“A Trooper’s Perspective”

Is it OK to speed to pass???

A common statement people stopped for speeding make is “But I was passing” or that they just did “over the hill”. It seems I may have discussed this before but it came up a couple of times these past few days.

It is never “legal” to speed but many people do for many reasons. If you exceed the speed limit to pass you simply risk a citation. While officer discretion is always a possibility in minor cases running high speeds to pass a vehicle traveling at or near the speed limit implies you are simply speeding before and after the officer first sees you. While there may be times you may have needed to “step on it” such as when the vehicle you are passing speeds up, you see the end of your passing zone approaching fast or perhaps an oncoming vehicle seems to be approaching faster than you thought the bottom line is you were speeding and that is illegal.

More often than not the person is somewhat irate and confrontational to the officer who stops them even if the act of passing happened “over the hill”. We cannot see over a hill, around the curve etc. any more than any other human.

The best approach is always courtesy and respect toward the officer who stops you. Honesty and genuine politeness are the best hope an officer may accept your excuse in favor of a warning. Bellowing out the window before we have a chance to say anything to the driver is almost a guarantee he or she will get a citation. Passengers are not allowed to participate in the conversation and tend to always escalate the situation if the driver allows them to continue.

All officers excersise discretion and that is one of the tools we MUST have. Just DON”T expect or demand it if you hope for a break………

Trooper Duane Johnson #280

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

“A Trooper’s Perspective”

“Those Old Stop Signs”

   We all know some of them.  That old, faded, leaning stop sign at an intersection we may pass through literally hundreds of times a year perhaps even with weeds and brush possibly adding to the problem of seeing it.  It might be on a road that sees fewer than ten cars a day and some of those might be the same one several times.  It might even be a shiny new one.

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“A Trooper’s Perspective”

   What does speed limit mean??

While that might seem like a silly question someone asked recently so it might be something worthwhile to discuss.

“Speed limit” simply means this is the fastest speed you can travel under ideal conditions.

The next question might be “What are ideal conditions???”. Those would be a clear, sunny day with a dry road surface.

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“A Trooper’s Perspective”

    “Can you go to jail for going over 100 mph” and “if an officer tells me to come to his car do I have to” ???

   Someone asked about going to jail over a speeding ticket a few days ago so since it is actually a common belief I thought I would answer it this time. In short, no. If a driver is properly licensed, sober of course and agrees to sign a citation then that driver can not be jailed for speeding alone in Oklahoma. I do not know of any states, counties or cities that jail on any stand alone speeding offense and it would take a tremendous amount of research to find out but I can say I doubt it.

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“A Trooper’s Perspective”

“What about having insurance”

   Someone asked a few days ago about drivers having insurance on the vehicle they are driving so I thought I would talk about that a little.
   Quite simply, when operating a vehicle in Oklahoma you as the driver are responsible for providing proof the vehicle you are driving has current insurance coverage and you must provide proof of that when asked by any law enforcement officer. A few people believe they are automatically covered by their own insurance when driving someone else’s vehicle. This is not always the case.        Regardless, you must prove you have insurance coverage on the vehicle you are driving with a valid insurance verification for that vehicle at the time of the traffic stop.

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A Trooper’s Perspective

Those dog gone trailers……..

I really started thinking the past few days about how long I have written public relations/safety articles and it’s hard to believe but it has now been a decade.  I have covered about everything that relates to driving that I can imagine but I don’t think anything I ever discussed generated so much controversy or at least spirited discussion as this issue.  Especially among our local farmers and ranchers who pull water tanks with pickups. First of all, to tell a little personal history story I grew up on a very small farm/ranch in S.E. Oklahoma as I have mentioned before.  We had cows, horses, goats etc. over the years but fortunately that part of the country, even in times of severe drought always has water in the creeks even if they are not running and farm ponds seldom go all the way dry.

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A Trooper’s Perspective

Are U-Turns Legal???

