# OK, so now the Department of Homeland Security is patrolling the Highway... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 29, 2003, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889 "2003-11-29T08:52:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/1 "2003-11-29T08:52:16Z")
While driving down the expressway today, a non descript white minivan with blacked out windows, interior emergency lighting, and DHS Gov’t plates was being driven by a person, who had all the same gear as a cop, badge, vest, duty belt, rifle, bum cage, and was flitting from car to car calling in plates on an encrypted radio (i’ve used them, I know what they look like). The Department of Homeland Security is patrolling the fecking highways now? Since When? I mean WTF is that about? I thought that was the job of the Illinois State Police? Am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/2 "2003-11-29T08:56:41Z")
How do you know he was patrolling? He could just be commuting or driving on, er…cop…business. Could DHS mean something else? ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/3 "2003-11-29T12:56:09Z")
Well, here it is Department of Human Services. But they can’t afford enough case workers much less a tricked out spooky van. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/4 "2003-11-29T13:38:16Z")
So what? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/5 "2003-11-29T14:14:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by buttonjockey308 \* > \*\*While driving down the expressway today, a non descript white minivan with blacked out windows, interior emergency lighting, and DHS Gov’t plates was being driven by a person, who had all the same gear as a cop, badge, vest, duty belt, rifle, bum cage, and was flitting from car to car calling in plates on an encrypted radio (i’ve used them, I know what they look like). > \*\* If the windows were blacked out, how did you see the ‘rifle’ and his duty belt? More importantly, how the living fuck would you know an ‘encrypted radio’ by looking at one? More likely, you are chock-a-block full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/6 "2003-11-29T14:48:27Z")
Where were the black helicopters? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/7 "2003-11-29T15:01:36Z")
Department of Homeland Security vehicles use standard federal government plates; they don’t say “DHS”. My cite is personal observation: I know the director of the Bureau of Customs and Immigration; he was formerly the Vice-Chairman of the Export-Import Bank, in support of which I ply my humble trade these days. During the tme pending his Senate confirmation, he wore two hats; his driver would bring him to the Bank from BCIS in a Homeland Security vehicle. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/8 "2003-11-29T17:16:55Z")
Brutus said… \*\*If the windows were blacked out, how did you see the ‘rifle’ and his duty belt? More importantly, how the living fuck would you know an ‘encrypted radio’ by looking at one? More likely, you are chock-a-block full of shit.[\b] Piss off. The rifle (or shotgun) was mounted to the bum cage, (I could see the silhouette through the windshield) and from my position in my own vehicle, which was a bit higher than the van, the duty belt was evident. Moreover, The Motorola sabre, used by the Feds (I used one when I was a DoD Officer) is, and I say usually, encrypted. Squad cars and such have been my business for 13 years, I know one when I see one. Bricker, actually, the license plate architecture for the gov’t has changed a bit since I worked there, but the patch on the drivers shoulder was a circle that read “department of homeland security” and the plates read DHS on the far left side and numerals on the right. 2+2 and all that rot. I’m not taking a “black helicopters” stand, but rather a jurisdictional one. Shouldn’t that kind of thing be left to the states? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/9 "2003-11-29T17:47:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by buttonjockey308 \* > \*\*The Department of Homeland Security is patrolling the fecking highways now? Since When? \*\* Ummm . . . Maybe since people started _blowing us up?_ ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/10 "2003-11-29T18:49:44Z")
How do you know he was calling in plates? ---
**Author:** ![NBIT33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NBIT33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NBIT33)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/11 "2003-11-29T18:52:24Z")
Good! I hope he catches the bastard who killed my mother, raped my sister, and burned my bible. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/12 "2003-11-29T19:00:57Z")
A) I doubt he was running plates. Who would he be running them through? B) He could’ve been doing anything from delivering a van to transporting some item(s) in the back. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/13 "2003-11-29T22:40:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by buttonjockey308 \* > **DHS Gov’t plates** Maybe he’s from the Department of Hello Sailor. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/14 "2003-11-29T22:48:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bouncer \* > \*\*A) I doubt he was running plates. Who would he be running them through? > > B) He could’ve been doing anything from delivering a van to transporting some item(s) in the back. > Regards, > -Bouncer- \*\* All though I have no horse in this race I have to point out Bouncer that the Department of Homeland Security likely has access to LEADS ( I would hope so, if not then they are not even close to being an effective department). This is the law enforcement data service and they could easily run plates. In fact they likely have, or at least I hope they do, even betetr databases. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/15 "2003-11-30T02:37:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ravenman \* > \*\*How do you know he was calling in plates? \*\* Well, if he’s got the x-ray vision to see the encrypted radio, he can probably read lips too. I guess he had to driving an SUV. He’d have to be sitting pretty high to get that view… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/16 "2003-12-01T00:39:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cervaise \* > \*\*Maybe he’s from the Department of Hello Sailor. \*\* No, no…we haven’t sent out highway operatives since the unfortunate “Hitching Hustler” scandals. The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell folks got a mite nervous on that one… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/17 "2003-12-01T01:03:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vunderbob \* > \*\*Where were the black helicopters? \*\* Budget cuts. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/18 "2003-12-01T03:26:49Z")
Earlier this year, for a couple of months the _Wal\_Mart Police_ were patrolling my neighborhood outside of Kansas City. My neighbors and I had no clue why. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/19 "2003-12-01T04:54:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > \*\*Earlier this year, for a couple of months the _Wal\_Mart Police_ were patrolling my neighborhood outside of Kansas City. My neighbors and I had no clue why. \*\* Probably looking for “borrowed” carts. It’s amazing what will walk away across a very big, very crowded parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889/20 "2003-12-01T17:02:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > \*\*Earlier this year, for a couple of months the _Wal\_Mart Police_ were patrolling my neighborhood outside of Kansas City. My neighbors and I had no clue why. \*\* That damn smiley face got out of its cage again, and was probably slashing things other than prices. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-the-department-of-homeland-security-is-patrolling-the-highway/215889.md?page=2)