Angry Truck Stop Manager Turns Away Police, Safety Inspectors - Flying J stands it ground

krqe ^

[chance33_98]

Angry Truck Stop Manager Turns Away Police, Safety Inspectors 
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Date: August 16, 2002 Source: Janet Blair / KRQE News 13 Location: Albuquerque, N.M.

A community anti-auto theft team was ready to go to work Thursday morning. But an angry truck stop manager put the brakes on their plan, turning away the group of local and federal inspectors.

The team were going to check the truck paperwork and do a quick safety inspection. Inspectors say because I-40 is a pipeline across the country, they were hoping to find stolen vehicles, drugs and other property they know is moving across country right through the Duke City.

"We're checking for bad VIN numbers, VIN switches, cab switches, trailer switches, bad trailers, stolen trailers, anything with bad VIN numbers or vin numbers that have been removed," said Officer Danny Langoria of the APD Auto Theft Unit.

They had just gotten started when it was all over.

Langoria was interrupted by the manager of the Flying J Truck Stop at Avalon and 98th St. on Albuquerque's West Side.

"You need to leave the property, you have no permission to be on private property," yelled the truck stop manager, who refused to be identified.

Police say most business owners appreciate a police presence on the premises, but not the Flying J Truck Stop. Police say they had called the truck to and had received approval to do the inspections.

"Apparently there was some misunderstanding about what we were doing. but I know he has business he has to protect," said Officer Langoria

Some truckers at the Flying J were also angered by the surprise inspections which they said took valuable time out of their driving day.

"It's incredible. I have never even heard of them doing that, anywhere in the United States. and I drive in all 48 states, all the time," said owner-operator William Senn of Arizona.

Unhappy truckers told KRQE News 13 they planned to use their CB radios to tell other truckers on the road not to stop in Albuquerque.

[chance33_98]

I have stopped at that Flying J many times over the last few years. I will make sure to stop on the next trip out and maybe spend a few extra dollars...

[chance33_98]

Jamming to 'Convoy' on a Sunday morning ping.

[AAABEST]

You like convoys? Here's a REAL CONVOY

[Larry Lucido]

Let's see if I can summarize:

Cops mistakenly thought they had been granted permission to enter private property and conduct inspections.

Manager says to leave.

Cops leave.

[Dakmar]

I'm assuming this guy won't be participating in Operation TIPS.

[Larry Lucido]

Cops leave.

Sorry, should have read: "Cops leave and regroup at nearest Krispy Kreme to discuss."

[chance33_98]

LOL - pretty much. That flying J gets a large amount of business, and not just from truckers. Their gas prices are cheaper then the places in town usually so a lot of residents go there as well. I have been there at all hours of the night and day, and they are always busy. If the cops want to work there, they can stay on the public road and run plates....

[RANDomScout]

"Cops leave and regroup at nearest Krispy Kreme to discuss."

Cops decide to raid local retirement home searching for terrorists. Less chance of opposition.

[chance33_98]

Checked out the link, pretty sweet.
All those vehicles will cause terrible emissions though and may harm the environment < /sarcasm> :)

[lewislynn]

Oh I get it, we have truck loads of illegals, possibly terrorists coming across in uninspected Mexican trucks and we have a team holding up commerce "checking for bad VIN numbers" on OUR truckers...All funded with bloated "homeland security" dollars I'm sure.

[CIB-173RDABN]

As much as I support "law and order" I have to agree with the manager. It is private property, and if they don't have a warrant, they can not go fishing in the parking lot.

Now, if they were looking for a specific truck, then it would be different.

In California they have mandatory truck weight stations on all Freeways. I assume that is where they do a cross check of licence and vin numbers.

[itsahoot]

-----Unhappy truckers told KRQE News 13 they planned to use their CB radios to tell other truckers on the road not to stop in Albuquerque.-----


I guess that no one ever heard of weigh stations and saftey inspections. The cops can go out on the street and stop them coming in and going out. They can tough if they choose to.

[ASDFGHJK]

get used to it. like using off duty state troopers to flag motorists down to take a survey in Florida. The state will do as it will.

[lelio]

In California they have mandatory truck weight stations on all Freeways.
Are they open though? A majority of the ones up here in Washington are always closed.

[unixfox]

We're checking for bad VIN numbers, VIN switches, cab switches, trailer switches, bad trailers, stolen trailers..

What about murderers, buggerers, thuggerers, horse thieves, cattle rustlers...

[vbmoneyspender]

and tax cheats.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

What about murderers, buggerers, thuggerers, horse thieves, cattle rustlers..

I kind of doubt that traffic cops, and motor vehicle inspectors have the appropriate training for investigating felonies.

[CIB-173RDABN]

Not being a truck driver, I don't pay that much attention to them, but on the whole they seem to be up and working most times I pass.

The point is, if they wanted to check trucks all they need to do is open the weight stations.

[MissAmericanPie]

Talk about adding insult to injury.

[eastforker]

I have to watch Blazing saddles evry three months or so just to keep my sanity in this day and age,Badges,we don't need no stinking badges.