Houston Police in Sealy

[puma guy]

I took a quick trip to Schulenburg yesterday about noon. Just west of Katy I saw a lit up vehicle rapidly approaching some distance behind me. I pulled over and watched as cars moved over to let it pass. It was obvious it was not pulling any one over and it passed me probably at 80-85MPH. I was surprised to see it was a Houston Police patrol car. It continued on and lost sight of it eventually. Then west of Sealy I saw another lit up vehicle, just as before, approaching and passing me. Again it was HPD. Got my business done in Schulenburg and about 4PM I am headed east and again a car lit up approaching form behind and passing at 80-90 MPH. I then see the HPD car with lights on in a parking lot behind a chemical tank truck talking to the driver. I see in my rear view mirror the uniformed patrolman get into his car and get back on the feeder and pull onto I10 east and blow by all lit up again headed east. Anybody have any idea why HPD would be diving up and down I10 west of Sealy, Texas in this manner?

[AEA]

I have an idea.........

With the high crime rate in Houston area I'm pretty sure they are going code 3 to one call after another.

And not after speeders either. It's obvious to my observations that they care little about speeders based on what I see passing me like a flash on the roads down there (and I am usually going 5 over).

[eureka40]

Probably just a Kolache run to Columbus.

[puma guy]

Probably just a Kolache run to Columbus.

Never thought of that. Officer Svetlik where are you?

[SRH78]

I took a quick trip to Schulenburg yesterday about noon. Just west of Katy I saw a lit up vehicle rapidly approaching some distance behind me. I pulled over and watched as cars moved over to let it pass. It was obvious it was not pulling any one over and it passed me probably at 80-85MPH. I was surprised to see it was a Houston Police patrol car. It continued on and lost sight of it eventually. Then west of Sealy I saw another lit up vehicle, just as before, approaching and passing me. Again it was HPD. Got my business done in Schulenburg and about 4PM I am headed east and again a car lit up approaching form behind and passing at 80-90 MPH. I then see the HPD car with lights on in a parking lot behind a chemical tank truck talking to the driver. I see in my rear view mirror the uniformed patrolman get into his car and get back on the feeder and pull onto I10 east and blow by all lit up again headed east. Anybody have any idea why HPD would be diving up and down I10 west of Sealy, Texas in this manner?

It sounds like DOT enforcement to me. It is not uncommon for multiple agencies to blanket an area and stop as many comercial vehicles as possible, especially hazmat. As a commercial driver who hauls hazmat, I have dealt with this a lot in the DFW area. You don't have to do a single thing wrong. They simply pull you over because you are there and do a vehicle inspection and go through your paperwork.

[puma guy]

I took a quick trip to Schulenburg yesterday about noon. Just west of Katy I saw a lit up vehicle rapidly approaching some distance behind me. I pulled over and watched as cars moved over to let it pass. It was obvious it was not pulling any one over and it passed me probably at 80-85MPH. I was surprised to see it was a Houston Police patrol car. It continued on and lost sight of it eventually. Then west of Sealy I saw another lit up vehicle, just as before, approaching and passing me. Again it was HPD. Got my business done in Schulenburg and about 4PM I am headed east and again a car lit up approaching form behind and passing at 80-90 MPH. I then see the HPD car with lights on in a parking lot behind a chemical tank truck talking to the driver. I see in my rear view mirror the uniformed patrolman get into his car and get back on the feeder and pull onto I10 east and blow by all lit up again headed east. Anybody have any idea why HPD would be diving up and down I10 west of Sealy, Texas in this manner?

It sounds like DOT enforcement to me. It is not uncommon for multiple agencies to blanket an area and stop as many comercial vehicles as possible, especially hazmat. As a commercial driver who hauls hazmat, I have dealt with this a lot in the DFW area. You don't have to do a single thing wrong. They simply pull you over because you are there and do a vehicle inspection and go through your paperwork.

Maybe but I kind of doubt that, There were a couple of DPS DOT Enforcement SUV's parked along I10 going east and west. Even if It was DOT it makes no sense why: #1 he'd be driving lit up at 85 MPH up and down the highway - chasing nothing - when a call to DPS is as fast as the speed of a radio signal. #2 The short time he had with the tanker he stopped was not like a DOT stop. That takes some time. #3 What jurisdiction or authority would Houston have three counties from home?

