Trouble with California

JRscooby wrote:

Deb and Ed M wrote:
But an AG stop isn't about police enforcement - it's about protecting an area from invaders you surely don't know that you are transporting. Why on Earth would you not let someone find a pest that can create havoc in an environment?

Yes, but the uniform asks me, "Are you carrying fruits, veggies, or plants?" No. At that point, maybe tell me of the harm that could come from my fruit, fine. But "Can I come in and look?" Would translate in my mind to YOU ARE LYING! If uniform thinks they need to see for themselves, ask it inspect, don't ask what I have.

And this is what it comes down to: "they think I'm lying". People take that as a personal insult and get an attitude about it. Then the whole thing goes south.

In reality, it was NOT a personal attack. The inspector doesn't know the OP or anyone going through that checkpoint. They are simply making a quick judgment call as to which vehicle is most likely carrying a problem. An RV from across the country - far more likely to be carrying infected fruit than a compact car from in-state. So, they question the answer.

Years ago, I got stopped after a night out with friends. I had missed a turn and made an illegal u-turn. The officer asked me if I had been drinking. I said no, but my friends had and she's about to throw up. He had me "walk the line". Did I take it personally and get all mad? No, I did as he asked and passed the test and he let me go with a war ning. I could look beyond the "accusation" that I was lying and realize that it wasn't that off to think I could be lying. And if I had been drinking, I would have most likely BEEN LYING about not drinking.

Singularly, in the OP's situation, the inspector asked the question, then considered the odds that this person could be lying and decided it was enough of a chance to ask to look inside.

There was nothing more sinister than that.