another BS trucker vs smokie bear tall tale. I've never in my life dealt with any LEO that was so inept in all my life. At the end of the day, I didn't get any citations, but I'm still going to be telling this story for years.

I was coming into Ontario, OR a little too fast. I noticed a bear, but knew if he was clocking me he'd already had me dead to rights. I still hit my brakes and backed 'er down to 55. I never saw him pull out from his hiding spot, so I figured I'd duck into the Love's just in case. Just as I'm slowing down for the exit - disco lights. I hit the shoulder and waited for him to approach the cab. I even turned on the big light so as to make the LEO aware I had nothing to hide, nor anything to cause him concern (i.e. A weapon). He proceeds to tell me that he stopped me for two reasons. One was due to an inoperable license plate light and the other was due to a marker light out. I'm relieved at this moment cuz he obviously didn't clock my speed.

He proceeds to tell me he's gonna do a level 2 and asks if I'd had one of those recently. I told him no, but I just had a level 3 in Montana a week and a half ago. He never asks for any of my documents, but knowing what he'd need and wanting to be cooperative I get my logbook, permit book, CDL, medical card and my bills. He looks everything over and hands me back everything but my license, medical card, and logs. So far I'm not questioning this LEO's ability to do his job in my mind. I'm just hoping I've got everything squared away. The rest of the level 2 goes as expected. I hated that he had to be the one to tell md the fire extinguisher wasn't in the green, but que sera sera. The officer excuses himself back to his patrol car to do the paperwork and says he'll be back in 15 minutes or so.


About 20 minutes later he comes back to the truck's passenger side and I open the door. He hands me back my CDL and med card and says something about how he doesn't wanna forget to give 'em to me. I make a bad joke about that and put the stuff back in my wallet. Then he asks me why I've been driving for 11 hours. I was stunned by the question because I was nowhere near 11 hours on my current shift. I asked him what he meant and he starts fumbling through my log saying it was the day before or maybe two days ago I had driven for 11 hours and that was illegal. Again I'm dumbfounded and asked him what was illegal about it. He proceeds to tell me that since I'm an OTR driver, I can only drive for 10 hours and then take 10 hours off. I corrected him saying what the reg actually states. He says that he doesn't have the reg memorized, but he could go look it up if I wanted to wait. I told him to go ahead. He then says, "Well it doesn't matter anyway because it was a day or two ago and I can't do anything about that now anyway." I couldn't believe what I'd just heard, but I was even more surprised at what I heard myself say after that.

"How long have you been doing this job, sir? I've been trucking for seven years now and I know how to do my job."

The look I got from him made me wonder if I was about to be the next star on real stories of the highway patrol. His reply was that he hadn't been doing CMV inspections very long, but he was certain he was right. I decided to drop it and move on. He handed me back my logs and started going over the inspection form. He pointed to each "fix it" item and elaborated on them. I agreed on all but the ABS light. He said it was supposed to be on so LEO's knew the system was properly working. Me with my mouth couldn't let that go. I had to correct him again. I told him that if the light was on, that meant the system wasn't working properly. He argued that the light was supposed to be on and if it wasn't any LEO could pull me over. I again pled my case that he was mistaken and that the only time the light is to come on is when you first turn the key on. He said he'd look into that and if he was wrong he'd remove it from his copy of the inspection form.

I signed the inspection form and he gave me a copy and stepped down off the truck. As he started to shut the door I asked him if he'd kindly lock my door and be safe.

I still find it hard to believe that any law enforcement agency would allow such a poorly trained officer on the loose to inspect trucks and have their department made a mockery of as is the case here. I'm thankful there were no citations issued, but rest assured that had there been any I would have absolutely had my day in court.

Sorry for the long post, but believe me I've condensed as much as I could.

 

Actually it almost pissed me off. The HOS crap was enough by itself, but the ABS light was salt on an open wound. I actually managed to stop myself from saying, "You need to brush up on your knowledge of the FMCSA rules and regs before you attempt another inspection."