Does anyone know how long law enforcement can detain a loaded cow truck in Oregon? These people have detained our trucks for hours and then let us go without so much as an apology. We are thinking of filing a suit but can't seem to find a law that says what they an do. Please help.

Law enforcement can detain an empty or loaded truck (including a cow truck) for as long as it takes you to get the truck or driver legal. It is your responsibility to make sure everything is legal, and also your responsiblity to make sure livestock are cared for properly. If they are detaining you for no reason, contact your congressman or the local humane society. Good documentation always helps..........phones with video do WONDERS now days!

Get in touch with the cattlemens association they can tell you what you can do.

believe it's only long enough to do your inspection, check your paperwork for cattle,.... give you an out of service, ticket or let you go... need to call the Oregon State patrol Chief in charge, not some flunky... or govenor...

First I would want to know why you were being held ? If it was because you were loading more than your legal limit ,shame on you, if it was equipment or drivers logs etc , shame on drver for not checking equip and logs before entering the scales, if was something minor shame on the state patrol for not getting your truck out in a timely manor ,hauling live animal does not give you a green light to run illegal. think about that before you load that extra cow or take that load that you can't legal or haven't the hours to complete. If it was none of the ubove then I would definately persue this with the state of Oregon and anyone else I could find to listen . Wish you well in this matter and a Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Can't speak to how long. But if they are going to give you an OOS and your loaded, they have to get you to a place where you can off load. The exception would be a DUI. I can't quote the DOT reg, as I'm at home. But I know this to be a fact. Regretably, I've had to use the DOT book and quote the statute. Not recently, nor very often. But back when we did a lot of coast to coast stuff I was pretty well versed in those type of regs. Don't miss those days.

Steve is correct. DOT has to provide a location to offload your cattle if you are put out of service for any reason. If they do not provide this. they are in violation of animal cruelty laws. You can contact the humane society, cattleman's asssociation, and others to file a complaint.

What we're looking for is a specific law that specifies the time they can detain a truck that hasn't broken a law. We were legal but the Malheur county sheriff's officers were looking for something wrong. They detained us for two hours. They then sent us on our way with no violations. The state police stopped as well and informed the keystone cops of Jordan Valley Oregon that it was a violation of our rights to keep our trucks that long. We're looking for that law.

First thing I would check is to see if those county sheriffs were qualified to do an inspection of you and the truck. I seriously doubt if someone on the county level is qualified to do any type of motor carrier safety inpection. If this is the case, then there you have it.!