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Stop the illegal Big Rigs
- Small Traffic Stop Equals Big Bust
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- Don’t Let a Hasty Decision Take a Life
- Computers - The Silent Informant
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Stop the Illegal Big Rigs |
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Every day thousands of trucks travel thousands of miles to sustain our standard of living. Along with these Big Rigs carrying items crucial for the American economy, are those working in the opposite direction - carrying drugs, guns, bombs, stolen cars, and illegal aliens.
If a Big Rig shows visible signs of violation, there is a chance that this truck may also have other violations within the cab, and/or the load it is carrying. Although trucks are limited to a maximum weight, one of the primary causes of damage to our nation’s streets and highways is due to overweight commercial vehicles. The following basic information will enable you to identify an overweight condition violation common to commercial vehicles, so a stop can be made to conduct an investigation.
Some things to look for:
Tires:
- More than one tire on an axle exhibits a distorted condition
- Looking at the tire from the side, the footprint left on the ground is unusually long; the “flat spot” is much larger than normal. Aggravated overweight conditions may make the tire look like it is about to burst.
- Looking at the tire from the head-on view, there is a pronounced bulge at the bottom of the tire, between the wheel rim and the ground.
- Tires mounted in a dual configuration will both bulge in an overweight condition. In aggravated conditions, the sidewalls of the tires will bulge to the point where they nearly touch each other.
- Use a tire pressure gauge to verify that the cause of bulges listed above is not caused by under-inflation.
Springs:
- The leaf springs under the load are in a flattened condition, or possibly even in a reverse-arch condition.
- The windings of coil springs will be compressed so the coils will be compressed against each other.
Frames:
- Frame components may be indicative of an overweight condition if one or more of them are distorted. However, this could signify a prior overweight condition so this should be compared to the visible signs of the tires and springs.
llegal trucks are on our roadways every day. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, in February 2003 Arkansas State Police officers seized 2,669 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated retail value of $3 million, from a commercial truck during a routine traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was stopped for a license plate violation, and because the vehicle was obstructing traffic by driving too slow. Seventeen boxes of marijuana were discovered stacked in the bedroom area of the vehicle. Preventing these illegal vehicles from continuing on their way largely depends on your ability to recognize commercial vehicle violations, so remember: the truck or trailer combination carrying the illegal items cannot be identified until it is lawfully stopped. You might be preventing costly road repairs from overloaded trailers, and you could also uncover illegal cargo. By knowing these common Big Rig violations, you can achieve both objectives.
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Small Traffic Stop Equals Big Bust
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October, 2007: Oregon state police arrest 3 men allegedly transporting 21 kilos of cocaine and two pounds of crystal methamphetamine valued at approximately $500,000. After spotting a 2000 Chevy Tahoe SUV with Washington license plates having difficulty maintaining a single lane of travel, the troopers stopped the vehicle. When they contacted the driver, the troopers noted that he was very nervous. A search of the vehicle led them to discover a hidden compartment containing the 45 pounds of cocaine and 2 pounds of crystal meth.
In this case, the troopers noticed how nervous the driver appeared and instinctively felt that something was wrong. This ultimately led to one of the largest Oregon state police traffic-related drug seizures in several years. Nervousness is a natural response in motorists who have been stopped by law enforcement. In most cases, after the initial conversation with the officer, the violator will become relaxed. However, the drug courier may maintain the nervous demeanor. The key to a successful and prosecutable highway interdiction arrest and/or seizure is the valid traffic stop. Once you stop a vehicle, you can collect information from the driver, and notice certain signs that may become obvious that the vehicle is being used to transport drugs. What is your first impression of a vehicle you have just stopped? Does anything about it arouse your suspicions? Trust your instincts. If something about the car feels wrong, investigate further.
The vehicle:
No one type of vehicle should be singled out as commonly used by drug couriers, although rental cars are often the preferred method of transportation. Does the vehicle have an out-of-state dealership sticker on it? Are there temporary tags on the vehicle? Does the sticker match the temporary tag?
Outside of the vehicle:
Are there alterations to the vehicle signifying the vehicle may be carrying drugs? Obvious alterations include: Air shocks w/ no trailer hitch, obvious signs of fresh bodywork, extended bolts on fuel tank, missing or non-matching screws, non-factory cables or wires, polished screws indicating recent removal, rear seat out of position.
