InterceptRadio.com Forums

_________________
</>

I like that they are looking at making a mandatory chain requirement. Make it like the mountains, chains or AWD/4x4 required. I saw nobody stuck that had chains on. Go figure!....:)

I didn't see anyone that actually knows how to drive in the snow stuck either ;)

Will they talk on DOT or WSP? Do the DOT trucks have both V and 800?

I believe it depends on the crew... The DOT incident response crews are on both, because they actually sign in as "David" units on the air with WSP... I believe that the normal DOT guys are just on the LTR system.

The Incident Response trucks are "Tom-18xx" units on the WSP radio in King County. David units are district detective units.

_________________
Richard
Do you know Bunnery?

The T units or "IRT" in Spokane come up on WSP area, but I'm sure the have a DoT radio too.
In the past I heard a Troop talking with a "Skykomish" tow truck on LERN up on Stevens Pass. Heard similar in Montana.
Not sure how the legality of that works, but I guess if the tow is contracted/responding to assist L/E.

_________________
</>

Portland imposes a chain-up law on certain roadways or throughout the city including the freeways if conditions warrant. I can't put chains on my Forester, it's in the owners manual not to. I think they should make more use of road graders as they have the ability to remove snow and ice down to bare pavement.

_________________
"I was installing un-programmed radios"

On rare occasons you'll hear tow trucks on LERN down here too. I don't think WSDOT has a dedicated IRT here (Klickitat Co.) but I'm shure that they have guys trained for it. Klickitat Co. usually sends somebody out to accidents on their roads to check for satey issues or road damage from the wreck. "After hours" KCSO dipatches the county road unit to the wreck on the LE channels.

About the legality issue, back when I was volentering for KCFPD#7, It seemed that the licence holder for the channel could write a letter in reguard to an ouside angency or whatever saying they had permisson to use the channel. A lot of cross channel usage goes on down here because everybody except the WSDOT is on VHF high. For example, the DNR has all the county fire channels and City of G-dale, Centerville (Dist. 5), and maybe Roosevelt (Dist 9) fire have access to KCFPD#7's repeater. Also, dispatch uses county fire to talk to the PUD if they need to.

Oh, I guess this is a scanner message board...

KC fire dispatch; 154.130

KCSO "Central Repeater" 154.025

There was a period where DOT / State Patrol (not sure which one) contracted tow services to plain white (and big-ass) tow trucks to clear I-5 / I-405, etc... in a rapid response type arrangement. They would move disabled vehicles from the freeways to designated (and numbered) "drop zones". That was a private contractor, and they were active on WSP Area channels.

For 1. Would be nice if they knew how to properly plow roads and not just "skim the top" as I have seen most all plows ever doing. and For 2. As someone else mentioned would be nice if people knew how to drive in the snow. "Chaining up" (especially around here) is something of a joke. I've never once put chains on any vehicle I've owned. I've lived in Montana years ago and use to drive an 83 Honda Accord for a while there and never had to use chains and they get WAY more snow then We do here. I was once told in Montana "if you have to use chains, you shouldn't be driving in it" (Big Rigs aside) It comes down to proper road care in the snow. Also I have noticed one big factor when it snows and we have an "impending snow event" there seems to be a "panic" that sets in at workplaces and the such. Usually and I have seen this happen numerous times over the years, Most places of employment panic and send everyone home at the start of the event and this floods the roads with paniced drivers all trying to get home or get to schools( that are closing at the same time) causing a mass chaos traffic jam. Have heard year after year "we are prepared" this year from WSDOT, SDOT Etc and the same issues ensue year after year. I've lived here many years and not once have been stuck or even thought of chaining up when it snows. And No i don't own a truck with 4 wheel drive. Funny when i see all the cars off the sides of the roads it's usually those with large 4 wheel drive trucks or big SUV's.

You would think that NW'ers would know the concept of momentum and it's importance in the snow.

Mark is dead on! or why even attempt Queen Anne Hill in a city bus let alone a car? Forward momentum is your friend.

I thought on the Forester, it says if you must, put them on the front tires?

And as for the plowing, I think the ODOT plow crews need to spend a winter in New York state learning how to plow snow....

_________________
Mt Wave SAR member
Support Search & Rescue: Get Lost!
http://www.mwave.org