PennSilverTaco's Aspergers (and general BS) thread!

That's my biggest grievance...

The lines!

I've been through three DUI checkpoints in my life, two as a passenger and one as a driver...

First one was in September 2005. Me, my parents, and my two girl cousins were driving home from a Meat Loaf concert in Scranton, PA (cousins lived near Allentown and this was right after we moved to Doylestown). My dad was driving, and it was the 5 of us in my parents' 2004 Honda Odyssey minivan. Cop asked my dad if he'd been drinking, to which he answered "no" (he really hadn't been), and we were waved through.

Second one was in June or July 2015. We were driving to my Grandma's lake house in Maine in my dad's 2013 Honda Pilot Touring, and my dad was pulling the 17-foot boat he just bought. Like 5 minutes away from my Grandma's house, we hit a virtually dead checkpoint. The sheriff's deputy, this young black guy, takes one look at the late model SUV with out-of-state plates, the boat hooked up to the back, the half-asleep guy (me) watching a movie in the backseat, and area just behind the rear seat crammed to the ceiling with cargo. He's like "I can tell you guys aren't coming from a bar," and waves us through.

Third time was Saint Patrick's Day 2017. I was driving home from work, and as a barback who'd just worked a full shift, I was probably one of the only people driving home from a bar at 11:30pm on St. Pat's who had any business behind the wheel! What really pissed me off was that a relaxing 15-minute drive home became 40-minute stressful drive home. 30+ minutes in traffic for a cop no older than me to confirm what I already knew. I was sober! On top of that, I got stuck behind a taxi van with those obnoxious pulsating LED brake lights!

 

Also, I think they're a bit unconstitutional, and I'm afraid of being wrongfully accused of DUI (it does happen to innocent people).

Also, Pennsylvania's DUI checkpoints aren't too bad. At least when I went through it, the cop didn't ask for my license and registration.

In California, I've read that you have to show your "papers," and a lot of these checkpoints piss off the public because they're basically unwarranted stops that snag people for everything but DUI.

 

@Marty McFly
Did I tell you about the time I got stopped by police almost 5 years ago while taking pictures in public, and questioned for 20 minutes? Four cops, including a plainclothes detective, showed up for a report of a guy with a camera...

Turns out there'd been a rash of burglaries on that street, done by a heroin addict, and these cops were really hoping to make an arrest. I was not handcuffed, searched, or taken to the police station, but this particular incident led to a disdain for police that lasted until October 2015.

Why October 2015 (and this has nothing do with you and Doc going into the future)? Because in October 2015, I was hit by a drunk driver in the same town where I got stopped for taking pictures, and the who hit me swore that I ran the stop sign. His drunk called the cops. Officer Edward Kraft of the Central Bucks Regional Police showed up and took both of our statements. About 20 minutes later, the drunk driver was handcuffed and hauled off to the hospital for a blood test. I drove my banged-up-but-still-roadworthy Tacoma home, called my insurance company that night, and slept quite soundly with a clear conscious...

 

I've driven through maybe 3 checkpoints in my experiences. I do live in Califorina and have never been asked for paperwork. Just normally asked where I was coming from and waived through. I wouldn't doubt if they used checkpoints as an excuse to arrest people for other reasons.

 

I understand that the police have a job to do, but a man's cab is his castle, and nobody goes in my Tacoma without a warrant!

 

@Marty McFly

I am very proud that my Taco demolished a drunk scumbag's Mercedes and lived to tell the tale!

 

Sweet justice! Just sucks your truck had to take a beating.

You sir are a very smart man! Know your rights especially when your innocent.

 

And I've probably driven after a few beers when I probably should have called an Uber, but I've never driven completely plastered. I have a friend who got a DUI a while ago. He blew like a 0.23! It was his first offense, so he lost his license for like 6 months.

I had my license for 6 years before I got pulled over, then I got pulled over twice in 2017! First time was in May 2017. I was doing 43 MPH in a 25 MPH zone, at 11pm, after drinking two non-alcoholic beers at open mic night at the bar where I work. Problem is that us Aspies don't like changes in our normal routine, and even though my parents had gone over what to do if I got pulled over back when I got my license, I'd become complacent and cocky because I'd made it two years past my first license renewal without getting pulled over. There was a Ford Taurus behind me, and I was probably a quarter mile down the road when I saw the cop's lights in the distance. The Ford Taurus pulled over to let the police SUV by, and I assumed he was just responding to a call that had nothing to do with me.

I pulled over as soon as it was safe to do so, expecting him to blow past me. Imagine my shock when he pulled in behind me! So, I oblivious to the fact I'd been speeding, and I thought I was about to be harassed by some bored cop for suspicion of drunk driving. My anger built up as I sat there in my truck, and as soon as the cop got out of his SUV, I screamed "I don't know why the hell I got pulled over!"

