LEO searches at the gate?

mournlight · Post by **mournlight** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:55 am

I am having a ball getting ready for BM. I'm a newbie and can't wait. I'm just anal enough to want everything to be as perfect as possible so I can have a great time. So, I have a couple of questions:
Is there anything I can do to make the entrance LEO search easier? I won't be carrying anything illegal but I'd prefer to not have all my shit rummaged through. That happened to me on a motorcycle trip in Texas and it took me two days to get it back in place. Like if all my stuff is in see-through ziplocks or plastic boxes will that help? I might be envisioning a worst-case scenario. Do they pull everyone's shit outta their vehicle?

Also, is there anything I should know about the legal way to carry some alcohol? I assume it is okay to bring in unopened bottles and I see they should not be glass. Anything else to know about that (other than don't give it to someone under age, etc.) I want to have a great, trouble-free week.

I've got the craziest "list of what to bring" ever for any trip. I'm so excited that I'll get to make use of all these crazy items I collect!! Thanks in advance!

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:14 am

I don't think the cops search you on entry, at least not when I came in last year. It's just the greeters/rangers doing a brief inspection. I think they look for extra people hiding inside, or stuff that's going to make a mess out there.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:21 am

gate staff are the ones that do the "searching" (I suppose there is the random leo/ranger search).
Greeters, do just that......

Yes, they (gate) look for prohibited items (found in the first timers guide, IIRC), stow aways, and, free booze............take your ticket as well.

making things easy to look at, goes a long way.

Some think, making it hard to wade through stuff will make a staffer not want to look. That may be true, at times. But, it could also lead to a super mess, when, said staffer can't imagine how to put things back......or, just doesn't care to.

Post by **Eric** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:06 am

Gate's just doing their job. Make it easy for them (and treat 'em nice with a cool beer etc) and they'll make it easy(er) for you.

We try to make it so they can easily access any areas that might fit a stow-away (that's quite a few areas in an RV, but we know that coming in) so they don't have to move a ton of crap & crawl all over the place.

I haven't had them go looking for smaller things than a person, but we don't carry things we're not supposed to so it's not an issue.

YMMV

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:15 am

LEOs are only gonna search if they have a reason to. So don't act sketchy and don't get in their face.
And yes, treat Gate right. I don't know how much booze they get per shift, and I don't know how many people it has to endrunken, or how long it has to last. Do they ever get "too much" booze?

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:24 am

Sure! Drive in with a couple open beer cans in your hand. "Shay offisher you like to join me in a round!"

Recipe for success!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:59 am

Ugly Dougly wrote:Sure! Drive in with a couple open beer cans in your hand. "Shay offisher you like to join me in a round!" Recipe for success!

or, drive in like Dougly, sporting only a leopard print thong, and, just bat your eyes at 'em........

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:51 am

We carry our booze in boxes designed to ship wine, with a styrofoam insert which holds six bottles. They've never opened it, but then again, it isn't obvious, just a dusty cardboard box or two. Yes, gasp, glass bottles, but they stay in camp. Our beer is in cans.

mournlight · Post by **mournlight** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:56 am

Oh well that all makes it much easier! I wondered how in the hell so many people got searched at the gate - makes sense if they are only looking for stowaways. They won't have far to look in my stuff unless they are looking for itty bitty people.
I thought they were looking for stowaways when they stopped me in Texas at the border checkpoint on the motorcycle. I told the guy "I don't think a Mexican could fit in there." He didn't think it was funny. :-(

I'm just having a ball getting ready for this. I didn't know I could get so excited about an old rusty bicycle, but even that has been exciting. I feel all giddy!

Thanks for the info! I'll have it all ready for the gatekeepers, including a gift. Great idea!

MistressSybs · Post by **MistressSybs** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:01 am

Sounds like the perfect plan... I'll think we'll do the same!

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:02 am

Basic common sense is the rule. If they hear some giggling, see some movement that shoud'nt take place etc giving probable cause to suspect something, expect to be searched and maybe even refused entry.
How some get in with dogs is beyond me. I'm sure LEO has K9 officers present but the dogs I saw did'nt look like LEO K9s, unless they were undercover.
Last year the gal that searched my truck said she did'nt want to let me in because of a sticker I have on my shell.

She took offense at it. All she did was open the back and look in.

I generally just be myself, kinda reserved so I'm ususally done with in a minute or two.

mournlight · Post by **mournlight** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:17 am

Dogs? This is one place I'd follow the rules and not even try to bring a dog. Why would anyone subject them to that and get themselves thrown out? The dog would have to stay in the whole week, they would be miserable, they can't poop or pee on the playa - I wouldn't even think of bringing one of my spoiled brats to BM. I think the "no dog rule" is perfect for this even though I love my dogs. Their poor feet would be ruined!

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:30 am

I can't say all, but for the most part, the dogs that ARE out there have been grandfathered in.

