Got D.O.T.ed Today

[barbwire]

And just thinking that we (You all and I) pay these people (cops, feds, DOT,etc) to harrass and intimidate and cost us our time, kinda has a way of pissin a guy off, doesn't it?

 

[Headshot zod]

NJ DMV does this all the time. They wait until 9 am and setup a checkpoint at a chokepoint. That way you can't make a quick u-turn. They stop everybody that has a failed or out of date sticker. They do a basic inspect, paperwork check and administer a fine. At $150. 00 per ticket they rake it in.

 

[MChildress]

The window tint would be in plainview to an officer. The fuel is inside your truck and not in plainview. I know you can give verbal or written consent for a search and they can look without a warrant. I would be curious how many people are just not saying no. Our constitution states we are protected against illegal search and siezure. A judge is not going to give them a search warrant without probable cause,and they will not have it just stopping you on the side of the road unless your rig is stained red or dripping red fuel. The dipping of tanks at the auction and sale barns sounds like illegal searches to me.

 

[mroodzant]

Hey, if you want something to really worry about, consider the "Patriot" Act: the feds can legally sneak into your house any time they want, without benefit of a conventional search warrant, turn the place over, and sneak out again without ever acknowledging that they were there. Kinda makes a mere tank dip seem downright neighborly in comparison... .

Not exactly, The patriot act deals with computers and similar technology you are still protected by the 4th and the 14th ammendments pertaining to search and seizure. The tank dipping is perfectly legal as long as its not locked. If you have a locking cap they can just drain fuel out of the system somewhere else.

 

[EBottema]

I have a real simple solution to the problem. Get a locking gas cap. Tell the cop that you have the key at home. What is he going to do, break the lock, i highly doubt it.

 

[Rescue Ram]

Think fuel water separator. He can just drain a bit out of there. Don't kid yourself; inspectors take this very serious.

 

[WyattEarp]

I agree the DOT shouldn't be able to dip your tank without a search warrant, what there saying it that pretty much because your a diesel truck is enough suspicion due to the high risk of running off road fuel, in my opinion we should all start running red, of course im not going to say that it hasn't or isn't being done, who know, right?

As for the Patriot act is concerned: I typed alot but deleted due to keeping this post within the realm of what matters, and thats DOT tank dipping. Lets just say as long as they stay in D. C. they will be better off.

 

[DTroy]

Do you have to agree to a tank dip? If you have a locking cap and you don't pop the hood, they can't get a sample. What happens then?

I don't know if we have to give consent or not. We certainly don't have to agree to a vehicle search.

Does anybody know for sure?

 

[jerrethomas]

i don't understand how they can put you through a dot check in your own pickup. I work on trucks for a living and on big trucks, dot check points i can see cause its commerical, but your own pickup. I don't understand how they can do that.

 

[wtfd6]

seems like a bunch of crap to me. my tint is considered illegal in ohio. i think 50% is the limit here. i have never had my tank dipped yet. who knows when it will happen. i heard the other day from a trucker friend, that he saw a sign on a weight station that said any combination vehicle over 5t has to cross the scales. commercial or not. seems like crap. just my . 02.



mark

 

[WyattEarp]

they can search your vehicle for either probable cause or suspicion, they do not need a search warrant, now some laws have changed since i was in school but at one point they could not search your trunk unless they had probably cause as it was not within your immediate reach or area, times have changed and laws have changed, pretty much anytime your stopped whether innocent or not they are going to have probably cause due to all the illegal drugs floating across america's highways, just feel fortunate that when they do this they are doing there job to make your neighborhoods safer etc,.

Do i agree with tank dipping i will be the first to say H*** NO!!! I think the department of taxation which in VA, is who you will deal with on a fuel dip check if its a random road check, you would think that since they are wearing hats with Police on them and then there shoulder patch saying dept. of taxation, hmmmmm maybe these guys should help the boys in blue take down real criminals that are doing crimes against humanity. I know the hats and uniforms are legit, saw it myself going to town one early morning, their even packing also.



