Arkansas Sobriety Check

[old Pilot]

I was doing a day ride today on a nice local back road. It has a good number of sweepers and quite a few turns marked 35mph and 45mph. There is even one long stretch with good visibility and no side roads or driveways where I can open the throttle and get a short cheap speed fix.

I crested a hill (at a safe and sane speed) and about a quarter mile ahead there were 2 State Police cruisers, one on either side of the road, with lights flashing. One of the troopers standing in the middle of the road motioned for me to stop. There was a pickup truck going the opposite direction who was already stopped. I didn't know what was going on and slowed to a stop by the trooper.

He asked if I had been drinking, I said I had not. Now I'm remembering previous stops like this in different states and began removing my gloves so I could get to my license, registration, insurance docs, etc. I also noted that the driver of the pickup was showing his paperwork to the other trooper. I was surprised when the trooper told me I did not have to remove any gear, I was free to go, and thanked me for stopping. Very pleasant encounter.

In these type of stops in states back east I've always had to show all my paperwork. I had concluded that sobriety checks were more of a guise for generating revenue so I was surprised when the trooper said there was no need to remove all my gear to get my paperwork.

 

[dcarver]

Maybe you just look old and sober?

 

[buf2phx]

I guess,if you consider being stopped and questioned by law enforcement with no probable cause pleasant.

Mike

 

[lnewlf]

I guess,if you consider being stopped and questioned by law enforcement with no probable cause pleasant. Mike

Tru dat-flip side is that I've been hit by a ****** drunk driver twice and that's not pleasant either. The pfuzz around my side of the mountain are courteous too.

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

MADD

It may have started out with good intentions, but it's an out of control hate group now.

Shame.

 

[racer]

If MADD wants to really stop deaths on the roads, they need propose a ban on teenage driving. No drivers license until you get your high school diploma. Every night in our local paper, there are reports of teenage traffic accidents. More deaths due to teenage sober drivers than due to drinking and driving.

 

[dcarver]

It's incredibly simple to disable a vehicle based upon driver/rider impairment. If we, as society, were serious about this issue it would be done. Not all that expensive either.

 

[Bounce]

Nice to know that the Gestapo can be pleasant some times when demanding you stop while traveling within the borders of your country of origin.

 

[FJRay]

If drinking and driving is against the law then why do bars and liquor stores have parking lots. Like Carver said it is easy enough to disable a vehicle and cheaper than the result of the other. I was a world class drunk for 40+ years and IMHO we live in a country that encourages stupid behavior. End of rant.

 

[Mizz Bustanut]

It's incredibly simple to disable a vehicle based upon driver/rider impairment. If we, as society, were serious about this issue it would be done. Not all that expensive either.

True. Sad thing is, people would still find a way around it.

-_-

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

It's incredibly simple to disable a vehicle based upon driver/rider impairment. If we, as society, were serious about this issue it would be done. Not all that expensive either.

too tired to drive?

too inattentive to drive?

too stupid to drive?

I wonder how many MADD mothers are driving and yacking away on their cell phone.

Drinking and driving is wrong. It's inexcusable. But, do we really think it's o.k. to make everyone prove they are not drunk/impaired/inattentive/stupid?

 

[old Pilot]

I guess,if you consider being stopped and questioned by law enforcement with no probable cause pleasant. Mike

Nice to know that the Gestapo can be pleasant some times when demanding you stop while traveling within the borders of your country of origin.

Yeah, I know what you mean. The reason I posted about it was because of the difference in attitude between this stop and ones in MD and PA. In the MD & PA stops LE had a poor attitude and they were definitely looking for any reason to ticket me or do a probable cause search. Compared to those stops, the one here actually was pleasant.

Maybe you just look old and sober?

Too true

 

[user 213]

@Old Pilot - What time of the day, day of the week, was this event? Just looking for perspective. I don't see this type of stop here in the West.

 

[Bogey907]

MADDIt may have started out with good intentions, but it's an out of control hate group now.

Shame.

+1 I'll drink to that!

 

[Old Michael]

Maybe you just look old and sober?

:lol:

"Show me your,....aw, never mind Pops. Does the home know you're missing?"

Fairlaner's salvation.

 

[old Pilot]

@Old Pilot - What time of the day, day of the week, was this event? Just looking for perspective. I don't see this type of stop here in the West.

Sunday around 5pm. This is the day/time people are returning home from their weekends in the hills and lakes. Odd though that it was set up on this road which is not a direct route to anywhere.

In PA & MD they did them mostly on holiday weekends.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

I'm glad you had a pleasent experience, while I consider it a violation of my constitutional right against illeagle search and sizeure, number 4 I belive! They had no proable cause to stop you plain and simple. They need to do someting about DUI drivers, but where will the illeagle searches end? Next they will be showing up at the door to your home and asking to come in a take a look for illeagle drugs or weapons, or whatever excuse they think up. I like the freedoms that people fought and died for, just to let some polititions toss them out under any circumstance is "Just Plain Wrong". :assassin: "Come and get me coppers, but you'll have a fight on your hands"

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

just to let some polititions ...

politicians = elected officials

People voted for them. If the majority has no problem with you getting a full cavity search, guess what you're going to get?

 

[canyonman]

They may have been looking for someone in particular.

Usually when they tie up resources on something like this they will set up someplace they can get the most bang for your buck.

It doesn't sound like that was the case this time.