Problem with a DPS trooper

6,243 Views | 58 Replies | Last: 6 hrs ago by yell_on_6th st
yell_on_6th st
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In reply to op_06 • 7:33p, 5/13/26
AG
op_06 said:
yell_on_6th st said:
Not with me but a good friend of mine, almost a brother. Overrating trailers for his small business, to a point of harassment. Any interest here?

Georgetown, Tx


I'm a DOT guy in the Austin area on the enforcement side. Is your buddy wanting help making sure he's fully out of the regs or you just wanting to complain about enforcement on his behalf?

If he's interested, I can walk him through any scenarios he needs to get squared away offline. I teach this stuff to carriers all the time. DOT guys can't charge for consulting until retired/no longer involved with enforcement so there's no cost associated with it.


Thanks for the offer but a solution is in the works. Although he has a cdl there is no way his crews should need one, not driving an effing semi.

Again, I've learned a lot about regs and people through this. You seem like a good one
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SGrem
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In reply to yell_on_6th st • 7:38p, 5/13/26
yell_on_6th st said:
WC87 said:
SGrem said:
The rules are very easy to follow as im sure the trooper spelled them out what was required on first stop. THEN get in compliance.

Second stop not in compliance now you must be taught a lesson and the law enforced to ensure you get in compliance of the law that EVERY BUSINESS with CDL over the highway is required to also follow.

And now you have a target on your back to be checked to confirm you are staying in compliance. Learn the rules and operate legally. Very very simple and easy to follow rules.

I had a manufacturing company in Nuevo Laredo and hauled big F550 and 52ft gooseneck down to Laredo every week for 100k miles a year. Took me exactly one stop to learn the rules and the commercial weights enforcement officers were awesome. Very thorough to explain what I needed and how to stay in service. CDL, TX DOT, correct insurance etc. On that stop i had a single wheel F350 and a 24ft gooseneck. Doesn't matter fell under same requirements.

They stopped me exactly one more time and high fived me and on my way. Waved at me from then on because they knew my stuff was in order. About 7 yrs at 100k miles a yr same route every week.. One stop not being in compliance. A giant list of what needed to happen to follow the law. Second stop all good. And never again.

I never blamed the officer for my ignorance.... and wasnt so stupid thay I would simply ignore their lesson. I shut down and got it all in order. Took about ten days or so and learned a lot. It paid off.


I agree with this. Know the regs or don't participate. Certainly not the Trooper's fault.

Would you allow your children to continue to violate school rules and then blame the school admin if the punishment became more severe after each rule violation?


Great analogy! If they made a stupid ass rule like letting men into the girls restrooms that rule should never be followed! Thank you for proving my point, de-rating the trailers is the way it will be handled but it's dumb as hell.

Stupid rule and stupid application of the rule. State rep has also been contacted


So obviously you contacted State rep to work on changing the commercial regulations so the crew can work outside of commercial requirements right? Or just for beechin about law enforcement doing their jobs enforcing those regs? Which is it?
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Centerpole90
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In reply to op_06 • 7:41p, 5/13/26
AG
This is why I TexAgs. Blue Parachute for you.
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fullback44
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In reply to schmellba99 • 9:44p, 5/13/26
AG
schmellba99 said:

I laughed …. This is great
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WC87
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In reply to yell_on_6th st • 10:16p, 5/13/26
AG
Victim mentality. Will never see logical arguments.
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yell_on_6th st
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In reply to WC87 • 10:34p, 5/13/26
AG
WC87 said:
Victim mentality. Will never see logical arguments.


Oh man, that really made me think. I'm so sorry everyone. My life is a horrid mess, my closest relationships have no foundation.

It's really bad. This whole thread is a symptom of much deeper issues, thanks for helping me see that.
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Hoosegow
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9:35a, 5/14/26
Ignorance and stupidity...
People aren't necessarily stupid because of ignorance. Choosing to remain ignorant, though, is stupid.

The rules are simple. Follow them.

In Texas (intrastate commerce) - GVWR > 26000 K - all rules apply. HAZMAT in placarded loads - all rules apply. Transporting above a certain amount of people - all rules apply. Interstate commerce it is 10K.

All you have to do is pay attention and you will understand why.
Class of '94
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HarleySpoon
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11:49a, 5/14/26
AG
Important thing to remember:

" In Texas, farm vehicle drivers are exempt from CDL requirements when operating within 150 miles of their farm to transport their own agricultural products, machinery, or supplies. This exemption includes ranchers and farmhands, provided the vehicle is not a for-hire contract carrier."

