DOT knocking on door to wake you up is this legal?

Law enforcement may perform their duties no matter if you are sleepy or not.

 

If you are on public property, very much so. (rest areas and the like)
If you are on private property / public access they would likely need permission from the property owner or probable cause. (truck stops and shipper / receiver)
On private property / limited access they would need the owners permission or witness something happening. (House, company yard, etc.)

Oh, and if it's trucking related, it needs to be on duty too.....

 

Not enough information as it depends. Private property they can wake u up and tell you to move. Just because ur out of hours doesn't give people the right to park in NO PARKING ZONES. If public place in a legal spot. They can't this doesn't include off ramps or on ramps or the side of road....

 

Law Enforcement Officers can legally wake any trucker up at any time almost anywhere if they have a reason. That reason can be a welfare check, the driver not appropriately parked, or any other legal matter where the cop suspects that driver of being wanted for a crime. I remember back around 2000 when I was parked at our Atlanta Terminal. It was about 2 AM and I had to get up to leave. I walked to the driver's lounge to get a soda and use the little boy's room. Walking back to my truck I noticed a Deputy Sheriff enter. They drove around a bit, stopped in front of a truck, woke the driver up, and arrested him. I later learned he had attacked his wife.

ALSO, while I am on the subject when directed to move your rig I highly suggest not weaponizing the Federal HOS to use against that cop. This cop can get a wrecker involved that will impound your truck. I have seen it many times. This same thing can be used by a property owner.

 

They can’t tow it if you’re inside. What did the property owners and police do? And what did the drivers do?

 

They will just arrest you for trespassing at that point. It’s a whole lot easier to park in a spot or just move at that point.

 

Yes, they can't tow it with you inside. However, they can sure arrest you for obstruction and then tow it. What a driver does regardless of their HOS status is they move the truck. I saw this happen at a Circle K store gosh at least 30 years ago. The store manager suspected drug activity and asked the driver to leave. The driver refused to leave. The manager called the Phoenix Police who came and arrested the driver. I watched the wrecker hooking up to the truck. Moral of the story? As a driver, you NEVER get into a pissing contest with a COP or a Property owner once directed to LEAVE!

Edit!

I would also NOT want to be that driver calling his company attempting to explain why the said company has now got a tow charge and possible storage fee because I was stupid.

 

How many other times have you seen it?

 

They won’t arrest you for trespassing unless you have been previously trespassed. They can probably arrest you for refusing a lawful command and then trespass you. Which if you return they can then arrest you for trespass.