destroyed 5er and truck in AZ storm

[MAX A/C]

Bs...

The DPS officers along I-40 in AZ are completely amazing. Earlier this year, two guys I work with were killed in a car accident just to the west of Two Guns. Truck veared off the highway and rolled about 200 yards. About a week after the accident one of the families when to see the crash site. While there, a DPS officer pulled over and asked what they were doing. After he received their story, he wrote them a ticket for littering(because of the mess from the crash) and tampering with evidence(for picking up some of their sons belongings). Can you believe these a-holes?



Like 231jasonS said, it's reasons like this cops get shot.

As a cop in AZ for 18-years now, I think this story is BS. First, you can't ticket a family member for something their relative did a week earlier (littering). Secondly, there was no criminal intent to litter, so it's not littering. Third, it's not evidence after it's been left on the side of the road UNGUARDED for a week. Stories like this get exaggerated all the time, making the cops look like total &*^%$.



It also disturbs me that at least two of you think a cop with an attitude--writing a ticket against your wishes-- is a reason he may get shot. I can only hope the cop is the victor in the ensuing gunfight. You fight it in court, and call the Internal Affairs office (for proceedural and/or behavioral issues) if it was totally unjustified.



I'm glad Jason and family walked away from this accident.

Scott

 

[231jasonS]

MAX AC, No writing a ticket against someones wishs is not the reason why a fellow officer may get shot. Its the heartless, cowardly act of writing a BS ticket to someone in my situation that creates a lot of ill will towards officers. Thus creating a bad image for the rest of law enforcement.



Working in a urban lower class ethnically diverse city where the homicide rate is climbing faster than the price of fuel for the past 8+ years i get my fair share of attitudes from citizens who dis like the police. I have found that even though I work a violent crime/drug suppresion team and deal with the worse of the criminal element a little slack towards very minor violations goes a long way toward creating a better image of law enforcement on a whole.



I have arrested and cited many a person for many different things, but I would not, nor have i ever given such a chicken*&@# ticket to someone in my situation.



Did I break the law? Yes I did, which is why ill pay the fine. But the comment of this particular officer saying "Don't cry to me" when I explained the situation to him is the reason I said Cops like that are one of the reasons cops get shot. Don't think for a second that I'm offering an excuse for an officer being shot, there is never any such thing. Nor am I saying that officer should get shot. I never said he did anything wrong, just that he is a heartless coward.



I Have attended several officers funerals, and will be attending one this week for a officer who I helped load in to the back of an ambulance on sat night. Those days are the worst days in my life.



Going through the situation i went through is nothing close to the trauma of an officer being killed, but is is still nothing nice, especially when your family is with you. (Not to mention the $80,000 in truck, trailer and property lost)

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

As a cop in AZ for 18-years now, I think this story is BS. First, you can't ticket a family member for something their relative did a week earlier (littering). Secondly, there was no criminal intent to litter, so it's not littering. Third, it's not evidence after it's been left on the side of the road UNGUARDED for a week. Stories like this get exaggerated all the time, making the cops look like total &*^%$.



It also disturbs me that at least two of you think a cop with an attitude--writing a ticket against your wishes-- is a reason he may get shot. I can only hope the cop is the victor in the ensuing gunfight. You fight it in court, and call the Internal Affairs office (for proceedural and/or behavioral issues) if it was totally unjustified.



I'm glad Jason and family walked away from this accident.

Scott

As a resident in this state for a few years now, I really don't care what you think. You can first, second and third me all you want, you weren't there. I saw and heard everything that took place, I was there. People exaggerating stories about (some) cops isn't the reason they look like a-holes, it's (some) cops that do it to themselves.



I won't even get into the shooting cops topic, no matter what I say would probably be made up or exaggerated anyway.

 

[MAX A/C]

While it sounds like you shouldn't have gotten a ticket under the circumstances, and I wouldn't have written one, here's probably why it happened--

I lost it and went off on him for a good 10 minutes. Used every word I know. I wanted to lay him out right there on the spot.