Someone asked recently about making U-Turns so I thought I’d tackle that one.  U-turns are legal anytime they can be made in safety unless there is a sign prohibiting them.  All individual states and municipalities have the power to adopt statutes and ordinances forbidding U-Turns in specific places so you must be certain there is no sign prohibiting such action.  Hillcrests and blind curves would be examples of places U-Turns would not be safe or legal where signs are not posted.  You should always signal your intention to turn before making a U-Turn.  Be safe out there…… 

Trooper Duane Johnson #280

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

A Trooper’s Perspective

      “Drinking and Driving”

With all the publicity about extra officers on the road over the holiday season and times as they are I have noticed that the holidays aren’t like “Dodge City on Saturday night” as they once seemed to be.  For younger readers that is in comparison to frontier Dodge City in the days of the old west.   It’s hard to believe but this New Years will be my 21st as a lawman and I have seen a lot over all of those.  Of course, one thing that never changes is drinking during that time.  I have seen a big shift in driving drunk toward the use of designated drivers and just getting rides home but certainly there are still many who choose to “chance it”.  Many of these get stopped, arrested and go through the enormous expense that follows a DUI arrest.

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A Troopers Perspective

“I have four-wheel drive!!!”

If you have friends who are on the road a lot in this region or in an occupation related to transportation you likely hear this one or something similar very often. Last week Trooper Tracy Brown and I attended a two-day firearms training session in Shawnee and were forced to stay over one night due to the weather between there and Boise City.

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A Troopers Perspective

More about utility trailers

 The trouble with writing a column like this (sometimes) is like just simply writing tickets.  By the time the word gets around there is little of the talk that resembles the truth.  Those of us fortunate enough to live in small, rural communities like Cimarron County and Boise City would admit to this I think.

I have written in past weeks about the fact that the law clearly requires trailers to be properly equipped with safety equipment such as lights, fenders and/or mud flaps, safety chains and in the case of larger and heavy trailers they must have brakes.

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A Troopers Perspective

“Why does it seem the crashes have gone down”

 

Someone asked recently why it seems like we have had fewer crashes in Cimarron County this and last year so I will say what I think.

Going back several years from 2006 according to state records Cimarron County saw an average of between 55 and 70 accidents each year.  That number fell to the low 30’s in 2007 and will likely end up possibly even less in 2008 barring a bad December.  This is a good thing.

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A Trooper’s Perspective

Is there a special speed limit when pulling a trailer???

 Someone asked this recently and I thought it was a good question. Although pulling a trailer too fast could amount to “Operating a m/v in a manner not reasonable and proper” especially in an accident there is no special limit for trailers in Oklahoma. Some companies like U-Haul have a suggested speed limit marked on their rental equipment but it is not anything a law enforcement officer can act on.

Anytime you are pulling a trailer, especially if heavily loaded you should NOT exceed the speed limit but many do. Even with excellent trailer brakes it is much harder to stop and keep both vehicle and trailer under control with a heavy loaded trailer behind you.

While on this subject, I must say I think I received more feedback about the trailer lights and brakes issue than any other topic since I came to Cimarron County. Most of it was good and many people both expect enforcement of this law and wonder why it is not more aggressively enforced. My hope is that by getting the word out like this will encourage compliance so that expensive citations will not be necessary. I think this is a reasonable way to handle this. I realize the brake issue on water tank trailers will be a tough one but in the meantime SLOW DOWN if pulling one.

I come from an area even more rural and remote than this one so I realize it is hard to get folks to fix something that has been let go for so long. From my perspective I’ll just say this: Enforcement will start in 2009. Please fix your trailers with lights and safety chains before then. I think they call this fair warning……….

Trooper Duane Johnson #280

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

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“A Trooper’s Perspective”

Trailers, people, politics etc………

 

 By the time most of you read this the election will be over and I shudder to think what will happen.  Since I am not allowed to show support to any political candidate in connection with my job I will not say who I voted for but I will say it was with everyone I know in Cimarron County.  I guess we will soon see……………..

