Law Enforcement Help...Mansfield TX....UPDATED 5/7

[5Redman8]

<span style="color: #FF0000">
UPDATE IN RED

Went to court today 5/7

THEY KEPT HIS TRAILER and had a full docket of people just like him. Every case was, "Without a VIN number, we have no choice but to ASSUME it is stolen."

This is crazy!!! I can build a trailer that looks straight from the factory and these people could confiscate with NO PROOF and the keep it!

They said the adhesive(electrical tape) was covering where a VIN was removed. The VINs on some trailers are just glued on.

There were several cases that had bills of sale from a dealer and the trailers were still KEPT!!!</span>



My cousin was working at a shop in Mansfield TX clearing some brush and mowing for a friend. As he is mowing, he notices a Mansfield Police officer at the front with his lights on. My cousin approaches and the officer say, "I am seizing your trailer, it has been altered." Taken aback, my cousin asks a few questions and the officer points to a piece of tape(electric) and says it has been altered, I am seizing it. It was taken.

Next day my cousin and dad go to the Mansfield Impound and ask to see the trailer to look for the VIN inside/under the tongue. They were not allowed to get in. When they drove around the outside of the lot, they could not see his trailer there.....has rear and side ramps...should be easy to see. While at the impound lot, he spoke to three of people in the same situation.

Trailer was purchased from a friend years ago and as is common in TX, it is registered as "shop made".

He has been told the lot charges $30-$60 a day and he is set to see a judge in 3 weeks. In that time, it will hardly be worth paying for.

We are wondering how to proceed. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Coyotejunki]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Did he get a ticket or some kind of documentation that the trailer was taken/impounded?

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

The only documentation is the officer's "business" card...not sure what to call it but it has his name and phone number.

There is a number on the back that my cousin assumes is a case number.

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

call the local media...sounds like at least that 1 officer and the impound yard are trying to scam people out of their trailers

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Not wanting to be alarmist.....wanted input here first.

 

[Junior's 12 Valve]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Force_Multiplier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">call the local media...sounds like at least that 1 officer and the impound yard are trying to scam people out of their trailers
</div></div>

This.

 

[lw8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Generally, you can't seize property without giving a receipt. Get a lawyer and file a formal documented complaint.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

So they want to "Seize" his trailer because he has a piece of electrical tape on it?

Sounds very fishy, almost like perhaps somebody wants to make money on the side stealing trailers under color of the law.

It would be interesting to see how this turns out as perhaps there is some serious corruption going on.

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

All we can figure....is the tape was where he thinks the VIN should be.

But if shop made.....it will not have one at all.

Cousin wanted to look all over to make sure there was no VIN hidden somewhere.

 

[sgtkeebler]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Sounds extremely suspect, I would contact the police chief of mansfield and ask whats going on, why the officer confiscated his property without giving any ticket/reason/reciept or documentation as to why. Give them the officers name. If that fails to get any answers I would contact the media.

 

[Switchblade]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

That not only sounds extremely illegal, it sounds like someone is getting some kickback in storage fees. I would bet a certain LEO probably would respond well to a beat down in this case since it does appear he is:
abused his authority as a LEO
made a very illegal siezure sans warrant
appears to be working outside of the law

SO, if this is the perception correctly stated, I am of the old school. Some people deserve to get beat up. In this day and age, there are far too many bad cops and not near enough good cops doing the job. I am tired of also hearing professors lecturing CJ students on improper procedures and how to deny them...I have heard far too much in the hallway to NOT just keep walking past the open door. It seems every Thursday morning this is a regular class. Imagine, a Criminal Justice 'instructor'(He IS NOT a professor or a certified level teacher, he is only a bottom level 'instructor'. If I knew who to complain to about this stuff, I might, but common sense tells me to let it go, but I cannot. It's just plain wrong, and too wrong not to say anything about. He is teaching new cops how to be bad cops. AND its a regular thing when I am waiting for my Med Tech group. It really raises my hackles and my BS flag. I want to punch the guys lights out and tell teh kids in there to be good damn cops and not stoop to idiocy levels of bad deed.