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DannyDuberstein
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In reply to Mas89 • 12:05p, 5/14/26
AG
Mas89 said:

Is this legal? 55ft pipe on 34 trailer


If someone can drive that frontloader fast enough
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op_06
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12:40p, 5/14/26
AG
Your disagreement with the regulations does not place your buddy's business outside the scope or justify threatening to dox a guy for doing his job. A surface level understanding of when a CDL should or shouldn't be required combined with your belief that his situation is somehow unique doesn't create an exemption for him.

I'm doubtful a phone call to a state rep is going to yield any results aside from lip service. The standard your buddy is being held to is codified in federal law. I'd be interested in an update once he hears back from his state rep.

Thomas J Henry's billboards don't pay for themselves and your buddy is exposing his business to a massive liability if he continues to operate while he "is in the process" of getting into compliance.

Regarding targeted enforcement, I would absolutely continue to stop a carrier that I knew was flippantly disregarding what they're supposed to be doing. He's fortunate he was given the opportunity to retrieve his equipment in lieu of it being impounded.
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schmellba99
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In reply to SGrem • 8:50a, 5/15/26
AG
SGrem said:
Until the trailers are derated, the officer is going by the paperwork provided and is enforcing the law correctly. He is doing his job correctly.

Until the trailer paperwork is whole, complete, and accurately derated, your buddy is operating his business outside of the law. Either it is a legit business or it isnt.

The officers have no creativity. Your buddy and you are wrong for thinking they do.

If by "creativity" you mean you are saying that they have no discretion on what they enforce and what they don't enforce, I leave you with this:

Bull.Sht.

I don't care one way or another about the OP, but based on what I've seen state and local LEO's completely ignore going down the road, the idea that they are somehow being super stewards of taxpayer safety or whatever on something like this is just a bit over the top.

Honestly IDGAF if a truck driving a trailer has a CDL or is overweight or not, so long as the loads are strapped good and it isn't a Jed Clampet type situation with the truck, etc. Because I've seen some absolutely terrifying things get hauled down the road with LEO's not even batting them an eye. DPS should focus on left lane campers and people on their phones anyway, they are the biggest single sources of road rage and dangerous driving out there.
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Gunny456
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1:47p, 5/15/26
AG
I hear DPS is taking applications for a new academy class. Lots of opportunities for folks to go make a difference and become the perfect trooper and fix everything.
TAMU Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Boat racing is like a beautiful woman.......expensive, high maintenance, but well worth the fun!
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schmellba99
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In reply to Gunny456 • 2:13p, 5/15/26
AG
I'm too old, too fat and they don't pay nearly enough to mess with that.

But if I did, I'd be a left lane and talking on the phone while driving absolute nazi. Tickets for errbody!
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EliteElectric
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In reply to schmellba99 • 2:20p, 5/15/26
schmellba99 said:
I'd be a left lane and talking on the phone while driving absolute nazi. Tickets for errbody!

Speaking my love language!
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InfantryAg
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In reply to schmellba99 • 2:47a, 5/16/26
AG
schmellba99 said:
SGrem said:
Until the trailers are derated, the officer is going by the paperwork provided and is enforcing the law correctly. He is doing his job correctly.

Until the trailer paperwork is whole, complete, and accurately derated, your buddy is operating his business outside of the law. Either it is a legit business or it isnt.

The officers have no creativity. Your buddy and you are wrong for thinking they do.

If by "creativity" you mean you are saying that they have no discretion on what they enforce and what they don't enforce, I leave you with this:

Bull.Sht.

I don't care one way or another about the OP, but based on what I've seen state and local LEO's completely ignore going down the road, the idea that they are somehow being super stewards of taxpayer safety or whatever on something like this is just a bit over the top.

Honestly IDGAF if a truck driving a trailer has a CDL or is overweight or not, so long as the loads are strapped good and it isn't a Jed Clampet type situation with the truck, etc. Because I've seen some absolutely terrifying things get hauled down the road with LEO's not even batting them an eye. DPS should focus on left lane campers and people on their phones anyway, they are the biggest single sources of road rage and dangerous driving out there.

There's a variety of LEOs and LEO responsibilities.

I never cared about traffic violations and only used them to make stops for felony acts. In fact, I didn't care about any misdemeanors. I had friends that did traffic enforcement, some who would write tickets for everything. But, they could stop a dope dealer or human trafficker and never even realize what crime was being committed, beyond the minor traffic infraction.

That would drive me crazy because our priorities were so different. But every time I would see someone driving in a way that would endanger others, I would appreciate that there are traffic cops, albeit not enough of them. And yes, there's definitely not enough going after slow left lane drivers.

The job I definitely couldn't do; Commercial inspections / enforcement. But I can also appreciate that someone wants to do it. Pretty sure these guys don't have discretion on this type of enforcement. If he lets one of these vehicles go and the driver ends up killing someone, especially because of the violation, that cop is in for a world of hurt.