October marked three years since I moved here so I thought I would reflect a little.  One thing I like about Cimarron County, Boise City and the other communities here is simply the people.  Cimarron County needed a “road trooper” who wanted to be here.  I suppose I needed a small community that wanted a trooper like me as well.  Those two things were a big motivation for me to move over 500 miles from the part of Oklahoma I always called home until three years ago.  I have never regretted moving here and now more than ever I hope to work and live here as Cimarron County’s “road trooper” until I can retire.

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“A Trooper’s Perspective”

Required equipment of trailers……..

 

Someone asked recently about required equipment on trailers so I’ll try to explain as best I can. First of all when any trailer is being pulled by a car or pickup it is simply considered a vehicle. A pulled trailer does not need to be registered in Oklahoma but must have tail and stop lights and at least two rear reflectors. It also must be equipped with “stay” or safety chains of large enough size to keep the trailer attached to the towing vehicle should the hitch fail. Even fifth wheels and goose necks are included in this requirement with semi’s being the exception. Some will say that they have never seen a trailer come loose but I have on many occasions. It certainly can happen and these requirements are for everyone’s safety.

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Thursday Night Stabbing, Truck Theft Ends Quietly Near Folsom, N.M.

by C.F.David

According to information supplied by Cimarron County Under Sheriff Derek Kincannon, a pursuit of a stolen truck ended without incident near Folsom, N.M. at about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night.

Kincannon said the incident began when an 18 wheeler, hauling paper cups made a wrong turn off of Highway 287 north onto State Highway 325 toward Kenton. When the truck, hauling for KB Transportation out of Nebraska, was about four miles west of Boise City, the driver tried to turn around. At that moment, a passenger and possible hitchhiker, 30-year old Jason Cody Daniel, of Missouri, assaulted the unnamed driver with a pocket knife.

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“A Trooper’s Perspective”

A Job Well Done -

One thing about small communities is that word seems to get around quickly when an interesting event occurs.

Almost certainly the most newsworthy local event of October, 2008 will be the stabbing and chase that occurred on October 16, 2008 when a truck driver picked up a hitchhiker who stabbed him near or in Boise City that night then led our sheriff’s department on a chase that ended 50 to 60 miles west of Kenton in New Mexico.

 

Neither suspect or victim were from Cimarron County and I am sure they only intended to pass through. I think it is certain many “bad people” pass through Cimarron County but fortunately most do not stop or pass through without notice. On October 16th, 2008 we were all lucky a bad situation was handled well by our local Sheriff and his three deputies.

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“A Trooper’s Perspective”

Is it OK to speed in an emergency ?

This one is a little hard to answer although it seems like I may have discussed it in the past. First of all, only authorized emergency vehicles may legally exceed the speed limit and even then only when responding to an emergency or pursuing a violator in the case of law enforcement officers.

I can not speak for any other trooper or officer but I can say with confidence that in most instances if you are stopped for speeding when taking someone to an emergency room who truly needs to go most officers will be understanding.

Please remember however is is illegal to speed and the big danger is that in emergency situations the driver is often extremely upset and may not be using the best driving skills or judgment. If for some reason calling an ambulance is not possible or appropriate you should hurry but DO NOT drive in a reckless manner. If an officer stops you calmly explain the situation to him/her and let the officer assist you from there forward.

One thing to remember is that in cases of severe bleeding what is done BEFORE EMS arrives or you make that mad dash to an E.R. you must do all you can to control loss of blood. If a person is bleeding profusely it will be up to the first people on the scene to save them initially. In the case of heart attack CPR is the best chance to keep someone alive until help arrives.

In closing I will say do what you feel you have to but remember you must drive carefully and sensibly………..

Trooper Duane Johnson #280

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A Troopers Perspective

Hello Again…….

It’s been a few weeks but every now and then I think I need to take a little break from writing. Some of the topics seem to come around again after a while so a break is needed occasionally.

Not a lot has changed on the OHP front. As most of you know I have a new partner in Trooper Jason Burch #596 from the 58th OHP Academy. Jason is nearing the end of his training and will soon be on his own as a solo trooper. Since he arrived in Cimarron County in early July he has been training with myself and local size and weight division troopers Boyd Perry and Tracy Brown. I know Jason is ready to be solo. It is a very long training program when you include the academy and field training together.

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