Pulled over for no doors

[Zoobie]

From the Olympian with State Patrol officer interpretation. I'm not trying to argue. The Law is the Law. Is it enforced is another issue.


https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article159288419.html

RCW (Revised Code of Washington)

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37.517

That doesn't say you need doors... it says you need to maintain your vehicle in working order. The entire law is about maintenance... no protrusions that could harm a pedestrian (can't be Mad Max)... that the door and hood hinges / latches be maintained so that the doors don't fall off while driving down the freeway and hurt someone. Sounds like you just pissed off a cop who was looking for BS excuse to pull you over and give you a hard time. Don't portray it as anything more than that...

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[Hayseed_JLUR]

My guess is he is using the 2nd clause: (2) The hood, hood latches, hood fastenings, doors, and door latches shall be maintained in a condition sufficient to ensure proper working equal to that at the time of original vehicle manufacture.

His interpretation may be that proper working of the doors in the original manufactured condition would require them to be installed. He might be able to successfully argue that in court.

This is as much speculation as you thinking that they guy just pissed off the cop and the cop is abusing his job,

Luckily, I am pretty far away from that drama and have the doors off 70% of the summer.

 

[wcjeep]

The officer had no intention to give us a ticket. Information only. You asked for more information which I provided with Washington State Patrol interpretation in a news article from a reputable source. The law is the law. Most people don't follow it. Most officers have better things to do. It is technically illegal in Washington State.

 

[jeepingib]

From the Olympian with State Patrol officer interpretation. I'm not trying to argue. The Law is the Law. Is it enforced is another issue.


https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article159288419.html

RCW (Revised Code of Washington)

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37.517

The door function as designed by the manufacturer is to be removable. So unless you occasionally remove the doors can you really say that it is functioning as the manufacturer intended?

 

[twisty]

FWIW - I had mirrors on. My major issue is the selective enforcement of the law. I went out of my way to talk to LEOs and they had told me it was a gray area. I now have the law in front of me and know it’s illegal. It’s garbage, but it’s illegal. So for anyone saying I was “clearly in the wrong”, I was only in that position because of the information I was given by other LEOs. I guess I could have googled it, but I figured the experts in their field would know.

It is true I didn’t get a ticket. But I was given the “option” of getting a ticket or going back to my house and putting the doors on. The cop followed me back to my house (where I hopped in my other car and left again, with the Jeep parked in my garage). I was respectful to the officer, and he wasn’t the same to me. I told him I thought it was OK because the Jeep was manufactured to have its doors removed. He told me “I could take the doors off of my explorer if I wanted to”. If this was anyone else rather than a man with a gun, I would have asked if I could grab a cooler of beer and a lawn chair to watch him attempt this. He was not what I would call professional.

Same cop called for back up when I was pulled over in my driveway for an inspection sticker that was a day past due (ironically, I was on my way to my mechanic). I have no criminal record, I am a coach in the community, and haven’t done anything to upset people in the community. I will always be respectful to LEOs. However, some of them give the vast majority of good ones a bad name.

Selective enforcement when it comes to motor vehicle laws is absolutely a thing. Speed limit, rolling stops, stereo volume, and Jeep doors to name a few. I wasn’t speeding, my radio wasn’t loud, and I didn’t commit any moving violations. In fact, when the cop raced up the road at 100 mph, i pulled over and got the hell out of the way because I thought “some serious shit must be going down”. Then he pulled in behind me. And this thread sums up what happened.

My view is LEOs shouldn’t get too upset and defend the enforcement of the law blindly if they let things slide or don’t enforce select laws. “He was just doing his job” isn’t an excuse to be a dick. I didn’t need an escort to my house.

I dont think this is a case of being selective, more about the cop being an absolute dick. Followed you home?! Other cops laugh at this guy and cop shame him I'll bet. lol

 

[rockadile]

I dont think this is a case of being selective, more about the cop being an absolute dick. Followed you home?! Other cops laugh at this guy and cop shame him I'll bet. lol

Initially, I agreed with your thoughts. However after reading many of the other responses from people who appear to be cops, now I'm not so sure as they are defending the cop in this situation.

 

[Shepherd12]

Balls. I received back a letter, but not much better than a form letter.

But if every Jeeper in PA writes one, maybe we’ll get somewhere.

 

[rockadile]

Looks like these are the members of the committee:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/index.cfm?CteeBody=H&Code=38

It would be awesome if we could organize PA Jeepers to lobby to get this done...even if that means everyone writing letters. Unfortunately, this is out of my wheelhouse. I would prefer to target the right individual(s) instead of firing off letters/phone calls blindly. I wonder if anyone on here has dealt similar issues and/or are in politics to know the best way to approach this.

 

[Bigdog]

How do ups and and us mail get by with out doors, sounds like harassment

 

[Shots]

How do ups and and us mail get by with out doors, sounds like harassment

I'd assume because their doors are still attached. The law doesn't say they can't be open. Just a guess, from an out-of-stater though.

 

[wibornz]

The only thing with running with no doors in my state is We can see your guns as we drive by.

 

[Mangoman]

Been driving without doors in the spring summer and fall in southeastern Pa for 7 years. Never been pulled over once for my lack of doors. I did get pulled over for using my KC high lights driving on the back roads. Lol. I live in Amish country with only 3 local cops in my town, they all wave to me when I see them.

 

[TrassaE95]

Saw 2 more people pulled over this weekend without doors by the same cop who got me. He must have a thing against Jeeps. I know he is following the letter of the law, but man... it is annoying. If you are driving through 88 near Castle Shannon, be careful. That guy is out to ruin your fun.

 

[Hayseed_JLUR]

Saw 2 more people pulled over this weekend without doors by the same cop who got me. He must have a thing against Jeeps. I know he is following the letter of the law, but man... it is annoying. If you are driving through 88 near Castle Shannon, be careful. That guy is out to ruin your fun.

Must drive a 4Runner...

 

[rkammer]

Saw 2 more people pulled over this weekend without doors by the same cop who got me. He must have a thing against Jeeps. I know he is following the letter of the law, but man... it is annoying. If you are driving through 88 near Castle Shannon, be careful. That guy is out to ruin your fun.

Thanks for the Info. I'm very seldom down that way with or without doors, but good to know.

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