Scary site, a tax man with a gun, wonder if they know where the bullets go :-laf

 

[barbwire]

I agree the DOT shouldn't be able to dip your tank without a search warrant, what there saying it that pretty much because your a diesel truck is enough suspicion due to the high risk of running off road fuel, in my opinion we should all start running red, of course im not going to say that it hasn't or isn't being done, who know, right?

As for the Patriot act is concerned: I typed alot but deleted due to keeping this post within the realm of what matters, and thats DOT tank dipping. Lets just say as long as they stay in D. C. they will be better off.

I agree, and if they are going to dip our tanks, then they should stop every vehicle on the road, to search for illegal drugs, or kidnapped people, etc,etc. After all, cars and trucks are used to haul that stuff also. So instead of picking on just one segment of society, they should pick on ALL segments. I tell ya, we are more of a communist country than most people are willing to admit. I will say, that we probably do need the revenue to keep up the roads, but there has to be a more socially accepted way, than to stop people like the Nazi's did during the Hitler regime!!!!!!!

 

[GBobbitt]

Around here, farm plates on your vehicle makes the creeper cops drool, and makes them want to probe your tank really bad. In their minds, they have already convicted and sentenced you because the farm plates automatically mean you are guilty of running off-road fuel.

 

[WyattEarp]

I agree barbwire, i have been saying it for several years and im only 30 myself, that the United States is the only country where we have a legalized form of communism, now some may not like that but just look at the advertising on tv, its called mind games pple they use those to pretty much trick you into eating there and most don't even realize it, the same with life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness, Lets see the one reason this country was started over here was to get away from taxes, wow! boy that didn't take long to come back. This is a touchy subject but im sure everyone knows where im going with this, so i will leave it there.

Do i love my country yes, do i love the state in which i live, yes. Do i love my gov't H*** NO!!!. they through that part about * for the pple by the pple * out the window many many years ago.

I could also say it has something with being from down south, im tired of being stomped on by those that think its okay and that we(the pple) aren't going to say anything, times are a changin!!!!

 

[IC Smoke]

*Photos for COOBIE*

35% tint (to match rear slider stock tint) I like it and its borderline so I dont think Ill have any problems with getting pulled over but then again I usually run into bad luck... oh well.



the pic of the A-Pillar you can see the difference from clear and 35% Id like to go to 20% (darker) but Ill run this for awhile.



Ian

 

[wtfd6]

hey ian, i am pretty sure mine is 20%. it doesnt seem too much darker than yours. than again your interior is a lighter color than mine. im sure i will be questioned sooner or later. mark

 

[Hammer]

The DOT stop was off of I81 the 182 exit, on Davis St. Just below Montage Ski Area and the Red Barrons Stadium to paint you a picture if you know the area.

CUMAPART. .

Ok Lets be completely honest with those in this thread first as you ARE not doing that. To do this correctly you would have to tell those who posted below you this is NOT a PA DOT or M. C. S. A. P. check point,but,rather a wide exit ramp where normal traffic flows. I would also imagine somewhere just before you slipped into the arresting officers view you were seen by another DOT or MCSAP officer and you description was radioed ahead for him to stop you. This is a tactic thats employed there as they will sit on the bridge above I-81 just North of the Pilot,in the middle right before the Moscow exit and somewhere near the Drinker Street exit. They probably had a very good look at your tint and just hard a axe to grind with you about it for some reason. I also know this is a 55mph safety speed zone and a 5mph over infraction will net you a ticket which could be alot worse than the smaller tint fine. So think about it,could you possibly have passed another officer somewhere before that too fast which may mean you recieved a break you didn't even think about. A double fine,double point citation for 5mph or over there is one which will hurt you and haunt you for years,in costs,points and insurance premiums rising where a tint fine is a one and done deal. I lived in the area for many years as I have family all over the Valley and still have a few rental properties I still visit monthly and know this is the hotest safety zone in PA or tickets.



Now for your fuel ordeal. .

