Weird UHP incident

[bobdog]

All training that I have (slcc post/murray police cadets/son of a UHP trooper)and experience on the road (O.K. it was only 5 1/2 months at NSL P.D.) tells me that as long as the trailer it is being pulled on and the vehicle that is towing it are registered it is off limits, however I don't want to "armchair quarterback" this trooper. I took MANY reports of stolen trailers (almost every trailer out there has a 2" ball so it is easy to just back up to one and hook on and pull away), and how can a trailer be recovered stolen unless some "investigative" traffic stop is made.
That trooper probably had a reason for doing what he did, although you may never know what that reason is.:-\

So are you saying that if a trailer has recently been stolen, Cops should pull over every trailer on the road check it out and then when it turns out not to be the stolen one, just make up a really stupid reason why they pulled it over in the first place?

 

[Herzog]

So are you saying that if a trailer has recently been stolen, Cops should pull over every trailer on the road check it out and then when it turns out not to be the stolen one, just make up a really stupid reason why they pulled it over in the first place?

Seems to be the logic with many things now days.

 

[Big Daddy C.]

Where do you live in SS? I might pull you over and check out your rig w/out harrassment.:greg:

So if i drive cautious and courtous, use mud flaps in the rear, keep my rig clean from mud and rocks, and stay off the interstates, what are my chances of you pulling me over in my licenced (2" + soa, 38" tires, fullsize1 ton axles, flat fendered wrangler) rig? also what do they teach you in the academy to look for?

 

[teknodestrukto]

he told me I needed to remove my plate if I was to haul it on a trailer.

Maybe I am wrong but I thought it was against the law to tow an unlicensed vehicle on a trailer in Utah?

I'll buy dinner for anyone who can show me that code
You do have the right to ask why you were stopped. As stated previously, save it for the officer's supervisor, don't get into a pissing match on the side of the road. If your behavior was so egregious then you should have been cited. If not, I would ask for an explanation for the purpose and authority for the traffic stop. Every officer has to have an articulable reason for a traffic stop. The "stoppee" is essentialy being detained and there must be a valid violation or some reasonable suspicion of a violation for the stop to be defensible. If the officers just has a burr up his a$$ for modified vehicles he should have to explain his actions.

 

[phillippi]

So if i drive cautious and courtous, use mud flaps in the rear, keep my rig clean from mud and rocks, and stay off the interstates, what are my chances of you pulling me over in my licenced (2" + soa, 38" tires, fullsize1 ton axles, flat fendered wrangler) rig? also what do they teach you in the academy to look for?

There isnt much chance of me pulling you over unless I want to "check out" drool over your rig. Thats what I meant with that comment. I dont pick on vehicle unless they are unsafe.

As far as what they teach in the academy, well I graduated way back in 93 and the problems with vehicle registration were not in existance back then.

You also have to understand that troopers dont have to do nearly as much "normal" stuff like other city cops/deputies do. They deal with almost 100% vehicle stuff. So some can get very upset at vehicle laws that are broken but not enforced. I have to admit we have lots of laws that make it hard to build up our trucks, but we do what we have to do....:greg:

 

[Meat_]

Another thing to remember about cops is that it's VERY easy to become a city cop or a UHP officer (talking about the schooling here) Only sherriffs, rangers and marshals really have any learnin on how ta do stuff law, way

 

[Milner]

Another thing to remember about cops is that it's VERY easy to become a city cop or a UHP officer (talking about the schooling here) Only sherriffs, rangers and marshals really have any learnin on how ta do stuff law, way

????

 

[Meat_]

Guess you haven't seen Young Guns, anyway UHP and local cops don't have to go to college and study the very thing they are supposed to enforce.... Law

 

[cowmilker]

So are you saying that if a trailer has recently been stolen, Cops should pull over every trailer on the road check it out and then when it turns out not to be the stolen one, just make up a really stupid reason why they pulled it over in the first place?

No! Sorry I was rambling. I'll try not to do that again.

I did have one experience where I stopped someone for a "stupid reason" (no lights on trailer, BUT it was a small trailer and you could see the lights of the tow vehicle clearly so I could have said "no biggie") and the trailer ended up being stolen. Sometimes thiefs dont think out all of the details (like does this trailer have the same plug as my truck )

Oops I'm rambling again.

 

[cowmilker]

Guess you haven't seen Young Guns, anyway UHP and local cops don't have to go to college and study the very thing they are supposed to enforce.... Law

If I was going to go to college and study law I sure wouldn't go hang my but out in the wind and risk getting it shot off every time I respond to a call, for less than $35k a year to start. I would use my law degree and become a lawyer (I guess I shouldn't say that, even x-cops are supposed to hate lawyers ).

 

[teknodestrukto]

Guess you haven't seen Young Guns, anyway UHP and local cops don't have to go to college and study the very thing they are supposed to enforce.... Law

The only difference between municiple (city) cops, Sheriff's deputies, UHP Troopers and Marshals is jurisdiction. There are only a few agencies in Utah that require college degrees and these are mostly for supervisory level jobs.

 

[DrMoab]

The only difference between municiple (city) cops, Sheriff's deputies, UHP Troopers and Marshals is jurisdiction. There are only a few agencies in Utah that require college degrees and these are mostly for supervisory level jobs.

Personally I am glad they don't have law degrees. Can you imagine how much worse it would be if all cops acted just like lawyers?

 

[Meat_]

Who said anything about a law degree? I said they have to study law, big difference.

 

[Hickey]

If he really was a UHP DOT officer, he was way out of line. Did you know that all DOT officers are suppose to be calm and curtious at ALL times when dealing with truckdrivers? There is a system in place to recieve and process complaints for problem DOT officers.

 

[DrMoab]

If he really was a UHP DOT officer, he was way out of line. Did you know that all DOT officers are suppose to be calm and curtious at ALL times when dealing with truckdrivers? There is a system in place to recieve and process complaints for problem DOT officers.

LOL...you drive truck for a living. They may be calm but courteous is something they generally are not.

This guy did not really hassle me. He pulled me over. Told me my jeep wasn't in compliance, I told him it usually was, he told me to remove the plate then and left. He seemed a little aggravated and a little rude but I have ran into cops with way worse attitude then this guy.

I laughed at the incident more then anything. If he would have actually MADE me remove the plate or tried to ticket me or even gave me more of an attitude then he did I would have felt way more compelled to take it up with UHP.

:edit: Oh and he was really a DOT officer. They are the only UHP guys I know driving pickups.

 

[phillippi]

The only difference between municiple (city) cops, Sheriff's deputies, UHP Troopers and Marshals is jurisdiction. There are only a few agencies in Utah that require college degrees and these are mostly for supervisory level jobs.

Our department does require a degree (not only law related) or 4 yrs experience. That doesnt matter if its on the road or in the jail, its pretty much the same. Its not that great of a setup, but its a personell thing that they will not bend on.....

 

[teknodestrukto]

Ours used to require a bachelors at entry level but they've changed it since we were getting 11 applicants for 4 openings. 11 applicants usually equals 1 or 2 who are actually qualified.

Everyone who's POST certified, everyone with police powers in the state, had to study law and even memorize certain portions of it. Not to the extent of a JD but definately enough know what can and can't be done.