Tennessee highway patrol officers who inspect school buses are fulfilling a duty their boss, Commissioner Jeff Long, swears to Uncle Sam they are performing.
That is, enforcing the motor vehicle safety laws upon parties involved in the privileged occupation of transportation in the state.
By David Tulis / NoogaRadio Network
“Inspecting buses is a year-round process. We have around 11,000 buses,” Lt. Bobby Clevenger says to a local TV station. “That includes daycare buses, as well, then our trooper inspectors have to go out and inspect these all year long.”
Much trooper energy goes into harassing people such as tradesman Gregory Parker, a Rossville, Ga., carpenter, not involved in the transportation business.
He is facing a criminal trial in Hamilton County under a procedure prohibited by the federal constitution and not permitted under state law, including “driving on revoked.” Trooper Dale Herring on March 29, 2021, smashed Mr. Parker’s pickup truck window in making the arrest, dragging him to the pavement. Mr. Parker Is victim of outside-the-scope law enforcement and the intimidation tactic of charge stacking in his case.
For half-a-penny offense, Mr. Parker was held under a F$60,000 bond. The troopers plan to try him on 12 charges in criminal court.
“Inspecting buses is a year-round process. We have around 11,000 buses. That includes daycare buses, as well, then our trooper inspectors have to go out and inspect these all year long,” Lt. Bobby Clevenger says.
Bus inspection is the “No. 1 priority” before students can get aboard, says a TV9 report. Lt. Clevenger said THP looks for defects.
“Outside the bus they’re going to be looking at all of the lights, making sure all of the lights are functioning properly, making sure the stop signs coming out and retracting properly and flashing. They’re going to be checking all of the emergency exits as well,” he said.
Inside the bus, troopers check bolts holding seats down, that there are no cracks or rust, or torn seats.
“These are all defects we are looking for to ensure the bus is as safe as possible. Another thing they will also be inspecting is the windshield, making sure there is no clutter on the dash that could block vision of the driver because it’s very important the driver is able to see the children crossing in front of the bus without any kind of obstruction to the vision,” he tells the TV9 reporter.
Alyse Swick, “Tennessee Highway Patrol in Bradlely County inspects school buses to keep students safe,” TV9, Aug. 15, 2022