I don't know of any cops who will let someone go off on them for "a good 10 minutes" and not get a ticket. A fellow officer, no less, should know better. Yes, you were under all kinds of stress and had lots of things to deal with after the accident... still, cops are human. When you go off on one for 10 minutes, it does not get the best/desired results from the cop. (Someone will probably post saying cops should be able to take 10 minutes of verbal abuse and not write a ticket. )





Instead of simply paying the ticket, I agree you should do this:

My recommendation, if you won't be around to appear, pay the ticket with a money order, a photo from the scene, without traffic, and your explanation, including the snart ***** comments by the cop. Tickets there are handled by the JP and would likely be dismissed.

If you can't go to court personally (I know it's a lot of time and money) at least do this. The peace of mind would be worth it.

But the comment of this particular officer saying "Don't cry to me" when I explained the situation to him is the reason I said Cops like that are one of the reasons cops get shot. Don't think for a second that I'm offering an excuse for an officer being shot, there is never any such thing. Nor am I saying that officer should get shot. I never said he did anything wrong, just that he is a heartless coward.

Well, I don't know why you needed to bring up the issue of getting shot in the first place, then. That's what got my blood pressure up.

 

[MAX A/C]

As a resident in this state for a few years now, I really don't care what you think. You can first, second and third me all you want, you weren't there. I saw and heard everything that took place, I was there. People exaggerating stories about (some) cops isn't the reason they look like a-holes, it's (some) cops that do it to themselves.

You're right, I wasn't there. But, except in a few cases involving juveniles, such as allowing an unlicensed juvenile to drive on a public roadway, a cop can't cite a family member for what thier relative does (or he would get laughed out of court and should get serious reprimands from his superiors). Evidence tampering? There's A LOT of unanswered questions with this story, and it appears you're not of the mindset to answer them.

I won't even get into the shooting cops topic, no matter what I say would probably be made up or exaggerated anyway.

Thank you for not getting into this topic. However, I'm ready to debate it if you are.

 

[231jasonS]

MAX AC, If you read my post i said i "went off" after he told me not to cry to him. This was after he had started writing the ticket. This guy made up his mind to give me a ticket based on his observation of me driving on the median, and after hearing the whole story/ reason why i did it. His comments were didnt you see the sign? and "i guess you want to total your U-Haul next". At the time i was driving on the median there were two commerical tow trucks on the same median with me cleaning my mess. I saw a total of about three cars on the freeway when i drove two the other side, and when i pulled out on the freeway so did the two trucks and there were no other cars for as far as i could see.



When i went off on the guy my desired effect was not to get out of a ticket it was to tell this guy what i thought of him. About two hours later when i had calmed down i called his supervisor and asked him to give the guy my number and to call me. When he did i told him i was sorry for my behavior and for cursing at him. He accepted then said i deserved the ticket, and that i wasnt going to get out of it. I told him i didnt want out of it, i just wanted him to know i was sorry for the way i spoke to him, but i ment what i said.



And what makes you the expert on why cops get shot... ... Not that it matters.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

And what makes you the expert on why cops get shot... ... Not that it matters.

He probably has the same attitude and mentality issues as the cop who gave you the ticket.



MAX AC, keep living in your dream world, the rest of us will stay here in reality.

 

[MPlunkett]

Important thing is everyone's OK....

And also to remember that not all DPS are Adam Henry's... ... . there are good ones... . this kid probably just got beat up alot, didn't get into a frat or is just getting back for something else. On another note, for those of us with SRW trucks, what can we do to make towing safer..... I almost flipped a 23 foot bumper pull because my hitch was too high,... . sway bars... . ideas?...

 

[MAX A/C]

i told him i was sorry for my behavior and for cursing at him. He accepted then said i deserved the ticket, and that i wasnt going to get out of it.

