Motorist attempts to stop my truck, Law Enforcement blows me off.

[Window_Seat]

As some know, I drive a tractor/trailer at night, and I do relay switches with other drivers at various meet locations. Some of the freight I transport at night is in the very high value range, so naturally there is always an effort to be watchful. As an example, I automatically become suspicious when I am approaching a passenger vehicle/pickup/etc going much slower than I am (less than 50 mph).

This happened last week on an interstate just around 2 hours before my final destination. The vehicle I passed began to accelerate, so I attempted to get back over. As soon as I made it back in behind the motorist, he immediately hit his brakes. This continued for nearly 25 miles.

It's almost common knowledge that many trucking companies govern their trucks at less than 65mph, otherwise, I would have been able to slam the door shut on this jackazz with other traffic ahead of me. I WILL NOT STOP for anyone who is trying to stop me (unless it's LEO) at this point because as far as I'm concerned, this whack has my death on his mind.

I was already on the line with the CHP, but this did absolutely NO GOOD AT ALL. The dispatcher completely blew me off as if I was a "smokey & the bandit" type, and figured I pizzed the driver of the car off. No I was not making threats against this driver over the phone, I was giving the dispatcher exactly what I am supposed to give him as far as the proper information. He asked me questions such as "did you throw rocks out the window at the car", and "you must not be very professional". I would at least expect to be asked by the CHP if there are any weapons that I can see, and if I am hauling HazMat before making his assumptions based on his blatant disregard for truckers...

This is why professional drivers transporting high value cargo NEEDS to be able to CCW/LOC on the job. This is a serious issue that is NOT addressed by GOING TO ANOTHER TRUCKING CARRIER...

I have determined that the California Highway Patrol no longer responds to calls for suspicious circumstances involving cars/pick-ups harassing and disrupting trucking operations on the highway at night, and possible hijackings, and this is why I strongly believe that it's time for truck drivers to be able to carry on the job. This is something that the trucking companies are saying NO to, and it's already impossible to get a CCW here in CA.

This issue is not solved by "appplying for another job if we don't like it". What do you suppose we do? If you are driving at night, do you want a hijacked rig in your mirror being looked for by anyone OTHER THAN LEOs? If I am a customer expecting a high value shipment, I don't want to get a phone call in the morning saying that the driver was shot and the load was hijacked.

Erik; infuriated, but focused.

[Blue]

Maybe next time call and say the guy is totally wasted and swerving all over the road and that you'll follow him until CHP catches up. There's signs all over CA asking for people to report drunk drivers.

[Travis8128]

i would have made it seem more intense by saying you think you see a gun or something.

why dont you just carry a locked up firearm and upon scary moments like these load up?

[jasilva]

What I'd do is tell the dispatcher it appears the individual has a gun, or has an open bottle and is weaving all over the road, or whatever it takes to actually get their interest up to the level of rolling a unit. We had problems in my neighborhood with teenagers drinking in the park across the street and then vandalizing the park or cars or houses as they left the area. Cops wouldn't respond or would just drive by and the kids would hide. Now it's a fight and looks like at least one knife or baseball bat involved. This actually gets an officer on scene and out of his car checking things out. Yeah, it may not be the entire truth but it seems to have the effect that other calls and talks with the chief failed to have.

Joe

[tombinghamthegreat]

i would have made it seem more intense by saying you think you see a gun or something.

why dont you just carry a locked up firearm and upon scary moments like these load up?

He would not even need to lock up a long gun,assuming he is not near schools. He could just have a shotgun next to him with shells on the side or have some sort of center fire rifle with loaded mags right next to the gun, just incase something happens.

What I'd do is tell the dispatcher it appears the individual has a gun, or has an open bottle and is weaving all over the road, or whatever it takes to actually get their interest up to the level of rolling a unit. Yeah, it may not be the entire truth but it seems to have the effect that other calls and talks with the chief failed to have.