[apostate]

Maybe they've been reading the "Best BBQ" thread.

[puma guy]

Maybe they've been reading the "Best BBQ" thread.

[Keith B]

In the words of Larry the Cable Guy, 'That's funny right there.'

[SRH78]

I certainly don't know that that is what it was in this case but the vast majority of the times I have been through a DOT stop, it was not DPS. I have been stopped by Ft Worth PD a lot more than DPS. While it could have been something else, it would not suprise me in the least if HPD was doing the same thing. Also, when they start doing a lot of DOT stops, they do sometimes work outside their normal jurisdiction. I have been stopped by local PD not only outside their city but in a different county. As for chasing nothing, the only thing I can think of is that perhaps he had seen a truck go by while the other was stopped. It would be reasonable for him to assume the truck would still be headed down I10. One more thing. While some of these stops are very lengthy and extensive, some are pretty quick, especially if the officers doing the stops do not normally perform DOT stops.

Just throwing it out there.

[puma guy]

I certainly don't know that that is what it was in this case but the vast majority of the times I have been through a DOT stop, it was not DPS. I have been stopped by Ft Worth PD a lot more than DPS. While it could have been something else, it would not suprise me in the least if HPD was doing the same thing. Also, when they start doing a lot of DOT stops, they do sometimes work outside their normal jurisdiction. I have been stopped by local PD not only outside their city but in a different county. As for chasing nothing, the only thing I can think of is that perhaps he had seen a truck go by while the other was stopped. It would be reasonable for him to assume the truck would still be headed down I10. One more thing. While some of these stops are very lengthy and extensive, some are pretty quick, especially if the officers doing the stops do not normally perform DOT stops.

Just throwing it out there.

I guess any thing is possible. I don't know if there is more money kept loaclly from fines but my youngest daughter's boyfriend just started driving and has been stopped twice by local PD. We have a DOT division with a full complement of vehicles so designated. As far as the incident on I10, I guess you had to be there. He had to have exited I10 and exited to be behind me again and then come up again past Sealy. it was actually just as close to Columbus as it was to Sealy when he wizzed by westbound the second time. You can see a long way down the road and there were no trucks that i saw being pursued. Just seems strange to me. As far as out of juristdiction PD making stops some LEO will have to chime in for the legality of that. I think hot pursuit counts, but running back and forth on I10 three counties and multiple cities away may be stretching it.

[SRH78]

As far as out of juristdiction PD making stops some LEO will have to chime in for the legality of that.

That is a good question. My understanding, for what little it is worth, is that while some things are frowned upon, LEOs are still LEOs as long as they are in state. I am sure we have some LEOs here who can shed some light on that.

[JustMe]

It's my unnderstanding that licensed peace officers are certified by the state . If they hold a TCLEOSE license, the entire state is their jurisdiction.

Don't know that this would apply to officers from places that don't require licensing--reserves/security/small towns, etc...

[Purplehood]

That is my understanding also. Just like CA, TX LEO's have jurisdiction throughout the state. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong or my info is outdated.

[Keith B]

It's my unnderstanding that licensed peace officers are certified by the state . If they hold a TCLEOSE license, the entire state is their jurisdiction.

Don't know that this would apply to officers from places that don't require licensing--reserves/security/small towns, etc...

Actually, the TCLEOSE is just a certification for Texas, like POST is for other states. You have no jurisdiction or arrest powers until you are associated with an agency (DPS, Sheriff, constable, police) and you are sworn in. Then you will have a jurisdiction and be governed on where you can and can't make your arrests by the agency. The TCLEOSE certification is just the accepted training for all of Texas.

EDIT TO ADD: As a COMMISSIONED police officer in Texas, which means you are assigned to an agency, then you do have some arrest powers across the state. See http://law.onecle.com/texas/criminal-pr ... 03.00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for the guidelines.

Bottom line, an officer can work outside of their jurisdiction, but for all types of enforcement, they either need to have an agreement between agencies or it must meet the guidelines in the above criminal code.

I may be incorrect on this, but pretty sure that is the case. Maybe one of the current LEO's can chime in (gigag04, where are you?) Off topic, but that reminds me of 'Car 54, where are you?'

EDIT TO ADD ANOTHER: Here is a good example of jurisdiction by job and what is allowed and not allowed. it all boils down to inter-agency agreements and the statutes https://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/op ... ga0189.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;