Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 17:31:57 -0700
Reply-To: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: trailer wiring
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
For various reasons your 'rights' in a vehicle are not as broad or as secure
as they would be in your home. Here in California we don't have a scheduled
'safety inspection' to go along with the smog inspection, but an officer can
pull you over and conduct one on the spot for any mechanical violation they
see, if they so choose. For instance if you have a tail light out, they can
go ahead and do the full safety inspection. If they follow the whole
checklist, it's pretty involved. You'll wind up opening the hood and the
trunk, and they'll be sticking their hands in the back seat trying to pull
out the belts, looking under the seats to see if they're properly mounted or
whatever. The upshot of this is that anything they see 'in the normal course
of their duties' is fair game- they don't need a warrant for it. That
doesn't mean they can slash your seats apart looking for drugs on the tail
light issue, but if in the course of doing the safety check they find a
roach in the ashtray or a baggie behind the spare tire, they now have
probable cause to tear the whole car apart.
The safety inspection in of itself becomes a pretty thorough search by
design. Lately they've been using 'car seat checks' as another excuse for
this. They can say that your kid's car seat looked improperly installed to
them and they can pull you over to inspect your car seat fitment, of course
scanning the rest of the vehicle while they're at it. This can also turn
into a 'safety inspection', if a seat belt doesn't lock/retract properly,
etc. They've got the whole process pretty well wired.
Actually you might be surprised at how often they actually find guns and
drugs that way- at least they do around here.
I've actually heard of the cops searching cars because they had tools in
them- suspicion based on 'possession of burglary tools/kits'.
I don't approve of using these loopholes to get around the rights of the
citizen, of course but so far as I know those that have challenged these
things in the courts haven't had much success.
Gotta be careful.
Cya,
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Schwaia" <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: trailer wiring
> If one had anything to do with the other, I would agree. But to think
> that
> non-operational turn signals is probable cause to search a vehicle is on
> par
> with our governments declaration that domestic spying does not affect
> personal privacy. It would be laughable if it wasn't so damn scary.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Ray Hill
> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 3:35 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: trailer wiring
>
>
> Why is that scary? To me, scary is someone who would intentionally drive
> a
> vehicle pulling a trailer that has no turn signals.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jeffrey Schwaia
> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 3:33 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: trailer wiring
>
> So... in Missouri, not having working flashers is probably cause for
> searching the vehicle? Scary...
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf Of
> Ray Hill
> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 12:42 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: trailer wiring
>
>
> When I was a deputy sheriff in MO, I LOVED people with your idea! Always
> a
> legal reason to stop and search the vehicle!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Patrick Bryson
> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 2:09 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: trailer wiring
>
> Guys,
> I know some folks will poo poo this strategy on trailers but what I do I
> hook up the brake and driving lights and don't mess with turn signals.
> Typically I'm driving in a far more cautious state of mind and also, the
> turn signals can usually be seen over/around the trailer. This is really
> easy to wire and is simplifies things. I use the 4 contact flat connector
> and wire the van so it'll work any trailer with dual filament bulbs.
>
> Patrick
>
>
>
>>> John,
>>> Just Bought one myself !!!
>>> Last I heard it was making it's self across the country via UPS !!!
>>> :o) What did you have to do for tail / turn signal lights ?
>>> Did you use the power converter
>>> they were talking about on the list?
>>> .
>>> thanks,
>>> John C...
>>> SLC, UT...
>>> 85 Westy; Sitar
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> John, I did not use turn signal and tail lights on the trailer. I
>> bought the hitch initially for a specific one time application. I
>> traveled only during the daytime on an interstate highway, and the
>> shape of the trailer I used allowed full visibility of the rear lights
>> on the van. I did consider the rear lighting wiring hookup and found
>> that Wallyworld carries a variety of them. Take your pick - but what
>> ever you get, be sure the hardware matches your trailer hardware!!
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> John Rodgers
>> 88 GL Driver
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