The problem is if he lies he could get into trouble or if the PD deems it was not an emergency they could bill him for wasting their time, assuming if they even will help him.

[N6ATF]

He would not even need to lock up a long gun,assuming he is not near schools. He could just have a shotgun next to him with shells on the side or have some sort of center fire rifle with loaded mags right next to the gun, just incase something happens.

+1

[11Z50]

Cops nowadays seem to work harder at getting out of work than just doing their jobs.

Yes, had you reported a possible DUI, you'd have gotten a better response. Not necessarily because the cops want to protect the public, but because they get far more profit off a DUI arrest than they do sending an officer to check "suspicious circumstances". A DUI nets the county, LE, and State more than 5k all told. Sending an over-paid gov't worker (soon to be a pensioner @ 7K plus a month) on a call that will net no income puts them in the red.

[jumbopanda]

It is legal to just have an unloaded rifle or shotgun sitting next to you along with some ammo/mags, although this might be difficult to explain if you get pulled over. Or you could have a locked container (a briefcase with 3 digit locks works great) with a handgun in it. You could have just one digit off for quick access.

[saki302]

It's dark out- they guy is weaving, and I THOUGHT I saw him wave a bottle at me.

You can THINK you saw many things, but you may be mistaken

-Dave

[ojisan]

I was under the impression that long-haul truckers, especially at night, always had a shotgun. Maybe not the official rules of the land, but the rules of the road and the real world instead.
I'd call in as a DUI, sometimes no one wants to find the guy with the gun.
Be safe!

[Kingofthehill]

As a Teamster I fully agree. Some situations I have been in have been very nerve racking... I carry a few "Tools" that can bring a lot of pain, and im not a small guy either and can handle myself. But a "Bad guy" with a gun against me and my tire iron, mag light, knife... sadly the "bad guy" will probably win....

I hope that day never happens.

JOe

[GuyW]

File a written complaint with the CHP against the CHP and dispatcher, and keep a copy.

Send it to your local newspaper and talk radio station...
.

[krim]

Maybe next time call and say the guy is totally wasted and swerving all over the road and that you'll follow him until CHP catches up. There's signs all over CA asking for people to report drunk drivers.

that doesn't seem to work either. last month, i called in a swerving guy and as I was on the line w/ dispatch, the guy almost swerved into the center divider. The dispatch guy asked me to GET CLOSER so I could read the plate. Then as I tell him that we are about to pass a CHP station, he says thanks and hangs up. I follow this guy for another 15 miles and nothing. He ran two people out of their lanes and almost hit three or four other cars in the meantime.

[CCWFacts]

Are you carrying anything that might conceivably be of use to a terrorist? Chemicals, uniforms, fuel, anything like that? If so, make sure to mention the potential terrorist threat aspects to the dispatcher, or you could even call an FBI or DHS dispatcher directly. They have emergency numbers separate from 911. They're taking transportation security very seriously these days, with the new ID program and so on.

[slowjonn]

Yes, had you reported a possible DUI, you'd have gotten a better response. Not necessarily because the cops want to protect the public, but because they get far more profit off a DUI arrest than they do sending an officer to check "suspicious circumstances". A DUI nets the county, LE, and State more than 5k all told. Sending an over-paid gov't worker (soon to be a pensioner @ 7K plus a month) on a call that will net no income puts them in the red.

Yeah cause thats how departments determine what calls to go on, the profit margin The truth is, more times than not, the dispatch center has a completely different set of goals/ agendas than the beat cops. It will vary from agency to agency as to the type of response you will get.

CHP seems to be about the worst for this. I followed a DUI from Corona to north Rancho Cucamonga one night. Took forever to get a CHP to respond, after passing one just sitting on the on ramp at Limonite. San Berdu Sheriffs responded and handled business.

What the OP experienced should be addressed in the way of a complaint against the dispatcher. But I would bet it had little to do with a beat cop not wanting to do his job. It probably never got dispatched in the first place. There are still plenty of agencies that will send a cop or two on any call they receive.