Inspecting rental trucks between states. Pre cursor to police state?

[Das Pferd]

I noticed while driving between Arizona and Ca that they now make rental trucks stop and search them. Such as Budget and U-Haul trucks. They had a big check point at a rest stop with a gaggle of agents lounging around.

This kind of bothers me. I mean we can no longer travel bewteen states without being stopped and searched. All in the name of whatever. Communist Russia did the same thing.

 

[armoredman]

The border stations used to be manned 24/7 back in the day, but mainly for fruits and vegatables. Was it Fed Border Patrol, or state officers?

 

[41mag]

Papers,Komrade?

 

[Das Pferd]

The border stations used to be manned 24/7 back in the day, but mainly for fruits and vegatables. Was it Fed Border Patrol, or state officers?

I know what your talking about. The station over the border on I-10 on the way to Ca. This was coming back from Ca to Az. The guys were wearing black pants and white polo shirts. It seems odd if they were looking for illegals. Why would anyone drive illegals from Ca to Az, seems like it would be the other way around.

 

[dev_null]

Dept of Agriculture, at least it used to be.

- 0 -

 

[Jim March]

The California "Weasel People" have the solution, with detailed maps showing the "back road routes" around the "agricultural" inspection points:

http://www.ferretsanonymous.com/Ag Stations/maps.html

 

[rick_reno]

Consider yourself lucky. I've lived in countries where moving from one part of the city to another required a visit to the police station to get the move approved - and to make sure you were registered at your new address.

 

[rick_reno]

Consider yourself lucky. I've lived in countries where moving from one part of the city to another required a visit to the police station to get the move approved - and to make sure you were registered at your new address. And when they'd stop me for a bicycle and paper inspection (horn, brakes and of course - a license) they'd have machine pistols hung around their neck. I don't think it's that bad here yet, but I'm willing to bet Shrub has plans in place...

 

[bendable]

if they hang the car thieves on the spot , they can search as much as they want.

if the car thieves will be out by tomorrow night ,
its a waste of there time and ours

 

[Zach S]

Were they using dogs to look for anything weird, or were they actually un-packing the trucks and searching?

You'd be amazed at what I could fit in a 15ft U-Haul, but I have an edge over most ppl since for one, I've moved a lot, and two, I used to pack and drive a boxtruck for a living.

 

[Chuck Dye]

Your description could fit two explanations: the already offered Cal Ag "Bug Check" which seek to exclude plant and insect pests, or the Highway Patrol weigh stations and vehicle inspections, which seek to keep vehicles that are dangerously loaded, equipped, or maintained off the highway. The rentals and smaller delivery trucks, which used to be exempt, were included in the program just a few years ago. The signs advising that the small fry must now pass through the weigh stations are new. In either case, the motive and effects are good even if the execution is somewhat spotty.

 

[Satch]

Inspecting Trucks....

If we get hit again with anything like 911 again look for all hell to break lose. Since we are supposed to be at War there is at the disposel of the President since the 60's something put in place by Congress at that time called the War Powers Act. I believe it is still on the books. It is a real LuLu. Stopping trucks would be the least of your worries. Lets hope our people can stop any Terrorist before they attack us again.

 

[George S.]

Sometimes large rental trucks are used by dope dealers as mobile meth labs. They rent a truck for a week, pack in their supplies and drive around while some other guys make the drugs in the back. So you occasionally have LEO's set up areas to check truck either with drug dogs or asking people to open their trucks. Personally, I have no problem with that at all.

Meth labs and the criminals that run them will stop at nothing to make this stuff and in just about every bust I have read about they are armed to the teeth and wouldn't hesitate to shoot anyone that gets too close. The meth problem is very big around parts of the Pacific Northwest and needs to be stopped cold. If setting up an occasional roadblock works for that purpose, I'm all for it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Thanks for the advisory. I'll stop my cigarette running from KY to CA.

 

[MarkDido]

I noticed while driving between Arizona and Ca that they now make rental trucks stop and search them. Such as Budget and U-Haul trucks. They had a big check point at a rest stop with a gaggle of agents lounging around.

This kind of bothers me. I mean we can no longer travel bewteen states without being stopped and searched. All in the name of whatever. Communist Russia did the same thing.

If you recall, the Oklahoma City bombing and the first World Trade Towers bombing were done with rental trucks.

Not sure where this quote came from but it bears repeating:

"The Constitution is not a suicide pact"

 

[aquapong]

"The Constitution is not a suicide pact"

So it's cool with you that authorities search all rental trucks going across the CA/AZ border simply because a few people have abused the rental truck idea? So now I'm a suspect simply because I'm driving one across the border? I should let them search...after all, I'm not doing anything wrong.

What grounds can they possibly have to search the truck without the driver allowing it? I'm sure they can find a reason or two to make a stop in the state's vehicle code with all the ridiculous "violations" in it, but what would they do if the driver refused to allow the search? They can't do a damn thing. If they had PC to search, they wouldn't be asking the driver's permission, they would tell him they are going to do it and do it. The only wrench I can see being thrown in that would be if jurisprudence has shown a driver of a rental car without legal authority to refuse the search of a rented car.

 

[WT]

When the World Trade Center was bombed in the early 1990's, the terrorists used a rental truck obtained in New Jersey. They made up their bomb in a NJ garage, drove it thru the tunnel, and parked it underneath the WTC. 6 people were killed when it exploded.

It is not uncommon for the PAPD to inspect trucks prior to them passing thru the Holland or Lincoln Tunnels. Many Hudson River bridges also have inspection areas.

I believe federal law permits inspection of trucks weighing more than 10,000 lb.

Since the Arizona border is a sieve, I am not at all surprised that trucks are inspected.

 

[Das Pferd]

What grounds can they possibly have to search the truck without the driver allowing it? I'm sure they can find a reason or two to make a stop in the state's vehicle code with all the ridiculous "violations" in it, but what would they do if the driver refused to allow the search?

Correct me if I am wrong, but when a Federal officer tells you to do something you must or you are hindering an investigation. Border patrol is Federal. Plus with the Patriot Act who knows what they can and cant do nowadays

 

[WT]

For info:

The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously that customs officials do not need a warrant or any particular degree of suspicion in order to search a vehicle that is crossing the border.

See "United States v. Flores-Montano, No. 02-1794."

"The government's interest in preventing the entry of unwanted persons and effects is at its zenith at the international border," Chief Justice Rehnquist said.

I think Border Patrol responsibilities extend 50 miles from the border. Not much in the southwest, but a heck of a lot in the NYC or Boston area.

I know a lot of parking garages in this area make you pop the trunk for inspection before allowing you to park.