What would you do?

[Broompilot]

Came out of a Rest Area restroom, walking to the truck. Did not observe the two occupants in a PU until I got a wiff of what they were smoking.

Now personally I do not believe that smoking pot is terrible but do it in private not in the open public or where the public can smell it or see it. But thats just a personal opinion and I do and can respect both sides of the issue. I choose not to do drugs. So what would you do?

 

[RichM]

Probably best to mind your own business rather then confront them. You could make an anonymous phone call to the police giving a description of the PU but they would most likely not act on it.

 

[tec1959]

Well i'd just keep going and not worry about it.I think there's more important things to worry about,And most rest areas that i've been into have secuity guards an or grounds keepers and let them worry about it.

 

[X1_SRH]

Okay - you know that these people are going to DRIVE... it's a rest area right? What would you do if you saw them slamming a fifth of Bacardi 151 behind the wheel?
You don't have to confront them - just (secretly if you wish) call the police, get a tag number, give them a description of anything and everything. So maybe the cops don't do anything...whatever. What IF the cops come out and take care of business. Your phone call may have just saved somebody's life.

We are transportation professionals and part of that job description entails doing whatever we can to keep the highways SAFE.

The 911 keys on my cell phone are worn from use. I'm not afraid to call when I have a concern about ANYTHING on the road.

It is always better to err on the side of caution.

I shall now step down from the soapbox...

Scott

 

[greg334]

Broom,

I ran into this a lot; I simply put them in the same category as a drunk – absolutely no excuse for them to be on the road.

I am a harsh person when it comes down this issue and don’t hesitate to call people who can take care of this – the cops. Get involved because you are already involved if yo drive down the same road as they are.

Just remember what you saw if your friends, family or even yourself get involved in an accident with someone under the influence – it matters that you do call.

 

[Broompilot]

Kraig Allen

 

[Mister TyZo]

Broom: Some pretty good answers so far. If it was me, If I can take down a License Plate number , Description of Vehicle their driving . I'd pass it on to the Authorities and let them choose what course of action to take next. For your own personal gratification you've done something and that is all we can do.

TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR RIDE

 

[pantherii]

I would say Hey Dudes wasssup, pass the bong : )
cough cough, right on dudes that was the bomb

But really, the right thing to do would be notifing authorities
but personaly I'd get in my truck and keep rolling and not give it a second thought

 

[cheri1122]

If the situation occurred as I walked out of the restroom at a concert, or in a bar, I'd say "Party on!" BUT in this situation, you have reason to believe the occupants are going to be driving on the public highway next, which you have reason to believe could be very detrimental to the public safety, (yours included), so you have a moral obligation to report it to the proper authorities.
If what you saw was a bit of "Paradise by the dashboard light", though, I'd say you just keep on truckin...

 

[Broompilot]

For a second I thought "not my problem" but it is. So I picked up the phone 911, tag info, vehicle info and as close as description I could give on the occupants. Was asked if I would sign a complaint yes but your gona have to come to my POD for me to sign one.

What happened???????????

 

[davekc]

Very few jurisdictions will respond to this type of call unless something else is involved, or they are very close to the reported location. I am surprised that no one mentioned changing their clothes because they came in contact with the dope smoke?





Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[brentwb2]

Not sure what jurisdictions you are talking about. My wife and I used to drive an E unit with FDCC, and now I am a police officer in Northern Indiana. If we got a call like that out on I-69, I can think of at least 5 county officers that would respond, plus me (Warren PD) plus the Markle unit and probably even a few state units. We take that stuff pretty seriously around here. We would have that rest area lit up like times square!!!

 

[raceman]

I always call 911 and very little ever happens. I have followed drunks on the road and called 911 and stayed with them for miles to assure nothing happens. Police just do not respond out on the road. This is my experence. I have asked police why they don't and have been told many things from, "More important things" to "we need to see it".

By the way, if they were smoking dope, they will hurt no one. More likely they will simply drive too slow or more likely fall asleep right there.

Dope heads! Will they ever learn? They really don't ever come across as the brightest bulb in the rest area now do they


Raceman
OTR O/O

 

[LDB]

Depending on the location, those people could kill my family a half hour later. I'm dialing 911 and giving the information as soon as I am back in the truck where they can't hear me and take off. If there's leeway in the time on my run I'm sitting there and observing them while on with 911 and telling them I'm doing so waiting on them to arrive. If they leave I'm following and calling 911 again to report their movement.

I was on I65 going south just a few miles south if I80 one morning about 01:00. A van was exhibiting signs of DUI, varying speed, weaving etc. so I called 911. I was put on with the state police. They kept me on the line as I followed the van and they sent a car. It took almost 30 minutes to reach us because it wasn't anywhere in the neighborhood. When they got close they had me turn on my flashers so they'd know for certain which truck the van was in front of. I did and in about 2 minutes a cruiser passed me going about 100mph, flipped on his lights and pulled the van over. For the entire 30 minutes I followed him he had widely varying speed and didn't maintain his lane well at all. Luckily at that time traffic was light so he didn't do any damage but he could have killed someone's family. Highway watch isn't just about looking for terrorists.

SHAME ON ANYONE WHO EVEN THINKS ABOUT LOOKING THE OTHER WAY!

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Packmule]

Ditto What Leo said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan

 

[geo]

when i was fedexcc going a cross mi one time had a dui in front of me
called 911 and told them what was going on on i94 and that i was coming up on scale house and they said closes trooper is in scale house, we can't reach him on the radio go in to scale house and tell him to turn up the radio and i did he closed scale house and went after the dui and one person was stop for going over the limit on his log, as they weren't up to date he told the driver bring your log up to date take 8 hours off as i have to get dui off the road couple of miles down the road he had him off the side

than one time on 95 a few trucks were running up road and someone ask have a cell phone have a dui all over the road, i called and 911 said trooper will meet you cb ch 19 and relay info both way's and we got him stop and stuff with help of about 8 truck and 2 trooper's
so they do come and get them

 

[davekc]

Michigan is a good example. Many areas only have a car or two patroling the whole county. Much different than say the Buckeye. In Michigan, state police must also handle domestic calls, scales, and other responsibilities.




Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[dieselphreak2K]

Michigan is very good for that. In my home county, there is 1 car on patrol from 8pm-6am. However driving under the influence seems to be their favorite citatio so they do take that sort of thing very seriouisly.

 

[tallcal101]

Very interesting comments indeed.
But lacking from this conversation is the well documented history of long haul truckers using all forms of speed and stimulants.Now,I'm not assuming anyone on this forum has ever indulged in such activity,but the statistics contunue to strongly suggest it's just as much a problam today as it ever has been.
There are ways around drug tests(kits available at most TA'S)and I,for one,think hassling a couple of jokers smoking a joint in a pick up truck is a worthless exercise.There is no documented evidence that smoking pot and driving is any more dangerous then driving under the influence of too much caffine.In fact,caffine makes my nerves jitter like a June bug.I stay away from the Joe.
However,I do believe that truck drivers who are over amped,under slept and running late,pose a far greater risk then a couple of stoned country boys in a rest stop.
Let's make sure our own house is clean(report suspected speed dealing drivers at truck stops)!!Don't take the"it's not my business approach".

 

[Broompilot]

I completely dissagree, I once read wear a stoned pot smoker exited his car and forgot to put in Park. Ran over a 40 year man killing him and everyone in his family was also run over. It also has a way to make one sleepy while driving, mind wonders from concentration.