Warning – Burners profiled by tribal police

[brayandtrill]

Please, if you are driving northwest on 95 through the Walker River Indian Reservation, read this story.

Last year on our way home we were stopped for “crossing over the yellow line” on the res. Our truck was searched because the officer said we did not pull over right away. They were very direct that they were looking for drugs. We were required to submit to drug tests then arrested and taken to the neighboring county jail.
Things to note: it was morning, we were wide awake, sober and obeying all laws (not speeding and NOT crossing any lines), we pulled over immediately. Our packed vehicle/bikes had obviously just come from the playa.
In jail we met 8 other burners who had the same experience (some on the way to the burn). They all had packed cars with bikes. They were all pulled over for “swerving/crossing the line” and they were all searched and required to submit to drug tests (some on the side of the road) for questionable reasons. Did you know THC in your system from weeks ago can be grounds for a DUI and arrest?

We were lucky to be able to hire a lawyer and get out in a couple of days. Other burners had been there over a week because they didn’t have money for bail or lawyers. Our official lab drug tests came back negative (my first was positive for a substance I have never used) and charges were dropped. I’m not making excuses or misplacing any blame but I want to warn everyone.

The whole experience was frightening and eye-opening. Moral of the story…be VERY careful. Be more careful that you imagined you ever needed to be. If you can avoid it, do not drive through Walker River because they are just waiting for burners. At the very least they can detain you and inconvenience you even if you are doing nothing wrong. Be safe!