Traffic stops on motorhomes

[Alan_Hepburn]

So I'm sitting around letting my mind wander (that usually gets me in trouble!) and I came up with an interesting scenario:

Suppose you're patrolling the freeway one night and stop a large motorhome for driving too slow, no taillights, or some other innocuous reason. Usually you approach the vehicle on the passenger side, right? With the side windows being above your head what is the preferred way for the driver to interact with you? Should the passenger (if any) slide the window open and then relay the conversation back and forth, or should the driver leave his seat and go over by the passenger side window?

Suppose the driver offers to open the door and talk to you face-to-face - do you allow that to happen? Suppose it's raining, and the driver or passenger offers to let you come in and sit at the dining room table to write the ticket or whatever - do you politely decline and stand in the rain, or go back to your cruiser?

And, if they offer you a cup of coffee would you accept it?

Further suppose that the occupants are completely cooperative, friendly, and you're not ticketing them, but merely pointing out something (the bicycle is loose on the rack, the towed vehicle is coming loose, some ICC lights are burned out, or something) - would the answers to the above questions change?

[Junkie]

The same situations would apply to a semi I think...

[Razel]

The same situations would apply to a semi I think...
...allowing an exception for the dining room table. :nerd

[OldFatGuy]

I've been stopped in a semi and once in a large dump truck. Both times, the officer came to the driver's window because there's no way I would have been able to see him on the passenger side. Also, I could not have rolled down the passenger window without unhooking my seat belt, which I don't like to do until the officer has seen that I'm wearing it.

I have not been pulled over in my motorhome, but I'm interested to hear what most officers would do. I don't even have a driver's door, so if I needed to get out, it would have to be from the passenger side.

[T-1 Thunder]

Don't know about a motorhome, but by law, it's technically considered a residence in some ways.

Now personally, at my RESIDENCE in Walnut Creek, I lived at a very key corner of the town, and had property, including a parking spot in the shade.

Cops would always park across the street, in the sun, where they are visible,
I've gone out plenty and offered for them to park on my property, in the shade, where they could hide and pop all the stop sign runners. And they would. I'd come out and give them ice water on hot days and BS with them for a while.

So - to your scenerio, there is no problem with a cop saying "yes" to a cup of coffee, etc, and engaging a citizen in a friendly moment of community relations during the course of work.

[Ian01]

Don't know about a motorhome, but by law, it's technically considered a residence in some ways.




In regards to a traffic stop, a motorhome is not considered a residence. When parked on the street in front of your home it is not considered a residence. Motorhomes are subject to the same laws as any other vehicle including laws regarding search of the vehicle. The exception is when a motorhome is parked at a campground WITH water/sewage hookups etc.

FYI

[motorman4life]

Each stop is different.

In most semi truck stops, I approach on the right because they are wide and usually stick out in the lane when pulled over on the road. I usually open the passenger's door with my right hand while standing to the rear of that door, then I step back and get a look inside. Once I see it is safe, I might step up onto the runningboard. But, again, it depends upon the location, the reason for the stop and any perceived risk. I have walked up on the left side and stepped up on the runningboard and popped up next to the driver while they were looking for me in the right side mirror.. surprise! Sometimes they chuckle, sometimes they are startled. Sometimes they see me coming.

Busses and big RV's.. again, I play it by ear. If there is no door on the left side, I usually approach on the right side. If it is loud inside (kids and pets), I'll usually have them grab their paperwork and come outside to talk.

[T-1 Thunder]

In regards to a traffic stop, a motorhome is not considered a residence. When parked on the street in front of your home it is not considered a residence. Motorhomes are subject to the same laws as any other vehicle including laws regarding search of the vehicle. The exception is when a motorhome is parked at a campground WITH water/sewage hookups etc.

FYI

Sewage/water is the deciding factor then. Interesting.
I knew that while driving, it does not qualify. But I had always thought that parked was done deal. Thanks for the correction.:thumbup

[RolnCode3]

Each stop is different.
Exactly. You have to decide - "meow" or "the repeater".

[motorman4life]

Exactly. You have to decide - "meow" or "the repeater".
There is also the "wrong tense" and the "say again.."
"Say again.." is easy, you just make them repeat everything 3 or 4 times. Like you are deaf.

"Wrong tense" is a little more difficult. You say everything in the wrong tense.

Oh, then there is also the "I already asked you.." This is where you give every command like it was previously given and not complied with. This one works great on pot heads and tweakers alike! You usually walk up and say, "Sir, for the second time, could you please get out your license and registration, I'm not going to ask you again!" When they get it you say, "Please keep your hands on the wheel, like I told you before!"

Ahhhh.. graveshift in the 1980's. Seems like a lifetime ago.

[gmcsid]

Exactly. You have to decide - "meow" or "the repeater".

:laughing Littering and.......

[JPM]

:laughing Littering and.......

:teeth

[T-1 Thunder]

"Wrong tense" is a little more difficult. You say everything in the wrong tense.

Oh, then there is also the "I already asked you.." This is where you give every command like it was previously given and not complied with. This one works great on pot heads and tweakers alike! You usually walk up and say, "Sir, for the second time, could you please get out your license and registration, I'm not going to ask you again!" When they get it you say, "Please keep your hands on the wheel, like I told you before!"

Ahhhh.. graveshift in the 1980's. Seems like a lifetime ago.

:rofl Oh my God, I can only imagine how some kids on LSD would have felt if you were fuckin with them. I would simply shit my pants and roll over and play dead until you went away. :laughing :rofl

Give us an example of the wrong tense. You say things like "You drove-ed from where to what now?"? :Party

[KwikRyder]

I try to make all my freeway stops take the off-ramps. That way I feel safer about making a driver side approach. And when its raining I have them pull under an overpass.

As far as stopping motorhomes, i treat them like m/c. I have the driver exit/dismount the vehicle before I even get out of the car. I remember making my first stop on a motorhome and the uneasiness I felt while I looked up at him through the driver window, not knowing what or who else was in there.

[}Dragon{]

:rofl Oh my God, I can only imagine how some kids on LSD would have felt if you were fuckin with them. :Party



http://images.cafepress.com/product/22524168_240x240_Front.jpg :rofl

[Nick]

Exactly. You have to decide - "meow" or "the repeater".

Do you want to do the repeater?

[}Dragon{]

Do you want to do the repeater?


C'mon Nick say CAR RAMROD!

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/guinnessgut/Farva.jpg

:laughing