Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Before I pass this warning on to you, I will tell you that I am driving an older RV all by myself and almost 58 years old therefore do not look young behind the wheel.
I was coming through the construction on I-24 from Murfreesboro and was twenty feet from the 70 MPH speed limit sign with cars passing me by so I started to speed up - in this section they have trucks use the left lane - cop got me. He said that he clocked me doing 59 in a 50 and that I had to wait until I passed the sign to speed up. He stayed with me for almost 10 min.
Then I got stopped just a few miles on down the road by two TN HP which means two cars. They had a trucker that was upset over me riding the yellow line and so they followed me less than a mile with me knowing they were there and just getting over the other stop - I hadn't even gotten up to speed yet. It takes a while in an older RV. They kept me forever and to compound it all, I could not find my current insurance card. I offered to call USAA for them to verify that I had coverage but they said no.They kept telling me that it was hot outside so that I would offer them to come inside - well I had only the dash AC on and it was hot inside the coach.
Both stops they looked every square inch of the coach over. They really gave me a hard time at my age - I just am concerned over how they treat a group that is more the age for this event. They were nice and I am sure they split their sides when they got back. I have a stuffed big rabbit sitting in the other seat so after the fifth time of asking me if I was alone, I just said my big rabbit is the only thing with me - I thought that maybe they had seen something in the seat and thought it was another person, so I showed them the rabbit and with that they let me go.
They asked me why my husband was not with me, was I retired, what did I do when I worked and where was I going and why was I going there ...................on and on and on.
Now on the way down, I used cruse control and set it right under the speed limit. I saw three or four cars stopped in Knoxville with all the young people sitting on the side of the road. They were stopped at different locations close together with about 3 or 4 unmarked cars around them and the cars being searched.
The first officer that stopped me was unmarked and I saw him so I think he clocked me after I went by him and that made me even closer to the sign - he did remind me that I had to come back through the same spot on the way back so be careful.
The TN HP were upset that I had come I-40 to the cut over to Murfreesboro to get on I-24 - they really questioned me on that choice and I just told them that I knew no other way from Kodak, TN to get here. My daughter used another way and got here quicker with a few less miles so we will probably go back that way.
I forgot to tell the HP that I forget that my back wheels are out a lot farther than my front wheels - the newer RV's have the wheels lined up for this very problem and to make the coach more stable.
Just be careful - if they will bother a older woman, they will be looking for anyone to stop that looks interesting.
I'm 51 and got stopped monday while heading home on I75 in my RV, a newer one not like my 1975. My 18 and 19 year old son and daughter and her friend inside. He said my head lights were flickering , not. They werent even turned on it was just turning dusk. This made me concerned. Asked me if there were any illegal substances on board and i told him no. Then another car pulled up with a drug sniffing dog! Asked me again about drugs and i told him absolutly not, I have my two kids and another that I'v known since kindergarden. They then had the dog sniff around and obviosly nothing was found but it was stil nerve wracking and intimidating for all of us. Now that it's over the kids have a great time telling this story to all their friends. Like you, tons of questions but my answers were legit so i only got a written warning for not having my lights on at dusk. They were very nice but still... We lost a good half hour i guess which is not real bad but iI was heading back to LI NY so all i wanted to be doing was get back home. Well, that's my story in a nutshell.
Post by augustwest on Jun 20, 2007 15:03:46 GMT -5
danny said:
I'm 51 and got stopped monday while heading home on I75 in my RV, a newer one not like my 1975. My 18 and 19 year old son and daughter and her friend inside. He said my head lights were flickering , not. They werent even turned on it was just turning dusk. This made me concerned. Asked me if there were any illegal substances on board and i told him no. Then another car pulled up with a drug sniffing dog! Asked me again about drugs and i told him absolutly not, I have my two kids and another that I'v known since kindergarden. They then had the dog sniff around and obviosly nothing was found but it was stil nerve wracking and intimidating for all of us. Now that it's over the kids have a great time telling this story to all their friends. Like you, tons of questions but my answers were legit so i only got a written warning for not having my lights on at dusk. They were very nice but still... We lost a good half hour i guess which is not real bad but iI was heading back to LI NY so all i wanted to be doing was get back home. Well, that's my story in a nutshell.