 

[Maggot]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lefty Diesel Nut</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Force_Multiplier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">call the local media...sounds like at least that 1 officer and the impound yard are trying to scam people out of their trailers
</div></div>

This.</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sgt Keebler</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds extremely suspect, I would contact the police chief of mansfield and ask whats going on, why the officer confiscated his property without giving any ticket/reason/reciept or documentation as to why. Give them the officers name. If that fails to get any answers I would contact the media.</div></div>

This

 

[Hink]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Not LE, but I can read and understand the penal code as well as anybody else.

Here are the corresponding Texas penal code sections regarding vehicle modification and all instances in the penal code showing the word trailer as responded to by the search engine on the Texas DPS website.

Draw your own conclusions, but based on the story presented I see no reason to believe the property was legally seized.

 

[Insayn]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Was the trailer parked on the roadway or private property?

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Private property but a business. His friend is the owner of the business.

 

[Tac22]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 5Redman8</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Private property but a business. His friend is the owner of the business. </div></div>

Here is the process.. Get a lawyer, Go to the media, Get cop exposed first and then fired. Assemble other trailer owners....

 

[GreyShirts]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I am a LEO, but in Oklahoma, so obviously different laws. Some of what has been said here I agree with and some not so much. Everyone has their own opinions. My initial feeling is there has to be more to the reason for the impound. However, we can't impound stuff off private property depending on what the cirumstances are. Atleast where I work we can't. I don't think I've ever heard of impounding a trailer for being altered because it had tape on it? The only thing I've ever seized for being altered is guns, and it was the serial numbers and some folks went to jail. My suggestion is call his direct supervisor and try to find out where the trailer is and what's going on. If that doesn't work talk to the chief of police, if its not his direct supervisor. The other possibility is the trailer is being held as part of some sort of "large scale" investigation. If that's the case then the trailer may be at the departments criminal investigation impound barn. If its a large enough department they will have one of those. None the less the department has to give him information as to what's going on. I hate to say it, but it does sound strange. I hope there is more to the story and I hope this helps. Good luck getting the trailer back.

 

[THE MGD]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Need to know a few things to help you

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Insayn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Was the trailer parked on the roadway or private property? </div></div>

If you recieved no documentation (citation, inventory, pound lot address)
(how did you get a court date then)

Any additional property on the trailer?

how was the trailer taken? (vehicle, tow truck, pd or private company)

Who? Local pd, sheriff, constable, highway patrol, state trooper?

Explain in detail where and how electrical tape was used, include color of tape

 

[KYS]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Switchblade</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That not only sounds extremely illegal, it sounds like someone is getting some kickback in storage fees. <span style="color: #CC0000">I would bet a certain LEO probably would respond well to a beat down</span> in this case since it does appear he is:
abused his authority as a LEO
made a very illegal siezure sans warrant
appears to be working outside of the law

SO, if this is the perception correctly stated, I am of the old school. Some people deserve to get beat up. In this day and age, there are far too many bad cops and not near enough good cops doing the job. I am tired of also hearing professors lecturing CJ students on improper procedures and how to deny them...I have heard far too much in the hallway to NOT just keep walking past the open door. It seems every Thursday morning this is a regular class. Imagine, a Criminal Justice 'instructor'(He IS NOT a professor or a certified level teacher, he is only a bottom level 'instructor'. If I knew who to complain to about this stuff, I might, but common sense tells me to let it go, but I cannot. It's just plain wrong, and too wrong not to say anything about. He is teaching new cops how to be bad cops. AND its a regular thing when I am waiting for my Med Tech group. It really raises my hackles and my BS flag. I want to punch the guys lights out and tell teh kids in there to be good damn cops and not stoop to idiocy levels of bad deed. </div></div>

Violence towards an officer is a pretty horrible decision on your part...
That is a quick way to land in jail, losing your right to have firearms, and being tagged for the rest of your life as "the guy who hits cops over a trailer".

 

[High Binder]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

This is a very common occurrence in Denver. It's a huge profit center for the city and people have been unsuccessfully fighting it for years. But in Denver they take peoples cars for no reason then resale them.

If your city is anything like Denver, it's not even worth going to court for. Only option is to move the hell outa there before it happens to you.

It's tyranny.

