Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/536685
CHANGING LANES 14 JULY 2015 // WWW.CHANGINGLANESDIGITAL.COM On The Road by Todd Dills How to: Influence enforcement actions at roadside There are plenty of ways, notes Landstar- leased owner-operator Gary Buchs, to avoid getting that roadside Level 3 or, worse yet, a citation for a moving violation such as speeding, even if you get stuck out in the left lane during a pass in a high-traffic, urban area. If you are stopped… Contrary to road rumor, certified inspecting officers in most states are not in fact limited to probable-cause-type stops for inspections, meaning they don't need a particular reason (such as a visible infraction) to stop you to inspect. In Indiana and Illinois, for instance, where the vast majority of inspections occur far from a fixed facility like a weigh station, high-level representatives in the state police confirm that, contrary to what many believe, they aren't limited by statute to probable-cause stops. At once, the nature of most mobile enforcement is targeted, meaning if there's something visibly wrong with the truck (a light out, obviously slick tires, etc.) or a behavior that contravenes a traffic law, your odds of getting stopped just went up dramatically, particularly in states where mobile enforcement accounts for a majority of inspections. 1) Put on your four-ways to acknowledge the officer's presence. Stay aware of surroundings, and you'll quickly see lights in the side view — key to starting off any roadside stop right. Buchs Owner-operator Gary Buchs is based near Bloomington-Normal, Ill.