Texas Highway Patrol
If you’ve ever taken a long road trip across Texas, you’ve probably noticed black-and-white cop cars stopped periodically along the highway shoulders. Those are Texas Highway Patrol troopers, often called simply “state troopers.” The Texas Highway Patrol serves as Texas’s state police force.
State troopers are granted authority by the state of Texas. They are authorized to perform the same law enforcement activities as local police, including traffic stops. In many cases, traffic stops result in drug busts.
If you’ve been the target of a state trooper’s drug bust, the attorneys at the Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC can help.
Defense Attorney for Highway Patrol Arrests in Texas
At the Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC, we know how to play law enforcement’s game. Before his two decades of criminal defense practice, attorney David Sloane was a police lieutenant. David’s decades of experience practicing law and his prior experience enforcing the law position him as a formidable opponent to prosecutors.
We will fight passionately on your behalf to obtain the most favorable result possible. We will push for dismissal of your charges whenever the opportunity is available. If your case can’t be dismissed outright, we’ll work to negotiate a plea deal that keeps you from facing the full penalties available under Texas law.
Contact the Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC at (817) 810-0088 or by submitting an online form to schedule a free consultation today. We represent clients across Texas, including the counties of Dallas, Dallam, Tarrant, Wise, and Gray.
Overview of Highway Patrol in Texas
- Where Do Texas Highway Patrol Troopers Operate?
- What Services Does the Texas Highway Patrol Provide?
- Drug Busts by State Troopers
- Additional Resources
Where Do Texas Highway Patrol Troopers Operate?
Local law enforcement officials are usually authorized to operate within the boundaries of their counties. By contrast, Texas Highway Patrol officers have jurisdiction to operate anywhere in the state of Texas. State troopers serve the entire population of Texas, which totaled over 28 million citizens as of 2017.
In more rural parts of the state with smaller police forces, state troopers provide backup and support to the local police.
You’re likely to see troopers patrolling the more popular overland drug trafficking routes. Among the more popular routes include Interstate 40 and Highway 287, both which run from Texas to Colorado. Now that marijuana is legal in Colorado state, troopers have seen an increase in the amount of legalized marijuana flowing down into Texas.
Contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC if you’re facing charges following an encounter with Texas Highway Patrol.
What Services Does the Texas Highway Patrol Provide?
The primary duties of Texas Highway Patrol troopers are traffic law enforcement, commercial vehicle enforcement, and criminal law enforcement on stretches of road in rural Texas. However, state troopers are legally authorized to enforce the law in any capacity that a local law enforcement officer would.
Some of the other enforcement activities state troopers participate in include:
- Conducting fraudulent document investigations;
- Partnering with drug and explosive detection canines;
- Participating as members of Civil Disturbance Management Teams;
- Patrolling the Texas Capitol and protecting the governor;
- Serving as part of the DPS Tactical Marine Unit; and
- Providing forensic mapping of crime scenes.
Texas Highway Patrol troopers are involved in a wide variety of law enforcement activities, but arresting people on drug charges is among their more frequent activities. If you’ve been arrested by state troopers, the experienced drug defense attorneys at the Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC offer a free consultation to discuss your case.
Drug Busts by State Troopers
A major component of Texas Highway Patrol Troopers’ daily work is apprehending people for drug charges. State troopers bust a variety of characters along the state’s highways, ranging from marijuana tourists bringing cannabis-based souvenirs back from Colorado to drug traffickers transporting bulk quantities of controlled substances.
In January 2019, a state trooper initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 40 after observing a driver commit multiple moving violations in Carson County. The trooper detected the smell of marijuana and initiated a search of the vehicle. Upon searching a backpack found in the vehicle, the officer located a substantial amount of marijuana and a quantity of methamphetamine valued at $230,000.
Police seized another massive haul of drugs after initiating a traffic stop in Donley County in November 2018. The driver of an RV was pulled over along Highway 287 after a state trooper observed him commit a traffic violation. Texas Highway patrol executed a search of the vehicle and located nearly 6,000 pounds of marijuana and THC-containing products.
You really can’t be too careful when navigating the Texas highway system, especially if you’re carrying illegal contraband with you. The Texas Highway patrol troopers are skilled at identifying and charging people who move controlled substances along state roads. A single traffic stop could ruin the rest of your life.
If a state trooper or local law enforcement official has busted you with drugs, contact the dedicated marijuana defense attorneys at the Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC.
Additional Resources
Highway Patrol | Texas Department of Public Safety – Visit this link to view the official website for the Texas Highway Patrol Division of the state’s Department of Public Safety. Here you can read about the mission of THP, travel tips, and education and awareness programs provided by the department.
Texas Department of Public Safety | TSHA – The Texas State Historical Association is a nonprofit organization that publishes the free online publication called the Handbook of Texas. Visit this link to read a concise summary about the establishment of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Defense Lawyer for Highway Patrol Arrests in Texas
Keep an eye out for state troopers when you’re crossing the highways of Texas. If you’re carrying contraband, there’s a good chance a trooper will locate it. The Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC represents clients charged with everything from simple cite and release charges to felony marijuana charges.
Don’t attempt to defend yourself against marijuana charges. Without proper legal representation, you risk overlooking key evidence and defenses that could result in a favorable outcome. An attorney with years of marijuana defense experience can identify opportunities to dismiss or reduce your charges.
Contact the Law Offices of David Sloane, PLLC at (817) 810-0088 to schedule a free consultation today. We represent Texas clients from Hall, Childress, Hardeman, Moore, and Dallam Counties.
This page was last updated on Monday, February 11, 2019.