 

[battle-scarred]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

love the cops

 

[KYS]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: greyshirts</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Switchblade</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That not only sounds extremely illegal, it sounds like someone is getting some kickback in storage fees. <span style="color: #FFFF00">I would bet a certain LEO probably would respond well to a beat down in this case since it does appear he is:</span>abused his authority as a LEO
made a very illegal siezure sans warrant
appears to be working outside of the law

SO, if this is the perception correctly stated, I am of the old school. Some people deserve to get beat up. In this day and age, there are far too many bad cops and not near enough good cops doing the job. I am tired of also hearing professors lecturing CJ students on improper procedures and how to deny them...I have heard far too much in the hallway to NOT just keep walking past the open door. It seems every Thursday morning this is a regular class. Imagine, a Criminal Justice 'instructor'(He IS NOT a professor or a certified level teacher, he is only a bottom level 'instructor'. If I knew who to complain to about this stuff, I might, but common sense tells me to let it go, but I cannot. It's just plain wrong, and too wrong not to say anything about. He is teaching new cops how to be bad cops. AND its a regular thing when I am waiting for my Med Tech group. It really raises my hackles and my BS flag. I want to punch the guys lights out and tell teh kids in there to be good damn cops and not stoop to idiocy levels of bad deed. </div></div>


I actually laughed out loud when I read that part highlighted above. However, he is entitled to his own opinion. There is a good point he made though, college professors. </div></div>

We cant read that....

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

No documentation....officer said my cousin would be called with a court date in three weeks.

No property on trailer....just tree limbs.

Tricounty task force is on his card.

Was towed by an unmarked truck

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

hold on... guy was in an unmarked unit... and has a business card that says "tricounty taskforce"... now I don't even think this was a cop... what was he wearing?

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Tri county task force was in marked car.

Truck that took the trailer was unmarked.

 

[THE MGD]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

biggest question im waiting on is the location of the trailer during the seizure. On a active roadway (including the shoulder and 4 ft? Or so easement ) or on private property?

id call the station to verify. After which id contact a lawyer.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Makes me wonder what heinous goods this 'officer' is needing to transport. With no ties or strings to the department, eh? (enter sarcasm and irony now)

 

[Cornholeo]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I would not call, but go in person to the police station with this business card. I would not leave until someone provided me with an explanation, receipt for my trailer, location for my trailer and the code I violated having a homemade trailer. Never heard of this kind of BS here in Fl,hopefully never will in the future.

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

It was private property....no roadway or shoulder or easement.

The problem with contacting a lawyer, is the cost vs trailer value.

I am vindictive enough to lose money to make a point but my cousin is retired and living on his retirement $$$ and has to be wise.

Something else worrying me is even my Ranger boat trailer is registered as "shop made". We do not title in TX and many/most used trailers are registered this way. The tax office will even tell you to do this if you don't have the bill of sale etc.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Been following the thread and some things don't add up, at least to me as an LEO.

First, was the trailer registered and inspected? Because if it passed a VIN check and was registered in TX, there should be no issue with alterations or serial number. If there is no serial number and it was registered as a "Homebuilt", there should still be no issue. If DMV approves... it's GTG. Though I would have expected that some number should have been stamped somewhere to provide an ID number. But if it was registered, inspected, etc... the officer should not have had any PC to look in the first place, much less impound it.

Second, officers (at least none I know) have the inclination to pull up behind registered trailers and look for electrical tape or serial numbers. We have better things to do. Unless there was something to catch our attention (no plate, moving violation, lights, etc.) I can't imagine why an officer would bother. A trailer on private property loaded with brush? That's just scenery. I'm not getting out of my cruiser to investigate a trailer with brush on it and look for electrical tape... ever.

Next, were you issued a citation? What was the ticket? When we ground (ie. impound) a vehicle, it goes with a citiation and/or criminal charges. Is it unregistered? Uninsured? No inspection? Handing you a business card and telling you it's been impounded??? Huh? Doesn't compute. What were the violations (of Texas MV code) that were on the citation issued?

Further, if there is a court date, you have a citation. Period. You don't go to court to fight... nothing. You go to court to fight a specific violation of Texas Motor Vehicle code. That is spelled out on your ticket/citation. So what's on the citation?

