ROADBLOCK / CHECKPOINT

Well it seems the MS State Troopers had another roadblock /checkpoint set up at the intersection of hwy 603 & 43 in Kiln last Saturday morning. As my wife and I approached this check point we were not worried, as my 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup was in good running order with all proper documentation. When the officer approached my vehicle He asked for my driver’s license and proof of insurance, I complied. Upon the officer viewing my paper work and seeing that everything was in order, He then asked, “how long has your windshield been cracked”? I responded by saying, “about a couple of months”. It seemed to me at this point that he was just looking to find something wrong just to give me a citation.

The Trooper then instructed me to pull over into parking lot of the Faith Church and wait. I was very upset by this point because we did nothing wrong to be detained like some sort of outlaw for having a crack in my windshield. This crack isn’t anywhere near the field of view from the driver or passenger seat.

Is the state of MS that desperate for money that they will write a citation for anything? What next? Will they start issuing citations if people have dents and scratches in their fender, or maybe their bumper is a little crooked? Or what if they don’t have the proper tire inflation? Are they going to start issuing citations for these sorts of things? They ought to make a bundle that way.

Now I can understand that if my windshield was all cracked up in my field of view on any part of the windshield where it obstructs my view, I would have already replaced it. It's a matter of common sense people; I shouldn't have to be ordered to have it changed like a child. In fact it has already been replaced just last year. The result is what I have now.

I travel 70 miles round trip to work every day on the I-59 to Slidell and usually encounter a rock hitting my windshield at least once a month. Am I to fork out 200 or more dollars for a new windshield every month? This is just another way of the government forcing you to buy something, and then fining you if you don’t. It Sounds like Obama’s health care plan to me.

My citation reads, "Operating a motor vehicle without equipment as required". What equipment was I not operating with? What kind of bogus bullcrap is that? While driving home I saw another vehicle just in front of me with the rear windshield completely gone from the vehicle. His replacement was put together with plastic and duct tape; I didn’t see him get a ticket.

Maybe the trooper had it out for pickup trucks that day because there were three of them on the side of the road when they got to me. Or maybe they didn’t like my long hair. Whatever the case I feel the citation/work order was unjust. Well this is just my opinion and thanks for reading. Coral B.