Dirty DOT officers

With the advent of next week's "Driver Appreciation Week" to start. I figured I would share a story from a close friend of mine that happened about three nights ago (Today being the 29May13)

Leaving Westbound Mississippi on I-10 about midnight (my approximation of time). The very last scale house before entering Louisiana is that small hut. Well, this particular night, that one light was lit and the scale looked closed. But because there were no clear "Closed" signs and he saw a truck on the scale, he went in.

The truck in front of him sat on the scale the normal 10-20 seconds and pulled off. My friend pulled onto the scale, he says he sat there about 30 seconds, no light no nothing, so he started to pull off. As his drives were about off of the scale that voice came over the speaker "Driver, back up onto the scale"

So he backs up, sits for about another 30 seconds or so and the voice says "Driver pull around back".

He pulls around back, sits for about 3 minutes, the DOT officer comes out, does a walk around, under the hood, fire extinguisher, and tells him that he is going inside to finish the paperwork, never mentioning anything, good bad or indifferent. (he did say there were bugs flying around that single light, looked like a robbery setup back there while waving off bugs)

After about five to ten minutes, the officer comes out with the paperwork stating one headlight inoperative and an unsecured fire extinguisher. My friend, though pissed, says he was calm and said the officer, these things were working and secured.

The officer gives him the standard, "It wasnt working when I inspected it" line. And asks my friend to sign the paperwork. My friend refuses. A short discussion and the DOT officer leaves him the paperwork and goes back inside telling him that he has the leave the scale house.

My friend starts taking pictures with his phone and after about another 10min the officer comes outside and asks him what is he doing and why is he still here.

My friend says his company wants him to take pictures of the working headlight, secured fire extinguisher and the other darkened, conditions of the inspection.

The officer then asks him for the inspection paper, goes back inside and comes out with a level 3 walk around, NO VIOLATIONS.

Now some of you may say this is BS, i dont particularly care, but I know the driver for years and we dont make up stories to each other.

Just keep your nose clean and be wary of the pressure these cops have to find things on your truck the next few days or so