Got Pulled Over - Then I Didn't!

Topic 18548 | Page 1

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Cold War Surplus's Comment
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I had just dropped off the newest graduate of my trucking dojo at the terminal in OKC. I hitched a load headed out West for some necessary home time and performed one of my award winning pre-trip inspections. About an hour out of OKC on I-40 I was cruising at the company mandated 65 mph limit in a 70 mph zone when I saw a trooper parked at the bottom of a hill. I maintained my speed but another truck passed me on the inside lane. I knew I was going 65 and he was going faster than I was. Imagine my surprise when the trooper pulled out behind me and fired up his lights!

I figured I was just in his way and he was headed to an accident or other emergency. There was a wide spot on the side of the road just past an exit where I could safely pull over so I did. The trooper pulled up behind my truck and parked with his lights still on. I was puzzled because I wasn't speeding, it was about 12:30 am so all he would have been able to see was my lights. I was sure that I checked them all and they all worked a little over an hour earlier. The trooper was writing on something in his cruiser. He wasn't in a hurry. He never left his cruiser. After about 20 minutes of racking my brain wondering what the problem was he backed up about 100 yards, turned off his red and blues then went down the exit ramp and disappeared!

Can anyone can shed some light on what happened? My leading theories are that he selected me for a DOT inspection but got called to a more pressing matter or he just needed some time to get caught up on unrelated paperwork and wanted to look like he was working on writing me a ticket in case a co-worker or supervisor drove by .

Pre-trip Inspection:

A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.

Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

SAP:

Substance Abuse Professional

The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Tractor Man's Comment
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it was about 12:30 am

Maybe Dunkin Donuts didn't open until 0100?

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Trucker Kearsey 's Comment
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I got pulled over in a speed trap once. One officer pointed the radar at the highway and a mile down were others pulling speeders off the road.

In my case, they pulled me over and had a picture of the speeder. They realized it wasn't my truck in the picture and let me go.

Pete B.'s Comment
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Agree w/Rainy... probably confused you w/the other truck, who may have very well been speeding, but somehow figured out he'd pulled the wrong truck. Over 20 years ago I got pulled and ticketed... couldn't explain my way out of it... I was in the slow lane, driving the speed limit, and passed by a speeding car in the fast lane; we both passed by an on-ramp near the same time. A state trooper was parked at the top of the on-ramp, shooting radar down. The fast car registered the offending speed, but I guess when he looked up he saw me. By the time he got going and onto the interstate , the other car was out of sight. Turns out I knew the other driver; we were both going to our USAR drill that morning. She was in my platoon. Apologized, but didn't offer to help me out. I guess with the technological advances in past 20+ years, your cop was able to realize he/she made a mistake. Be safe!

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

Partagas's Comment
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Cold War - I was a cop for 33 years and did allot of traffic law enforcement in that time and I don't have a clue as to what happened here, given the circumstances you shared. To make a traffic stop and never go up to talk with the driver is highly irregular. Even if the officer realized an error or changed their mind, I would still expect some contact with and explanation to you. The only thing I can suggest is, was it possible the officer issued some direction such as releasing you from the stop using their hailer/PA system that you weren't able to hear due to engine & highway noise levels? While not preferred, I've observed some officers to do that. Otherwise, I got nothin'.

Tractor Man's Comment
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I'm still sticking with my original explanation.

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Bryn J.'s Comment
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Maybe TM has a point, maybe you got some bio diesel on your tank that smelt like donuts...

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Rick S.'s Comment
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I run a Blinder HP-905C Laser Jammer and Valentine 1 detector in the car. Seen many a frustrated cop that couldn't lock me. Have the same setup on my motorcycle. Both setups were tested by Blinder against every gun currently in use in the U.S.

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Unfortunately, those kind of countermeasures are verbotten in commercial vehicles.

He probably pulled you over - reached for a donut - found he already ate the last one, then ran off for a refill in a panic.

Actually - this is a misnomer. Every DD I go to locally, has almost never had a cop(s) inside hanging out. I believe my local Sheriffs Deputies are told to get their fix, and get out.

Rick

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

EPU:

Electric Auxiliary Power Units

Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices

Cornelius A.'s Comment
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Were you pulling a dunkin donut trailer?

murderspolywog's Comment
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He might have been writing a email to your company, saying that he clocked you at 65 in a 70 and everything looked good. I have been told by my company that there are a number of officers in different states that will pull use over and report back to the company on the condition of are trucks. I am told that the officer gets payed a bounty for every truck they stop of area s weather the report is good or bad.

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