Ticketed: UNSAFE TOWING DEVICE

[jesemd]

Definitely a douchey move by the officer. Since it was already done, a warning would have been the class move. Yeah, sure, "legally" you are at fault, but I think there is a better story here, and it's a shame the cop couldn't see it. Incidents like these do not help their public relations.

A warning would have most likely prevented a repeat "offense", and as everyone survived intact, would have been reasonable.

I guess the better option would have been to take the lady to Buccees and abandon the disabled car in the middle of the highway? Noted for next time.

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[The Real Maverick]

Mmmmm.... looks Baby Blue to me.

Just Kidding! Just kidding!

But a bunch of us think you should be able to talk your way out of this one if you think it's worth your time and effort.

Best of luck.

 

[rch75]

For anyone doubting the towing capabilities our Mavericks check out my other thread :
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/what-have-you-fit-in-your-maverick.29336/

 

[rch75]

@rch75 , thanks for the explanation.

HRG

It took a ridiculous number of tries to post a reply, now I think there’s duplicates…

 

[shadow76]

So Texas doesn't have a Good Samaritan Law? Wow, I love the state but that goes into the negative column.

Considering TX LEO response to the Uvalde school shootings, not surprised.

 

[shadow76]

Back in the day, a kindly driver like you would have been hailed as a hero for helpin a little ole lady. Nowadays, you git a citation and fine from the law. Best to just drive on by I suppose.

The last time I helped an elderly couple with a flat tire, the highway patrol stopped long enough to run my plate and then departed the scene. I was left to continue changing the front left tire next to 90 mph traffic without the officer using his lights to move traffic over a lane. A complaint to the state highway patrol resulted in a zero response.

Back the blue is a nonstarter.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

The last time I helped an elderly couple with a flat tire, the highway patrol stopped long enough to run my plate and then departed the scene. I was left to continue changing the front left tire next to 90 mph traffic without the officer using his lights to move traffic over a lane. A complaint to the state highway patrol resulted in a zero response.

Back the blue is a nonstarter.

Obviously this sign was turned on.

I'll back the blue when Lie Enforcement are prohibited from lying, start paying out of their pension for their ignorance and outright disregard of the Constitution and qualified immunity is eliminated.
And
When Rescuing Children takes priority over standing around for 77 minutes.

 

[mr mojo risen]

The officer ticked my Maverick as an “UNSAFE TOWING DEVICE”…

All cause I pulled up in front of a little old lady broke down in the middle lane of I-45 and towed her Cherokee off the highway into the Bucees parking lot.

AND SHE CALLED IT BABY BLUE!
AND SHE CALLED IT A HATCHBACK!

It’s hard enough holding onto my man card driving a mini truck without an officer belittling it.

As long as you weren’t doing this, you’re good in my book….

 

[Sykotyk]

Did you remind her that according to the experts (Wrecked, Heavy Rescue: 401 and Highway Thru Hell) clearing the highway quickly is very important, and if she has ever watched any of these shows' she has to know they often do very sketchy things to get that done!

But seriously sometimes you have to break a rule (ok, call it a law if you want), to protect life and avoid a more serious outcome if you do nothing!

I would pay it, frame it and remember it as the time you did the right thing!

Safe always overrides Legal.

Clearing an obstruction from the road is far more important than having a legal way to do it. Rear end accident risk increases the longer the road is blocked up and traffic keeps slowing to a near stop.

 

[Blinky]

It was my driving instructor that told me that!

When I was younger I used to go out for rides on my motorcycle along side an RCMP officer. He had us doing some crazy stuff like cutting over the grass on a clover leaf etc. I am pretty sure lots of it was illegal according to the rules of the road.

I used to ride with a Rural County Money Pursuer.... The mischief we got up to on late night cruises was likely worth several tickets.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

For anyone doubting the towing capabilities our Mavericks check out my other thread :
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/what-have-you-fit-in-your-maverick.29336/

I clicked on the link your Maverick is a Workhorse!!

 

[shadow76]

That would never work for me I usually fight them to make the cop waste the time in court. Especially if the tickets is something I truly protest. If I have him in court he can’t be out writing other tickets.

Once had a cop neighbor who openly boasted about writing tickets so as to have almost an entire day in court. As the day was counted as overtime since he normally was scheduled for night duty, his OT made a payment on his bass boat.

Karma caught up with him as he was busted for DUI in another county and subsequently was fired.

 

[JBL14]

You may have just been a victim of bad timing.
That viral video of the crazy Houston backwards pulling incident just happened on Monday May 12th.
When did you get your ticket?
At all Texas police briefings they may have highlighted being extra strict on unapproved towing practices. Plus the guy in the sedan had an arrest warrant. Probably did not want a towing company involved. Now people doing this are perceived as "suspicious" for awhile.

Otherwise the officer may have given you a warning.

 

[TwoTone]

So Texas doesn't have a Good Samaritan Law? Wow, I love the state but that goes into the negative column.

What does a Good Samaritan Law have to do with using a strap to tow another vehicle?

Seriously, this should be basic knowledge for anyone with a drivers license.

 

[Duke Nukm2001]

It sucks that OP received a "citation" for being a "Good Samaritan". Since the Advent of the cell phone (and dashcam for that matter), and pretty much everyone having one, and most (notice that I said most) have motor vehicle insurance (that for the most part, covers towing, among other things). I do not stop for people on the side of the road like I used to (hard for me being prior Law Enforcement in the USAF). If an accident occurs in front of me, I will stop and render aid as needed, but again with "people" ready to sue for every perceived infraction (as a rule, I just don't stop any more). The days of being a "Good Samaritan" are quickly dwindling. This is just my humble opinion.

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