Next... called with a court date? We have court dates assigned to us in advance and every ticket comes with a court date on it. If you want to fight your ticket in court (as opposed to pleading guilty or NoLo), you know when your court date will be WHEN you get the ticket. Neither we at the PD, nor our court system, has the time to call people. And a phone call isn't documentable. At very least, you would get a mailed (or registered) copy of a court date. Maybe they do things different in TX... but a phone call in three weeks? That doesn't add up.

Next, if I yanked a trailer (that was parked off the road) and had it towed into impound, it would involve a half-day of paperwork. Incident report, seizure report, citations... ad nauseum. Really. I'd be writing forms for ages. It wouldn't be worth my time unless the trailer was carrying 1500 pounds of weed; just ran over a school-bus full of Nuns; or had a detached human head on it. Got better things to do...

Officer was in an unmarked? Only officers who get unmarked are detectives or high-ups. Not patrol or traffic officers (with rare exceptions.) The detectives and high-ups don't bother with trailers at roadside in yards with brush on them. The only officers who look at trailer reg's are right out of academy and hitting everything in sight. I should know... my VERY first traffic stop after FTO was a trailer w. a light out. (And he got a warning). And even then... seizure/impound/grounding? See comment about nuns and human head above.

Unmarked tow truck? Really? Was it a Tow Truck or a pickup truck with a ball on it? Or a flatbed? Every tow truck I have ever called w. department approval has License number and name on side. We can't call 'independents' or every Cletus with a rust-brown truck. Tow companies must be on our list of approved contractors. Approved towing contractors are licensed, marked, lit and issue paper receipts... because they want to get paid.

Last... a homebuilt trailer with brush on it... Value a few hundred to a couple-thousand dollars? Is stealing that or impounding that without proper cause worth an officers job or a department scandal? If you think it's a revenue scam... there are better ways to bring in 'revenue' than a trailer citation. Mansfield appears to be a town of 60K people and a pretty affluent suburb of Dallas... It's not Hazzard county. I have a hard time believing that a department of that size (with as many officers, supervisors and divisions as they have) in an affluent suburb are running a trailer hostage scam. Sorry, but too big a team with too much to lose to engage in petty scams.

Card with "Tri County Task Force"???? When a department spends the dollars to issue business cards... it has officers name, badge number, department name and contact info. But a "Tri County Task Force" card? Have you even called the Mansfield, TX Police Department Traffic Supervisor (Sgt. Ken Hopkins) to find out what the Tri County Task Force is? And whether his officers took your trailer? Better still, have you contacted the Tri-County Task force? [email protected] or 682-518-9242 ??

http://mansfield-tx.gov/ps/police/prevention/autotheft.php

I don't doubt that your trailer is gone... don't doubt that you are having trouble finding it.

But before there is a giant pile-on here accusing the Mansfield Police Department of gross corruption and running the Ultimate Landscape Trailer Hostage Ransom Impound Theft scam... let's hear more about the actual citation and the actual charges and what you have done to contact the department that supposedly took your trailer.

If there is no citation and no charges... it sounds like an enterprising trailer thief is at work and has a great routine...

Cheers and following this with interest!

Sirhr

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

There is NO citation.....nothing with a date. Just the officers name, phone number, and tricounty task force.

He called internal affairs and got a call back saying they believe the VIN number has been removed and he will have to go through the court to get it back.

NO date has been set. Supposedly he will get a call when a date is set.

It is registered, current, and there were no lights to see working or not as it was parked on private property. Although the lights are in perfect working order.

Any time I have ever registered a trailer, they ask how many axles, how much does it weigh, and how much does it carry. Home built pay your money and move on.....no visual or physical inspection at all.

The "tape" is apparently where they think a VIN was attached and then removed.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

So they "Think" so they snatch your stuff and refuse to give you a speedy court hearing (like right now if they demand you pay storage charges for their buddy at the impound / theiving lot)... Kind of sounds like a possible cesspool needs a good flush or something.

 

[signal5]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I have seen people steal trailers remove the VIN and register it as a home built trailer and sell it for a profit. Could something like this be the case. Maybe you bought a once stolen trailer ?

 

[Insayn]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I do know Mansfield has officers involved with a Tri-County Task force down there that investigate a myriad of things. I would question the validity of impounding a trailer for a violation when it was not being used on a public roadway. If it was parked on the private property (not easement or shoulder) it would be similar to being parked in one's backyard. Without further PC to initiate the investigation he shouldn't enter the private property, unless the business is open to the public and the public has access to enter and leave without restriction. I'm not a guru on the transportation code, but I'll send this to one of our auto theft guys for his opinion.