They may let someone slide, but they're taking a risk, the same as if you let someone drive off with a suspended or revoked license and they end up killing someone (this is excluding various state laws that call for a citation); Or letting a DUI go and he kills someone.
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SGrem
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3:55a, 5/16/26
Exactly. We all go bananas when a judge lets go a repeat offender but then blame the cop for pulling over commercial enforcement repeatedly....
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Ogre09
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8:05a, 5/16/26
AG
OP's quest for justice for his "friend" is good entertainment. My biggest question: is he the friend, or is this a form of courtship?
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Gunny456
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In reply to InfantryAg • 8:38a, 5/16/26
AG
Well said.
TAMU Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Boat racing is like a beautiful woman.......expensive, high maintenance, but well worth the fun!
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Gunny456
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In reply to SGrem • 8:39a, 5/16/26
Catag94
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In reply to yell_on_6th st • 9:28a, 5/16/26
AG
yell_on_6th st said:
About as fast as it takes to de-rate a trailer to a lower weight rating. It's not about being overweight, it's about bureaucratic minutia.


But it will become about being overweight and the officer will still apply the law correctly should he weight them and the grid combined weight is over 26K. At that point, they will also receive an overweight citation.


Not being an ass, but I believe the officer is much more in the right here than you or your friend think.

It's really simple:

1)Combined GVRWs of truck and trailer(s) >26K lbs ( and that trailer is at least 10K lbs) and not farm exempt (those are >48K) falls under Commercial vehicle laws and CDL, etc required.
2) in the event actual combined weight for truck and trailer(s) exceeds 26K lbs, same as above.

If your buddy had a 1 ton and can lower his GCVWR to 26K or less by changing to a 3/4ton, that would be his easiest and best route. Otherwise he needs to request new serial number plates from manufacture indicating each trailer is only rated for as much as, when combined with the highest GVWR of his trucks, it won't exceed a GCVWR of 26K lbs. then, he will need to request new serial-register each trailer at that GVWR.

These are nothing new. About 20 years ago, DPS trooper started checking all these pickups and trailer and found a huge number of is wet in violation. Soon after, local counties created weights and measures units to do the same. Even some larger cities jumped on board. The law hadn't really changed, it's just that there was so much ignorance of it applying to these among the population that it surprised people. It sounds like this is what is happening to your formed and you now.
I encourage him and you to go become more familiar with the law and not just knee jerk from the portion the officer has shared.
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TexasRebel
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In reply to yell_on_6th st • 10:58a, 5/16/26
AG
yell_on_6th st said:
op_06 said:
yell_on_6th st said:
Not with me but a good friend of mine, almost a brother. Overrating trailers for his small business, to a point of harassment. Any interest here?

Georgetown, Tx


I'm a DOT guy in the Austin area on the enforcement side. Is your buddy wanting help making sure he's fully out of the regs or you just wanting to complain about enforcement on his behalf?

If he's interested, I can walk him through any scenarios he needs to get squared away offline. I teach this stuff to carriers all the time. DOT guys can't charge for consulting until retired/no longer involved with enforcement so there's no cost associated with it.


Thanks for the offer but a solution is in the works. Although he has a cdl there is no way his crews should need one, not driving an effing semi.

Again, I've learned a lot about regs and people through this. You seem like a good one


I took my Class A test in a 3/4 ton with a 20K flatbed gooseneck. (28,800# combo)
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JB
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11:01a, 5/16/26
AG
Meanwhile, cracked out dirt haul trucks with paper plates falling apart running all over Georgetown.

But let's get the guy in the dually who can't figure out his paperwork.
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Catag94
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In reply to yell_on_6th st • 11:45a, 5/16/26
AG
yell_on_6th st said:
op_06 said:
yell_on_6th st said:
Not with me but a good friend of mine, almost a brother. Overrating trailers for his small business, to a point of harassment. Any interest here?

Georgetown, Tx


I'm a DOT guy in the Austin area on the enforcement side. Is your buddy wanting help making sure he's fully out of the regs or you just wanting to complain about enforcement on his behalf?

If he's interested, I can walk him through any scenarios he needs to get squared away offline. I teach this stuff to carriers all the time. DOT guys can't charge for consulting until retired/no longer involved with enforcement so there's no cost associated with it.


Thanks for the offer but a solution is in the works. Although he has a cdl there is no way his crews should need one, not driving an effing semi.

Again, I've learned a lot about regs and people through this. You seem like a good one


Forget the "semi" concept. My 3/4ton pick-up (GVWR 11,350) pulling a trailer with a GVWR of 14,651 or more) empty or not, will require me to have a CDL.

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yell_on_6th st
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In reply to JB • 9:42p, 5/17/26
AG
JB said:
Meanwhile, cracked out dirt haul trucks with paper plates falling apart running all over Georgetown.

But let's get the guy in the dually who can't figure out his paperwork.
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