With that, now I would agree with you he's a jerk. I hope you fight the ticket one way or another, just to prove him wrong.

And what makes you the expert on why cops get shot... ... Not that it matters.

I've never claimed to be an expert on anything; all I said was "It also disturbs me that at least two of you think a cop with an attitude--writing a ticket against your wishes-- is a reason he may get shot. "



I hope everything works out for you without too much hassle on getting your rig replaced. Good luck.

 

[231jasonS]

Max AC... . Thanks for your support and well wishes.



I just picked up my new 06 mega cab Laramie 4x4 2500 srw... ... Still waiting for the settlement offer from the ins company.

 

[231jasonS]

And also to remember that not all DPS are Adam Henry's... ... . there are good ones. QUOTE]



This is true. 99. 9% would have probally bent over backwards to help me. The four DPS officers on scene and at least one superziser were very nice and helpfull.

 

[AMink]

I just picked up my new 06 mega cab Laramie 4x4 2500 srw

Where'd you end up getting it at?

 

[231jasonS]

I called Smith in Idaho who had a great price, but wanted a $500 deposite to locate the truck i wanted. I searched my self and found one at a local dealer.



I then went back to the Litha dealer near my house where i bought my last truck.



They said they would go get the truck i wanted for no charge and sell it to me for the same privce as D. Smith in Idaho.



I got what i wanted, the same truck except a MCab 06..... the only thing i did not get was the Sport apperance package as it's not offored on the Mega. I dont like chrome. .



I guess ill try and swap the grill/surround and the rear bumper. Then ill powdercoat the wheels black when i get my old truck back from New Mexico. I just have to wait to hear from the insurance company on how much ill get for my truck and how much it will cost to buy back.



Then ill be parting it out to any and all TDR members/friends ETC.

 

[231jasonS]

Out with the old and in with the new

 

[bjonesAZ]

I'm happy that everything seems to be working out okay and for the best. The positives in this accident is everyone was properly buckled in, with emphasis on the youngsters and properly; plus the Dodge held up in the rollover.



This has been a tough monsoon season in Arizona that began toward the end of June and is still going on; as we have flood advisories tonight.



For the next little while, El Paso to Phoenix on I-10 has the potential for spontaneous zero visibility with washouts/flooding; especially at night. Hopefully everyone will be safe over this busy weekend and heed weather warnings.



Bob

 

[bmoeller]

tampering with evidence

WTF! If it was a crime scene, sure, I could see that. But a wreck? And the littering? What a jack@ss.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I live in this general area and can tell you the prevailing winds are from the S or SW which is a cross wind on I-40 and can be high; 30 nor 40 MPH not unusal. During a thunderstorm during Arizona moonshoons when the thunderstorm colapses seeing gust of 70 MPH is not unusual either. If you get caught in that no matter what you are pulling or driving unless you are lucky it is most likly going over. Glad everone was not hurt. As for the AZ DPS I think enough said cannot add to it one way or the other.

 

[Bug Out]

Az cops are a bit wacked...

Jason, I retired from Pittsburg Pd (east bay) in 2000. I have lived here for a year and have seen some absolute poor law enforcement here, mostly DPS. The city I'm in has a bunch of yahoo's too.



CHP makes them look like the 3 stooges.



The tickets described here don't surprise me a bit. Be thankful he didn't hook you. .



I can't wait to move out of here.



Ed



PS: I am guessing I know you,( May have worked with you in Pittsburg?) and you work where turds can complain the IA comes to THEIR rescue?? ( Where John Burris rules??)

 

[mlewis73]

Dunno if a dually would have helped... some folks don't believe so.



Anyway, glad nobody was seriously injured. That's scary stuff... I can only imagine what I'd do if such a storm happened while pulling my horse trailer.



30' of flat surface with only 5000 pounds or so of weight in the trailer... about 11,000 pound total trailer weight.

 

[231jasonS]

Whats up schoolie?