 

[Insayn]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I just got off the phone with my auto theft buddy. He is aware of the Tri-County guys and knows a few of them. There are variables where he can tow it. A "shop made" trailer is essentially home built. A manufactured trailer is one built at a factory that builds that specific item. If the trailer was built well enough to look like a manufactured trailer they can seize it to investigate further. He told me a lot of people will register a manufactured trailer as "shop made" to get out of the higher registration costs. People also try and do this with stolen trailers, removing the VIN in some manner and reregistering it as "shop made" giving them a legit registration. He hasn't heard of the electrical tape thing, perhaps it was pointing to something else such as a VIN plate/Decal that was removed or an area that was ground off. Or maybe a manufacturer wiring harness was taped up to where it would look like a "shop built" trailer.

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

The registration fee is the same....home built or otherwise.

Hopefully it is all legit and further investigation will reveal it is not stolen or modified.

If they are cracking down on factory made trailers that are registered as shop built....they certainly have job security. Almost everyone I know has their utility trailer registered as home built.

Like I said....even my Ranger boat trailer is.....just as suggested by my tax office.

 

[Insayn]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Is the registration fee based on trailers load capacity?

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Capacity under 6,000lbs is $45

 

[Cornholeo]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If the trailer was built well enough to look like a manufactured trailer they can seize it to investigate further.</div></div>
WTF? I have got to click my heels to get back to Kansas Toto, cuz the country I am in now is not the USofA. If this is considered SOP by law enforcement, we are FUBAR!

 

[Insayn]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

That's kind of what I said to him because I can build some nice looking stuff.

 

[11B101ABN]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

No case # at all? AN impound w/ a cite or summons should get a case number or an incident #.

Some documentation will exisit in one form or another, either through the PD, or radio, if he called out on this.

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

<span style="color: #FF0000">
UPDATE IN RED

Went to court today 5/7

THEY KEPT HIS TRAILER and had a full docket of people just like him. Every case was, "Without a VIN number, we have no choice but to ASSUME it is stolen."

This is crazy!!! I can build a trailer that looks straight from the factory and these people could confiscate with NO PROOF and the keep it!

They said the adhesive(electrical tape) was covering where a VIN was removed. The VINs on some trailers are just glued on.

There were several cases that had bills of sale from a dealer and the trailers were still KEPT!!!</span>

 

[Insayn]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I guess I'll be busting out the welder and welding the VIN onto the frame. My car hauler's VIN is on an easily removable aluminum foil decal.

 

[5Redman8]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I hear ya. My boat trailers is just glued on. Need to get the numbers stamped into the metal!

 

[RoosterShooter]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

I don't reside in the great state of Texas, but I do feel sorry for you all. Hope everyone involved gets their property back.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Whatever happened to the prosecutors having to PROVE guilt. It isn't the case of the defendants having to prove INNOCENCE.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Yes the trailer was stolen... by the crooked cops and other LE agents involved acting like a bunch of gang members. Are they really that hard up for money that they have to resort to being common car thieves?

Just remember the name of that crooked judge really well. Then when elections come around go door to door with everyone you can find handing out flyers about how corrupt he is. You just might get lucky and convince enough people to change the vote to anyone else and kick his sorry ass out of office.

 

[repiv]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

This sounds like something the media should jump all over. If they really are doing this just to run a scam to profit from, it might make a good national news story. As long as its not exposed they will keep doing it.

 

[THE MGD]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Honestly a lawyer would cost more than the trailer. Id document down the dates your out of work. And id stop refferimg to it as a trailer and call it a log carrier. Get as much media attention as you can.

 

[glocksig40]

Re: Law Enforcement Help....Mansfield TX

Doesnt it still require a warrant for a cop to come on your place and sieze something if they didnt observe an illegal act? If the trailer was sitting on private property and the cop just entered the property, I do believe he needs a warrant to take your stuff. That would be the same as a cop coming in your house and telling you he is taking your guns because they may be stolen. Sounds like bullshit crooks to me.
Best of luck.