Tractor on road / crazy divers / What can be done?

[TheOtherZilla]

Back in the 70's a police man pulled me over while I was on a motorcycle. After searching me he found I had a jacket pocket full of gravel. Up on being questioned about the gravel, I explained that I dropped a few pieces while I was being tail gated. That generally slowed the following traffic down. I was informed that doing such was illegal, but if I had a pocket full of pennies and a few fell out and bounced off of the highway, I would have no problems, as any judge would find it unbelievable that I would be so stupid as to throw money at folks. He also stated that he was a motorcyclist. End of problems, until I was pulled over with several rolls of pennies in my jacket. It was then suggested that I break open the rolls before they were placed in my pocket.

Me? I tell the cops nothing. You are not obligated to under the 5th amendment. Cops are always fishing for evidence. A simple question can lead to an admission of guilt. Here's how it goes everytime I get stopped. Cop:where ya goin? Me: I am not going to share my day. Me: why did you pull me over? Him: tells me why . Me: Am I being detained? Him: yes or no. If Yes, I tell him I am exercising my right under the 5th amendment.

And if he is not detaining you, you do not have to identify yourself and are free to leave.

 

[Knotwild]

Me? I tell the cops nothing. You are not obligated to under the 5th amendment. Cops are always fishing for evidence. A simple question can lead to an admission of guilt. Here's how it goes everytime I get stopped. Cop:where ya goin? Me: I am not going to share my day. Me: why did you pull me over? Him: tells me why . Me: Am I being detained? Him: yes or no. If Yes, I tell him I am exercising my right under the 5th amendment.

And if he is not detaining you, you do not have to identify yourself and are free to leave.

That works real good until you get a guy who decides he doesn't like your attitude. Then he tells you he suspects you have drugs in your car and at this point, not matter what you decide to share: he informs you that he is calling in the drug dog. Well, surely, the drug dog "alerts" and they decide to disassemble your vehicle on the side of the road - they find no drugs and you are free to go. You are left to pick up the pieces.

Sad, but true.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

That works real good until you get a guy who decides he doesn't like your attitude. Then he tells you he suspects you have drugs in your car and at this point, not matter what you decide to share: he informs you that he is calling in the drug dog. Well, surely, the drug dog "alerts" and they decide to disassemble your vehicle on the side of the road - they find no drugs and you are free to go. You are left to pick up the pieces.

Sad, but true.

Nothing you can do about that guy but still the best policy is to STFU. He still needs probable cause. And you need to have a dash cam.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Strap into that tractor and carry (mount) a 12g loaded with birdshot just in case things get weird......

Regards
Rick

 

[xswanted]

Drive it in the middle as much as you can. Let them pass when it’s safe for you.

I stared doing this a few years ago due to the same issues.

Or if you’re not doing it too often see if a sheriff deputy will escort you to and from the field.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Courtesy is a two way street. Passing a tractor on the roadway, should always be done with caution and respect for the driver and rig. The tractor driver should realize that they are on a public roadway, normally utilized by faster moving vehicles and when possible, give way. Just because you have the right-of-way, does not mean you have to be stubborn. Having the right-of-way will not save a life.

 

[crystalgayleguy]

toss a hand full of BB s

 

[markT]

I’m courteous when I drive my tractor unless I have a tailgater and then I slow down. I do pull over when I have a line behind me and I don’t drive during “rush hour.”
I was told by someone from MN ( I think) the law requires a vehicle to slow down to the same speed as the (tractor) then signal and pass. In other words you can’t just blow by a slower farm machinery.

 

[Randall Hardy]

Years ago there was a farmer I knew with a load of liquid manure. He had a guy in a convertible bmw following him closer than he should. He came to a corner and the bmw pulled up nice and tight. I don’t think it was intensional but when he pulled away from the corner maybe a little forcefully a slug of the manure was forced out the fill overflow and deposited on the hood of the convertible. A small amount went up the hood and windshield. I let you figure out where it went. Miraculously he didn’t tailgate him anymore.
Randy

 

[Knotwild]

Nothing you can do about that guy but still the best policy is to STFU. He still needs probable cause. And you need to have a dash cam.