Inside the vehicle:
Often times, drug couriers will travel long distances without stopping to rest or eat. Is the car full of soft drinks, coffee cups, thermoses, or fast food wrappers? Does the ashtray contain abnormal amounts of cigarette butts? Do not overlook the floorboards in a vehicle. Glancing at the floor can reveal obvious indications of drug use and tampering, possibly to conceal drugs. Is there any drug residue? Is there duct tape on the floor? Is there an abundance of air fresheners inside the car?
Passengers:
Consider the “family” when interviewing motorists you have stopped for a traffic violation. Drug couriers often employ the services of make-shift families to make them appear more credible. Does the suspect hesitate when you ask how long he or she has been married? Are there children in the car? Ask the driver how old the children are. Does he/she hesitate? Do the children look older or younger then the age he has given? When asked where the suspect is headed, does he or she look at the passenger for an answer?
Remember, you must consider all the facts - the totality of indicators - before developing a reasonable suspicion of illegal activity. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. You play a vital role in stopping the flow of illegal drugs into your community and our nation. Using these tips will help you perfect your investigative skills and bust smugglers before they get their product to the streets.
The information in this article was taken from The Backup’s free law enforcement course Vehicle Stop Interdictions: Drug Interdiction for Patrol. Click HERE for more information or to order.
Written by staff member |
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Don’t Let a Hasty Decision Take a Life |
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Domestic disturbance calls occur all too often. You may find yourself in a situation in which you are called to a domestic scene and find a suspect acting strangely. The suspect is unresponsive, staring blankly and shaking violently and making strange noises. As an officer, you decide he is obviously disturbing the peace and obstructing your duties which both constitute as misdemeanors. You proceed to put this person in custody. STOP! In assuming this person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your natural response would be to place this person under arrest. However, there is a good possibility this person is suffering from an epileptic seizure instead. Seizures block the sufferer’s ability to understand police instructions. This is NOT obstruction of justice or resisting arrest or disturbing the peace. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, in September of 2006, police incorrectly assumed that a man suffering from a seizure was deliberately non-compliant. After failing to respond to instruction, the man was tasered, hit with a baton, threatened at gunpoint and then handcuffed. The quickest way to find yourself in court is to arrest a person based on the assumption they are committing a criminal act. It is important to remember to safeguard this person’s rights before making hasty assumptions.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects more than three million citizens in America. Instead of a controlled discharge of electrical energy, the brain fires a surge of energy that may cause unconsciousness and massive contractions of the person’s muscles.
Signs to look for:
- Episode beginning with a blank stare or cry
- Unresponsiveness to inquiries
- Absence of alcohol on breath
- Incontinence (not always, but a possible effect)
- Possible belligerency or aggression when approached
- Frightened aspect, easily upset, unable to communicate
- Convulsions - these will result in the person thrashing about on the ground. This will not be a hostile physical behavior, but uncontrollable spasms of the body and musculature.
What should you do when you find yourself in this situation? First, you should assume it is a medical condition unless events quickly prove otherwise. At the beginning of an epileptic attack, the victim loses consciousness and falls down, sometimes with a cry as air is forced out of their lungs. The victim may become rigid for a few seconds. This is usually followed by convulsions and loud breathing. Lower the victim to the ground before he falls down. Do not attempt to stop the convulsions by forcibly restraining the victim because this may cause injury.
Remember this:
- People with epilepsy are NOT dangerous to others.
- A person experiencing a seizure will NOT swallow his/her tongue. Do not fall prey to this myth.
- Place the person on their side to avoid possible choking
- Do NOT put anything in their mouth
- Do NOT put them face down or place them in a lateral vascular neck restraint. You are asking for possible fatality if you do.
- Do NOT forcibly restrain them or grab them aggressively. Coherent thought is not possible for the seizure sufferer and may trigger an involuntary reaction.
Generally, seizures last for less than two minutes and an ambulance does not need to be called by officers. However, call for medical assistance if you notice any of the following:
- Another seizure begins immediately after the first subsides
- If confusion is prolonged and does not improve in a timely fashion
- If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
- If the person is injured, diabetic, pregnant or has a known history of cocaine or other drug use
- If you can determine that this is the first seizure that this person has experienced
- If the person does not regain consciousness after muscle spasms have ended
The bottom line here is simple: In situations involving persons suffering from epilepsy, the burden is on you to recognize and properly respond to the disability. It is of small comfort (and no legal protection!) to say you were unaware of epileptic symptoms. Convulsions, confusions, and episodes of agitated behavior in any person who is in police custody - on the street or in jail - should not be dismissed as deliberate “acting up” or cause for discipline until the real possibility of epilepsy has been ruled out. Learning how to recognize this serious disorder is just one more way to serve and protect in your community.