I wasn't pulled out of the truck or searched, but that cop was so pissed that he went out of his way to find anything else to write me up for. However, my license was valid and I had a clean driving record, my truck was insured and registered, and my inspection stickers were good. I got a ticket for $180! I would have just paid it, but then I found out that 18 MPH over the speed limit would have resulted in 4 points on my license, and for every year three points get knocked off for one year of safe driving. At that rate, I wouldn't have had a clear driving record again until May 2019! In Pennsylvania, 6 points results in a departmental hearing and a good chance you have to take the written test again. Any moving violations while I still had 4 points on my license would have meant far less breathing room. that!

Luckily, I know some really good attorneys. One of them represented me at a substantial discount, and I ended up getting the ticket reduced to 5 MPH which is no points. I also got to apologize to the cop who pulled me over, you know, for cussing at him and all...

He accepted my apology and was a lot more understanding when he found out I had Asperger's...

 

And then less than a month before the first speeding ticket finally went to court, I got pulled over again! It was about 11pm on a Sunday, on Labor Day Weekend no less. I was driving home from my grandmother's about an hour away, after a family gathering, and I was like 10 minutes from home. I came to a confusing 3-way intersection with an obnoxiously long red light. The way this light works is that the left turn light operates independently of the straight light. I could tell the light was red before I event got to the intersection It was late and there were like two other cars on the road. I checked to make sure the intersection was clear, and I just made a left on red without even stopping (I'm ashamed to say I actually got away with this at the same light, in broad daylight, once before). My dashcam footage shows that the cop car came out of nowhere after I'd made the left, and was behind me for over a mile before I made it home.

Sooo...

I did everything I should have done the first time I got pulled over, and got off with a written warning. Also, in addition to being polite the following three things probably helped...

1. I got pulled over in the town where I live, by a local cop.
2. I told the cop that I was driving home from a family gathering at my Grandma's, about an hour away.
3. I didn't have to pretend I was tired, fatigued, and honestly, a bit confused. I totally looked like I was all of those things!

Let's hope I never get pulled over again!

 

"

That's good he was understanding of your situation in the end. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a saint either. I've driven intoxicated before, and I've been lucky on several occasions. One instance, the cop was very cool and I told myself I wouldn't tempt fate twice. I dont drink or party as much as I use to anymore.

 

And you never lost your license?

 

December 30th, 2017:

Hershey, Pennsylvania

This was in the parking lot of of Chocolate World...

They left their dome light on...

Hopefully they don't come out to a dead battery!

 

Hi Charlie, Just came across your thread. hello from Michigan. You have some great toys and some great photos. Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks!

 

@Marty McFly

December 31st, 2017:

Hershey, Pennsylvania

 

January 2nd, 2018:

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 

Hey Charlie if it makes you feel any better that is a rotten period for a lot of kids. Aspergers or not.

Enjoying the thread. Fun to see random pics of toyota trucks.

 

Great looking truck. Wonder what size tires?

 

Thanks!

You sure got that right!

 

I have no idea...

I loved the stance of that Rock Warrior though!

Also, would I be safe in assuming that your username is a referrence to a certain Italian firearms manufacturer, and not a 2-door Chevy produced from 1988-1996?

 

yes I have a shotgun habit.

 

January 7th, 2018:

Tannersville, Pennsylvania

From my weekend trip to the Poconos!

 

Tannersville, Pennsylvania

Like the white 3rd Gen Tundra, this Sequoia Limited also has New York plates...

 

@Marty McFly

I saw a red 3rd Gen TRD PRO on my way into work today. I was sitting at a red light, and the Tundy made a left from the opposing lane. He appeared to turn into the nearby supermarket, and I considered following him and asking if I could take a picture...

Believe it or not, I've followed a few vehicles; custom or unique trucks, exotic cars, and in one case a red Chevy church van (long story) into parking lots just so I could ask to take pictures. I've never once been told no!

Unfortunately, I was running late for work and couldn't chase the Tundy...

 

No worries Charlie. Work is more important . How was the trip?

 

Cold but fun!

 

This truck is located on a property just off the on-ramp from Main Street to Route 611 in Doylestown. It has been sitting there for weeks, and January 5th, I finally stopped to a take a look...

I must say, this truck seems to in excellent condition and it seems that somebody really took care of it! For what they're asking, I could sell my 2010 Tacoma and only end up paying a difference of $2,000-$3,000! The one thing I can't fathom is buying a 10-year old vehicle with almost 170K miles (even it is a 5.7L Tundy in one of my favorite colors)!

How would I know for sure that it hasn't been wrecked? It's been brutally cold lately, so how would I know that the A/C would work when I used it for the first time in a few months?!?!

Regardless, this is a really nice truck. Like I said, it appears to have been lovingly maintained. Aside from an aftermarket double-DIN touch-screen head unit, it is pretty much stock...

What do you think?

 

January 5th, 2018:

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

The '08 TRD I found FOR SALE.

 

KBB says $11,600ish. Could probably get them to come down to $11,000-11,500 at least. That's probably all they did was KBB and then add $1000 for negotiating room.

 

Sweet! Keep us posted!