Yes,its a pain they dipped your tank,but,as one of the barricks MCSAP officers down here where my father was stationed said,"You will see more and more of it happening as the costs of fuel rise and it will not be limited to just Pickups and SUV's. We will check all diesel powered vehicles as thats what the Federal Government has mandated. ". Red Fuel,or off road as we know it,is still equipped with sulfur and is illegal for road usage. They,MCSAP,DOT and PUC officers have been doing that in our area for awhile now and even have been checking the smller diesels. Its a pain but its a federal law not a state law on this fuel and they will dip you or drain you to get their sample. By not allowing them to sample your fuel you run the risk of being cited and/or having your vehicle impounded(put out of service) until you do. Even if you do then decide its ok for them to dip you,after you have caused them problems,rest assured they will cite you before you leave. I have found in my many years of driving truck all over this country and Canada its alot easier to not question and allow them to dow what they need to do,so you can be on your merry way. If you have recieved the incorrect fuel by accident,meaning where you fueled at someone put the incorrect fuel in the ground tanks,they will send a officer to check then their fine will be even more hefty(This actually happened to a truckstop at the 217 exit on I-81 a few years ago).



Now the exhaust. .

You should feel fortunate as the MCSAP/DOT and PUC officers here in PA ALL carry decimal meters and the proper testing equipment to check exhaust soot particulates. When he made the comment about "being loud" he was trying to send you a very polite message you may want to consider. Had he taken the time to drag one or any of them out you citation could have been alot more. With you being straight piped and having NO muffler he could have cited you very easily for that. The Federal law mandates the exhaust not being tampered with(and I know we all do it,me included)so if he would have crawled under he could have cited you and possibly had you had the truck towed because of exhaust violations. You will be seeing and hearing more PA owners crying in the next year about being hassled for no muffler on a diesel as PA Inspection Mechanics are now supposed to enfore the muffler rules on diesels.



I am not going to dispute your being stopped but am fairly certain that you didn't help the ordeal out with having a poor attitude with the arresting officer. Had you been a little less conflictive with him he may have only checked you,dipped your tank and sent you on your way. All it would take is the wrong attitude and if he has already gotten that from someone ahead of you you become the target of his rage. If you take anything out of my ramblings here remember this when dealing with any DOT,PUC or MCSAP officer. . "A little honey goes along way"... ... ... ... . Andy



BTW. .

ANY window tint on the front windows is ILLEGAL both from a state inspection standpoint and a Motor vehicle code. The ONLY tint that is legal in PA,and its even a stretch for that as they want it changed when you tag your car or truck here,is the Southwest states "Desert Package" where all the windows have the tint on. Once a vehicle from out there is tagged here in PA you are supposed to have the front windows changed to normal UV tint.

 

[LightmanE300]

The bottom line is that if you run red on the road, you are cheating the rest of us because we're paying taxes to fix the roads you drive on. I hope you guys that run red get caught and pay huge fines. I don't mind having my tank dipped (which hasn't ever happened and probably won't here in Cleveland, land of no diesels) if the DOT wants to.

 

[RustyJC]

The bottom line is that if you run red on the road, you are cheating the rest of us because we're paying taxes to fix the roads you drive on. I hope you guys that run red get caught and pay huge fines. I don't mind having my tank dipped (which hasn't ever happened and probably won't here in Cleveland, land of no diesels) if the DOT wants to.

Sorta reminds me of a story book I had as a kid - The Little Red Hen. No one wanted to help the little red hen bake the cake, but everyone wanted a piece of it after it was done.



Rusty

 

[WyattEarp]

See this is where i have a problem with this so called road fixing they are doing, its happening in every state, should i send you pictures or a video of highways in such dispare if would be better suited for a horse and buggy to ride over it, then there is this lotto money, Va. has is and well as we all know the pork barrels our oh so beloved elected officials(I DON'T VOTE FOR SCUM) have going on, so tell me why is it our highways are suffering so much but we have had fuel taxes for roads and they have continued to climb for a very long time, hmmmmmm have some of you ever stopped and thought about where that money is going? Well i do!!

AS they say an uneducated man doesn't ask questions he just does, an educated man ask questions before he does. Maybe more, well all of us should be asking more questions about how our country is being run along with our state and local municipalities... *disclaimer* this is just my opinion as always. :-laf