What a terrible story, the US is becoming a police state very quickly. You were doing nothing wrong, you did not fit the profile of a drug dealer, yet you were delayed on a journey and subject to an unlawful search, that stuff really pisses me off.
I don't beleive it's the US but the coffee county police.This was my 3rd roo,my daughter's 2nd and 1st for the other 2.Since my 1st time, Ialways said bonnaroo for life,but Ithink I'm done.We have gathering of the vibes a short drive and a nice ferry ride from from home and plenty of others to choose.We sure had a kickin time but I won't be subjected to that again.I've vacationed from ME to Key West and CA and even Mexico and back to NY , never been targeted like that.I can't deal with this feeling like a fish waiting in a barrel waiting to be shot.We've always arrived in TN on mon. before roo and I spend alot of money on all they're touristy crap. No more. I don't blame them .Everyone down there knows the roos reputation but they're trying to teach their kids to say no. A tough line to toe for them but I'm not transferring their problem to me .
Man, these stories just make me so mad that they would do such a thing. For one thing, it's not like either of you would fit the profile for the type of person they are searching for, and second, there was certainly no reason to have the dog sniffing around.
Luckily, we drove in on Wed. night in my mom's minivan that has all sorts of family-type decals on it (swim club, sister's cheerleading/synchro swimming clubs, local yacht club sticker on front, etc..).
And what's up with the Highway Patrol always having two cars there when they pull someone over? Are the hippies dangerous or something?
Luckily, we drove in on Wed. night in my mom's minivan that has all sorts of family-type decals on it (swim club, sister's cheerleading/synchro swimming clubs, local yacht club sticker on front, etc..).
All hail the mini-van. I call it urban-camoflague!!!
I don't beleive it's the US but the coffee county police.
No offense intended here, but are you sure you have your facts straight? I-75 does not run through Coffee County. You have to go all the way to Chattanooga to get to 75.
How can your statement makes sense in saying its not the US but the Coffee county police when you were not even in Coffee County when you were pulled over? I do not understand the logic there?
Last Edit: Jun 29, 2007 14:12:20 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Sorry about that.I actually have no idea who they were.Lots of blue lights.State police maybe.I think Imight have just read a few articles online about arrests at bonnaroo and ''Coffee county police''so that was apparantly stuck in my head.I'm slow as hell on this keyboard so most of my logic is all used up trying to find these damn letters!
Post by chicagorooer on Jul 8, 2007 11:07:17 GMT -5
our RV was pulled over thursday morning around 4am. We were headed eastbound on 24 about 20 minutes west of nashville. We know there games so when we saw a police car with his lights on just sitting on the side of the road we moved over to the left lane following state law and NOT speeding. Then about 2 miles up we go by a cop car on the shoulder with no lights on at all. needless to say we get pulled over. The cop had a K-9 decal on his uniform and tells us the reason he pulled us over is b/c we didn't switch lanes. We told him the police lights were not on therfore we had no reason to pull over. The cop aggreed and says yeah we wont right u a ticket for that. Then his next statement was u were all over the road!!! WTF. He goes on asking if we have drugs and if we do we should give them up b/c he has a dog. We said we don;t have nuts b/c we knew he pulled us over for no reason. This was B.S. and we got lucky b/c our group are all over 30 years old normal looking middle class people. If we were hippies or just younger they would have brought the dogs out and messed with us big time. I feel much like Danny I have been to the last 5 bonnaroo's and always said I would be back however I am not sure anymore. This is a vaction for me and spending it in jail or at the very least getting targeted like a criminal makes it tough to comback year after year....They pulled us over without cause and knew it and basically told us they had no reason to pull us over. They just wanted to see who was in the RV and if we fit the profile they would have taken there chances and brought out the dogs but b/c of our appearance they didn;t want to waste there time b/c there might be a chance we are riding clean...such B.s and I feel sorry for all those who came to have fun and got pulled over for no reason and searched....just my experience
When they stopped me, they could of had the dogs all around the RV since I travel with the coach closed up would have never seen what was going on from the door that is in the middle all the way around to the drivers window. That may have been why they prolonged my visit. Are your wheels on your RV even with the body of the coach front and back or are the front ones in about 12 inches??? I think that since my RV is older and the front tires are not even with the side of the road that I must appear to be not in control. That all over the road and it upsetting the truckers gets old very quick along with the it sure is hot out here.