The information in this article was taken from The Backup’s free law enforcement course Emotionally Disturbed Persons. Click HERE for more information or to order.
Written by staff member |
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Computers - The Silent Informant
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If you haven’t encountered a cyber crime yet, consider yourself part of a rapidly vanishing breed. In 2006 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3) referred over 86,000 cases back to local law enforcement for further investigation. Cyber-related identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes, with over 10 million victims last year. ‘Swatting’ – faked 911 calls using computers and ‘spoofing’ technology intended to lure Law Enforcement – is on the rise.
So how do you approach these new, silent informants? As an officer, it is pivotal to keep focused on the crime – don’t be overwhelmed by technology. The most important factors in computer crime investigation, like any other, are to be organized, informed and to seek expert assistance when necessary. Several winning cases have been lost because of the improper handling of digital evidence. An aggressive approach will not only jeopardize the case, it may also result in civil liability for the agency, the officer, or both.
Some tips to keep in mind:
- A computer can establish identity because the time, date, and author of an incriminating entry will be embedded within the document. Evidence contained in a computer is extremely fragile and may be damaged if the police response is not organized and deliberate. Improper handling may result in modifications of time and date stamps, overwriting information, or spreading a virus.
- Digital evidence may be present on hard drives, peripheral devices, and memory chips. Depending upon the timeframe, deleted documents and files may still be retrieved. If the investigation involves the internet, be warned that internet service providers don’t keep their records forever; the delay of a week may be a fatal mistake for retrieving evidence.
- After the scene has been secured, unauthorized persons should be kept away from the computer. It should be immediately disconnected from telephone and cable lines, as digital information may be accessed remotely and destroyed. Information may be more difficult to access if the suspect presses a hot key on the keyboard, reformatting a disc or overwriting it.
- Verify the on/off status of the computer. If the computer is going to be taken into physical custody, disconnect the power plug from the back of the computer tower, not the electrical outlet on the wall. This method freezes data in the computer, preserving time and date stamps.
- Place a blank CD into the CD-Rom drive and secure it with a piece of evidence tape. This protects the system in case someone connects it to a power source and tries to turn it on. Doing so will produce a "disc read error" message and prevent alteration of information. The back of the computer tower should be diagrammed and photographed. Each cable should be disconnected and labeled, so the computer can be reassembled in the laboratory or courtroom.
- If the computer system is networked or is found in a business setting, do not attempt to disconnect it without the assistance of a computer specialist. Improper shutdowns can result in the loss of innocent data and civil liability on the part of the officers.
- When transporting a seized computer, remember that electronic instruments are extremely fragile and susceptible to damage from unlikely sources. Computers should be packed in padded boxes. If the vehicle used for transportation contains a trunk-mounted radio transmitter, the computer should not be transported in the trunk to avoid damaging data on the hard drive via radio transmission waves. If transported on a passenger seat, use a seatbelt to secure the computer to prevent it from falling to the floor.
- Computer-related evidence is sensitive to heat and humidity and shouldn’t be stored in a vehicle without precautions. Temperature extremes may render digital evidence unreadable, and contamination can damage electronic equipment. A safe range for storing electronic media is between 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit and between 20-80 percent relative humidity, free of dust and tobacco smoke. At the evidence facility, the computer system should be placed into custody right away to avoid chance of evidence problems in court.
Time may be an ally to a suspect, but time is the enemy for a cyber crime investigator. If a suspect under investigation keeps records of criminal activity on a computer system, the passage of time will allow the subject to destroy or hide digital evidence, and may allow other critical data to slip away. The sooner you learn to navigate in the computer world, the more prepared you will be to prevent future cyber crimes.
The information in this article was taken from The Backup’s free law enforcement course Computer Crimes. Click HERE for more information or to order.
Written by staff member |
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The Backup Training Corporation
301 North 3rd Street, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814
Call Toll-Free (800) 822-9398 | Phone (208) 765-8062 | Fax (208) 765-1059 |
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