Don't get me wrong. I believe in silence. Just saying that you better be able to read the situation. Probable cause = the officer says he smells drugs. That's all it takes. And I would have rather had a nice conversation without really sharing much information than experience the other side of the coin. I live in a rural area, and I can't say I've experienced a situation where being personable didn't bring me good results when pulled over.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

We have rights. In my experience you can get pulled over for anything the cop wants to make up. For instance. Not maintaining your lane. Then ask if you've been drinking, where you've been, yadda yadda yadda. Wanna talk the cop up? Be my guest. Me? I keep quiet. And have a dash cam with sound.

 

[markT]

I emailed the SC HP and told them what happened, where and when.. I would imagine the response will be: "we will put extra patrol in the area" or "let us know if you hear anything." Or maybe "be sure to report any further issues."

 

[xswanted]

Courtesy is a two way street. Passing a tractor on the roadway, should always be done with caution and respect for the driver and rig. The tractor driver should realize that they are on a public roadway, normally utilized by faster moving vehicles and when possible, give way. Just because you have the right-of-way, does not mean you have to be stubborn. Having the right-of-way will not save a life.

This is sort of like saying a pedestrian has the right away and vehicles should be courteous and yield to them.

A very valid point but yes. But if the pedestrian walks out in front of a car that should have stopped, the pedestrian loses.

I’ve had more encounters with poor drivers while driving a tractor down the road then I care to remember. I’ve always pulled over and let people by. In recent years I’ve started driving down the middle of the road, pull over when it’s safe for myself to and then people can pass to prevent someone from trying to pass that I know for a fact cannot see around me even if I’m as much in the right lane as I can be.

Please yield to farmers. There’s very few that are purposely trying to slow you down. It might just save your life.

 

[JB10]

I am from what used to be a small farm town in arizona. This also happened here. What can be done? Almost all the farm land was sold and has houses, apartments, or commercial buildings on it now. I would love to move to another small town to get away from all the jerks that have moved in. I wish you luck. What people dont understand without farming where does food come from? I miss riding with my grandpa in our swathers to the hay fields.

 

[balloonpilot9513]

I understand and fully agree with the idiots on the roadway.
I live on a street that is posted 30 speed limit.
They pass me while I am doing 40 and they do it in a no passing zone to boot.
And don't get me started on stop signs.

However, at least in my state, it is illegal to drive unregistered vehicles, including farm equipment without an escort vehicle with amber light. And you need a permit for the amber light too.

 

[pirate ammo]

I understand and fully agree with the idiots on the roadway.
I live on a street that is posted 30 speed limit.
They pass me while I am doing 40 and they do it in a no passing zone to boot.
And don't get me started on stop signs.

However, at least in my state, it is illegal to drive unregistered vehicles, including farm equipment without an escort vehicle with amber light. And you need a permit for the amber light too.

How mush farming they do in south Jersey

 

[spaniel]

I quit driving tractors on the road without an escort about the same time I quit road cycling, both for the same reason. Too many people in an unjustified hurry with little concern for others.

Best to do is block them out until it's safe for them to pass. They can't hurt you if they are behind you.

I'm always extra courteous with tractors on the road, I respect they're just trying to make a living and it's necessary to get the job done. I've seen some which give the rest a bad name...a few years ago we ended up behind a guy in a combine on a busy state highway and he kept traffic backed up for 30 miles. Probably a 2-3 mile line of cars behind him. The shoulder was usually wide and there were many places he could have pulled off and let traffic clear, but he never did.

 

[balloonpilot9513]

How mush farming they do in south Jersey

A lot, South Jersey is why the call it the garden state.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I really try to be courteous to truckers. I make sure I am plenty far ahead before pulling back in after I pass. But living on I-80 sometimes it's hard. Slow races uphill get my blood boiling. And pulling out in front of me all of a sudden as I am starting to pass.

 

[pirate ammo]

A lot, South Jersey is why the call it the garden state.

I thought it was called that because Jimmy Hoffa was buried at the Meadow lands.