DHS CBP / DPS / Sheriff Stops on the Increase...?...

[SHANEA]

Interesting reading through a multitude of posts on the various Yahoo groups associated with the West Texas Trans Pecos Big Bend region that a an increasing number of people are being stopped along the roads and also being "inspected" at the Checkpoint Charlies.  Word on the street is that it is because of the funnel effect - as the border fence goes up in other parts of the state and country, it is funneling drug runners towards West Texas.  Anyone been stopped lately?

[RichardM]

I'd noticed that chatter as well. Several mentions of vehicle searches based on "smells", particularly of the herbal variety. General impression is that the agents are under orders to conduct these searches based on the anticipated funnel effect rather than actually having probable cause. Lots of locals have termed it as harassment.

[Undertaker]

Other than standard border check points on way to Alpine, no stops.

[Texan4life]

A friend of mine is a Trooper and he has been having to spend mandatory shifts, weeks at a time, near the border. His area of patrol is normally alot farther north. DPS and alot of county agencies have been trying to flood the area with officers. Simply put, the more officers you have on patrol the more stops there will be. 

Last time I was on the way to the Bend I was followed very closly by a BP agent for a few miles. I assume he ran my plate and was not interested...

[SHANEA]

very closly by a BP agent for a few miles. I assume he ran my plate and was not interested...

Anytime I'm followed for more than a little ways, I pull off - every time they have gone along their way.  Last time a DPS was following me on the way home from Big Bend.  First chance I had I pulled off and he went on his merry way.

[Undertaker]

Last trip to bend a border patrol truck from the checkpoint north of the park followed me all the way into the park, actually was just on the same road to Terlingua, when we pulled over to offload water, he stopped (thought we were having problems) to help, he was on way home for the evening.

[jamesb]

they need to expand on this idea

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5937293.html

James