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:33 am

Why can't dogs pee on the playa? God knows a whole boatload of burners certainly do.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:34 am

I agree, I would'nt take our dog to BM either.
We've taken our dog to the playa on "day trips" but theres an air conditioned truck and plenty of water. One time we stopped along 34 near the hot spring, got out and she (Aussie, the dog) headed for the hot spring.

just sayin though...
In 07 and 08 I saw people with dogs two different days in center camp

But I'm sure LEO's have their K9s and they are humanly cared for

mournlight · Post by **mournlight** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:50 am

I guess it isn't the peeing part that would be a problem, more that my dogs can't read all the warnings about the playa dust gettin' in their feet and their shoes don't fit very well............ The owners of the tents they chose to mark probably wouldn't be too happy either. I hope the humanoids aren't peeing on someone's tent, though I'm sure it happens.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:53 am

yer LUCKY if they pee on yer tent, most of the time it's IN yer tent

trystanthegypsy · Post by **trystanthegypsy** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:00 pm

I believe that volunteers are allowed to bring dogs- it's more of a concern about people being responsible for the care of their dogs I think. It's no place for dogs.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:24 pm

I remember being kept awake at night by some poor dog zipped into a tent yelping its little heart out till it was hoarse while its owners were out partying.

I know people love their dogs and all, but it's awfully hard to care for pets on the playa when you're stoned and having fun and don't want the responsibility of your pet 24 hours a day.

I also saw a dog running loose on the Sunday everyone was leaving. It was lapping at puddles on the ground and running away from everyone that was trying to help it.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:36 am

That's why dogs aren't allowed.

The ones that run off end up having to be shot.

So, what was the sticker?

Rice · Post by **Rice** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 4:38 pm

phil wrote:I remember being kept awake at night by some poor dog zipped into a tent yelping its little heart out till it was hoarse while its owners were out partying.

I know people love their dogs and all, but it's awfully hard to care for pets on the playa when you're stoned and having fun and don't want the responsibility of your pet 24 hours a day.

I also saw a dog running loose on the Sunday everyone was leaving. It was lapping at puddles on the ground and running away from everyone that was trying to help it.

If that was 08, a ranger rescued that puppy that had been left in a tent for an entire day!! The poor thing ended up being adopted by one of the gate staffers and the asshole who brought the puppy was kicked out and banned from ever returning. btw, the puppy is doing great now!

The dogs that I see on the playa seem to belong to the long-time volunteers that spend over a month on the playa getting our city ready and cleaning the city up after the event... These dogs get a lot of love from the other volunteers and I have never seen any of them in distress!!

Rice

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 5:19 pm

The rare dogs with dpw seem well trained, and quite bored with the ruckus.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 7:44 pm

Yeah, the dogs are pretty much DPW-"owned." It's a hardship for dog and person to be separated. I do know of one ranger who brought her dog for some years. I assume she still does.

Playa Foot · Post by **Playa Foot** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:47 am

The DPW dogs are housebroken, mellow and good with people.
The DPW people however . . .

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 3:59 pm

a DPW fellow camped near us last year, had his super old dog with him.........
there were almost fist fights over it.......some saying he was abusing the dog, some that it was his right, being DPW to bring it...........
people bringing it food and water, and, yelling at him...........
others yelling at them to "stay out of it"...

it was very old, very weak, barely could walk........but, it was happy to see him, and, he said it had been coming for years...........

house broke, in that, it always went to others camps to take a dump.........

kingtom · Post by **kingtom** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:01 pm

Please don't tell me beer in bottles are not allowed in my R/V or in camp?

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:23 pm

kingtom wrote:Please don't tell me beer in bottles are not allowed in my R/V or in camp?

Bring me over some samples and I'll clue you in.

Post by **Eric** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:32 pm

kingtom wrote:Please don't tell me beer in bottles are not allowed in my R/V or in camp?

as long as you're prepared to lug out all that empty glass and pick up any that break, you can bring them.

However, it is highly frowned upon, because they tend to not get taken out by the people who bring them (they're heavy even when empty & don't condense down like a can), and when they break- and some will- the shards get left & end up in someones foot.

You'll also need to prepare yourself to be harrassed by other people for using them.

I've been known to bring a bottle or two of a special beer to share with some friends, but never more than that, and I never take them out of camp. I pour them into cups in my RV and pass those out.

You can get good beer in cans, they condense down to get 'em home, they don't break. Learn to love them- at least for 1 week a year.

Token · Post by **Token** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:39 pm

Beers in cans - sure you can compromise.

Whiskey in plastic bottles - NEVER!!!

Sorry but there are some things in life that simply are not negotiable.

Treat the whole playa the same as you treat your livingroom at home and you will be fine, mostly.

Token · Post by **Token** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:44 pm

Actually, if you are like me and drink 22 Oz microbrew, there is a solution.

I gone done got me some leather and stitched together a bottle cozy with a shoulder strap. I covered the outside with a dense fun-fur for insullation.

The beer goes from the fridge straight into the leather cozy, stays cold and if it breaks the glass stays inside.

I wish I had pics.

LEO searches at the gate?

LEO searches at the gate?

Beer in glass bottles.

Re: Beer in glass bottles.

Re: Beer in glass bottles.