Thanks for sharing. When I was stopped, all I could think of was if they are treating me this way how are they treating the people that are young. Then to tell me that I should of picked a different route, why did I come this far out of my way and tell me that I should have come down I-75 which I told him quickly that I did not know that way and that on a good day I hated to go I-75. I just figured that he really didn't know where Kodak, TN was on the map.
Post by noahroo311 on Dec 12, 2007 14:43:12 GMT -5
thanks for sharing ur stories everyone, gives a first time bonnaroo'r some insight now want to do to avoid getting pulled over ,though sorry to hear about ur unfortunate,unnecessary encounters with law
if they spent half the time going after real criminals that they spend harassing innocent citizens this country would be a much nicer place.its great to see tax $ going to such good use.
I've read a lot of these stories about fellow rooer's having trouble with the police. Most of the stories happen on the interstate and there have been some that even admit to speeding or breaking the traffic laws the big thing is to pay attention to the traffic laws cuz they are designed to keep everyone on the roads safe so they can get to the roo. The second thing is if the interstate is so bad take an alternet route. There are several hwys that lead to the roo.
Remember your 4th amendment rights!!!! They have no probably cause just because you're going to a MUSIC FESTIVAL!! Do not let them search you, even if you don't have anything. They are abusing their "power"
Post by swannylax14 on Jun 9, 2009 15:53:51 GMT -5
until they detain you while they wait for a K9 to give them probably cause. police will search you if they want to. if you're riding dirty you're taking that risk.
^ Yeah, completely agree with this. They'll search your car, hold you in jail for the weekend. Then you spend a ton of money on a lawyer to get you off the hook, some consolation after you missed Bonnaroo.
Post by StreetBum87 on Jun 9, 2009 16:44:10 GMT -5
i went down last year without a problem in a black 07 f150. well now its a 04 RED POLICE LOOK AT ME monte carlo.......1mph under the speed limit cruise control will be the life saver.
Post by Ian'sGotAFeeling on Jun 10, 2009 14:03:01 GMT -5
Yea, its an especially scary site when you see a group sitting on the side of the road and a dog going through cars. Your like great, so they will just pull some BS on me, search my car then have me put it all back in.
until they detain you while they wait for a K9 to give them probably cause. police will search you if they want to. if you're riding dirty you're taking that risk.
Yes, but without probable cause, they aren't allowed to detain you until they get a K9 unit out there. Will they do it anyway? Probably. Just make sure you take down all of their information you can to file complaints later.
Post by tnyellowdog on Jun 10, 2009 22:41:56 GMT -5
I live in Coffee County and drove through Mancatcher (local name) this evening. WARNING! There are law enforcement everywhere. They are setting speed traps on Hwy 55 between Mancatcher and Tullahoma (T'town) and on Hillsboro Rd (the road that runs parallel to I-24 between exits 111 and 114). I counted 20 (yes, you read correctly) city police and 7 THP in a 2 mile stretch.
Please obey speed limits - that alone can give them cause to 'sniff' for alcohol, which can allow them to call k-9 units. Whether you have NoNo words in your car or not, it can waste lots of time and cause tremendous traffic problems for the rest of us.
