Not a bad idea, but it also wouldn't hurt to do a few things like have been stated in this thread.
Everything in legal working order.
Big fire extinguisher
Copy of the rules and regs from your home state.
A copy of rules and regs of the state in question backing up your case.
I really like the camera idea and tho k one of those cams that double as a rear view mirror may be a sound investment.
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If they pull over an unmarked 5 ton then they are probably begging for trouble not knowing if its a military truck or not. Being that TN does not require us to display tags if its been spray etched or marked otherwise. As long as its in the cab. I have DOT #s and ELD system but I will be on my own time.
I am also a law student and I know the DOT laws as I handle them as part of some pro bono I do for credit hours in a traffic court. Most are legit against truckers but then again.
This is not legal advice but sound advice from things I see and deal with on regular basis, Sorry if this offends LEO's but I have been on that side of the fence and we all know that line that has to be walked.
First thing is first for people who don't know better. Keep your doors locked, Never get out of the truck if they ask you to. Never turn off your truck if they ask you to. Some states have an idle vehicle law that prohibits you from unattended idling well if you stay in the vehicle then its not against the law to leave your vehicle running. Ask the officer "Can I help you?" this means no admission of guilt and makes him state the reason he pulled you over immediately rather than you offering up a reason. Never consent to a search or inspection, always ask them if you are being detained if they start to drag on about it, if so, what for? If they say you are being detained ask for them to call their supervisor to join you there and you don't want to speak to them until he arrives. This is the same thing as the Miranda rule. If they pulled you over for a crime even a traffic ticket you have the right to remain silent. If they pulled you over for no reason at all other than to bug you then you still have no obligation to talk to them. Don't be afraid to tell them No. If they ask for your id but have said you have done nothing wrong you have the right to refuse him to see your id and registration. Even in Stop and ID states. If you have done nothing wrong they don't need to know who you are.
You do not have to identify yourself unless they say you have committed a crime or are about to commit a crime (this probable cause is vague and sketchy at best on their side) especially on a traffic stop. Which means keep your ID and your vehicle registration in your pocket and out of their site until they tell you what you have done wrong. Don't offer up information you don't have to.
Ask why you were pulled over, if he says cause I think you are a commercial vehicle you simply say that you aren't and ask if you are free to go? if he says no then ask if you are being detained. if he says no then you are free to go. If he says yes, ask for his supervisor and keep your mouth shut. Too many people are in prison cause they told on themselves. Supervisors don't like taking on things that are going to give them a hard time. They would much rather be goofing off not doing a dang thing. I see soo many times where people have called for a supervisor and they are let go. because they don't want to deal with it.
If you say you are private to a DOT officer He has no legal reason to keep you. And do not answer any questions regarding commercial vehicles. They have to see your door jam in order to see the GVW of the truck. Deny them the opportunity to see it. Keep your door closed even if you get out of the truck. If they want to weigh your truck/trailer. Tell them no. They cant force you to weigh nor can they take over and operate your vehicle to weigh it without seizing control of it. Impounding. Pretty much. An out of service is not an impound remember that. They have no control over it physically to move it. Keep your paperwork for whatever you just picked up private and in your dang pocket. They don't need to know anything. Possession is the law unless they suspect its stolen. If they want to check if its stolen we all know the military serial # wont come back as a thing. So you don't have to tell them anything about what is on your trailer. They have to prove it is not yours which is hard on the side of the road. If they want to look at the vin however and you did not consent to a search they can not climb on your trailer or on anything belonging to you. It violates your rights. Period. Once you claim you are private the scope of searches gets very very narrow unlike the relm of a commercial vehicle that they don't have to have a warrant to search or look inside of.
Always turn your phone camera on so it can see what is going on. Some officers encourage it, some don't. but it keeps them honest. If they tell you to turn it off, don't. You have the right in all 50 states to film any public servant or official in the course of their duties. Off duty is a different story as it constitutes stalking or some other type of media restriction law but while on the clock they can be filmed with or without their knowledge. Period.
Not legal advice just sound advice from human to human.
