Ohio LEO encounter

[Guest Boomhower]

I guess you could look at it two different ways. 1) It was a good encounter, or 2) I get the lucky dog pass back on to the lead lap.

Here's the story:

While on our way to MI last weekend, we stopped in a town called Middletown Ohio for a potty break. It was around 11:00 pm. There were no gas station directly off the interstate ramp, so we drove on up to the local Wendy's, which only the drive-thru was open. So as we were winding our way back out to the interstate, we pull up to a red light which connected us to the main road back to the interstate ramp. It was red, so I waited for the 2 cars that were coming to pass by, then I proceeded to turn right. As the last car passed by, I noticed it was a Sheriff SUV cruiser. He saw me rolling out, stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the road, and waited for me to pull up along side him. As we did, (by this time I figured I had done something wrong) he lite us up like a Christmas tree, so I just mossey'd on over to the shoulder. I hadn't even driven 50 yrds from the red light yet.

He pulls in behind us, aims his 2 billion lumens spot light in my side mirror, so I just flip on the interior lights, crack the window 1/2 way down, and place both hands on the steering wheel, keeping my seat belt fastened. At this point, I'm thinking to myself, "self, how do you want to react to this?".....

LEO: walks up to the car finally, and asked if I knew why he pulled me over.

ME: I just looked at him and shook my head no. (Apparently you can't make a right turn on red in Ohio, cause neither my wife nor I saw a sign stating otherwise).

LEO: asks where we're headed

ME: MI

LEO: asks if I have my license

ME: yes sir, and I begin to take my seat belt off and fish it out of my back pocket

LEO: I'll tell you what. You've got 2 young'ns in the back seat asleep, you guys just get on out of here and drive carefully

ME: I sure do appreciate it sir

Now for those of you that know the OH law, they are a shall inform state. At the time of this incident, I didn't fully know that. I thought they were, but I couldn't remember, so I was just going to give him both licenses with my HCP on top of my DL. But looking back on it now, with OH being a "shall inform" state, I guess I should have informed him before I went to fishing around in my pockets. But as luck would have it, he let us go before I even had to show him anything. No doubt in my mind though that if I would have told him 1st thing that I had an HCP and was armed, my traffic stop would have went from 5 min. to about 15 min. Likewise, if he would have saw my gun before he knew I had an HCP, no doubt I would have been looking down the wrong end of a gun. What's the old saying, "a bird in one hand is better than 2 in the bush". I guess it all worked out for both of us, I do feel that the scales did tip my way a bit.

[Punisher84]

Glad it worked out well Boom!

[Oh Shoot]

Well, still dunno why he pulled you over.

Unless it's a marked "no turns on red" intersection, the right turn on red is okay, since that's a federal law.

- OS

[Fallguy]

Since OH is shall inform, Yes, probably should have told him right off.

But with that statement out of the way, I think this is a prime example as to why to not always blurt out you're armed or handover your HCP in TN. At times it can make an issue of what would otherwise be a non-issue. Of course there are times where it may be better to inform.

Glad it all went well.

....but are there any such thing as federal traffic laws?

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

Since OH is shall inform, Yes, probably should have told him right off.

But with that statement out of the way, I think this is a prime example as to why to not always blurt out you're armed or handover your HCP in TN. At times it can make an issue of what would otherwise be a non-issue. Of course there are times where it may be better to inform.

Glad it all went well.

....but are there any such thing as federal traffic laws?

I was skeptical as well, but he's right:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/6322.html

The Secretary shall, by rule, within 6 months after December 22, 1975, prescribe guidelines with respect to measures required to be included in, and guidelines for the development, modification, and funding of, State energy conservation plans.

...

Each proposed State energy conservation plan to be eligible for Federal assistance under this part shall include—

...

(5) a traffic law or regulation which, to the maximum extent practicable consistent with safety, permits the operator of a motor vehicle to turn such vehicle right at a red stop light after stopping and to turn such vehicle left from a one-way street onto a one-way street at a red light after stopping;

Although technically this works like the old national speed limit did- they can't tell the states to make RTOR the law, but they can make certain federal funding conditional on its implementation.

[Fallguy]

Learn something everyday

[Oh Shoot]

Learn something everyday

It was put in place way back during the gas crunch of hmm, when, 'bout 73?

Many here wouldn't remember that; but for a couple of weeks, it was bad; waiting in lines, couldn't get but 5 gallons, stuff like that. But oddly, the price didn't increase by much, if any.

Anyway, it was put in place as national fuel saving measure, so you don't burn gas sitting a light when it would be clear to turn right.

- OS

[Guest abailey362]

glad it went well for you. my wife grandparents live off that exit and most leos I've talked to up there seem nice.

[Mike.357]

When I lived in Cincy I remember several intersections that had signage allowing right on red even before it became the norm.

Ohio certainly does allow right on red unless there is signage marking not to do so.

You should have asked why he lit you up?

[Guest Traumaslave]

Middletown cops are just bored, and azzhats. You also have to remember that I-75 is a main vein north and south for drug traffic so, an out of state plate is something to look at and a TN plate is kinda outta place in Middletown. Too bad it was late when you rolled through there, you could have stopped at AIM Surplus for a pick up. They are about 10 minutes off of I-75 right there in Middletown. When I lived in Cincinnati, AIM was the only reason I went to Middletown.

[Guest krater]

Probably just trolling for scrotes and saw you were OK.

I ALWAYS inform of my CCW with the first sentence out of my mouth. Multiple LEOs have told me thats a good thing to do, law or not.

[towerclimber37]

Nice one Boom.

stay safe will ya?

[Guest coldblackwind]

I was a passenger pulled over in ohio once, what a nightmare. 3 people between 20 and 21 at 3:30 in the morning with tn tags, and the driver had a NY license. Took 45 minutes, searched us, searched the car, had a dog search the car, tore up the paint on the back bumper, broke the center console. Then they almost tried to arrest us on weapons violations, turns out Ohio has a 2" maximum blade limit on a pocket knife!

[Guest Boomhower]

Learn something everyday

Definetly!!!....Thanks for the info guys.

glad it went well for you. my wife grandparents live off that exit and most leos I've talked to up there seem nice.

Next time your up that way, maybe you can remember to look at that red light and see if there is a sign posted. I just assumed it was an OH thing, but now that I know the federal tid bit of info, its got me curious. We're heading back up for thanksgiving, so I may just drop back by Middletown and have a look see for myself......Maybe even visit AIM Supply as Traumaslave talked about. I'll have to look them up.

Then they almost tried to arrest us on weapons violations, turns out Ohio has a 2" maximum blade limit on a pocket knife!

Yeah, once we got to MI and told our story, some of the family told us that OH knife restrictions were so bad that even a fingernail clipper might be considered illegal