This spring, truck driver Johnny, who runs a popular YouTube channel documenting life on the road, got pulled over in Arkansas. Lieutenant Overton wasn’t happy. See, Johnny, the trucker with decades of experience, had been hanging out too long in the left lane. The move apparently backed up the natural flow of traffic for several miles. That wasn’t all, either. The police officer also noticed Johnny might have “defective” headlights. The trucker had been warning other drivers of police cruisers stationed up the road.

We’ve reported on how this form of communication is often constitutionally protected in court. But the trooper’s calm, simple speech made a lot of viewers realize why we might keep that information to ourselves.

“I’m probably not even going to write you a ticket.”

Almost right away, the trucker, who’s been driving commercially since 1991, thinks to state his right to remain silent. The officer actually laughs in response. It seems cold, especially in this political climate. But it turns out he’s trying to educate the semi-truck driver on the importance of those police cruisers.

“Okay. So, my name’s Lieutenant Overton…I’ve been out here for a long time,” he begins. “It’s not Miranda, I’m not releasing custody, none of that stuff. I’m probably not even going to write you a ticket.”

Overton continues: “But here’s the deal…You’re trying to warn all these drivers…What you’re doing is you’re letting traffickers, human traffickers, human smugglers, drug traffickers, drunks, people with suspended licenses, warrants, all those things, know, ‘Hey, cops are up here. Cops up here. Don’t be violating the law when you get up here, unless you want to go to jail for doing what you’re doing, okay? Unless you want that child that you’ve abducted to be found in the back of your truck, slow down. Slow down before you get up there.’ You understand what I’m telling you?”

Wow. That’s heavy.

“We’re not out looking for good guys.”

The trooper and the driver spend some time debating about whether Johnny should consider himself a professional. See, Johnny’s tired, and April was, according to him, his last month driving a semi.

The trooper urged the driver to see himself as a professional, and Johnny confirmed that he doesn’t have beef with the police doing their job. He remarks on how not everyone in uniform is a good guy, either.

Overturn responds with, “We’re not out looking for good guys.”

The comments from other drivers confirm two sides here

It seems that on the one hand, folks should understand their right to communicate with each other on the road.

“But its legal to flash your lights – “Flashing headlights to warn other drivers about police presence or potential hazards is generally legal in the US. Many states have no laws specifically prohibiting this, and some courts have even ruled it’s a form of protected speech under the First Amendment.”

“I have lived in Arkansas my entire life and I absolutely support our law enforcement, however, I support our Constitutional rights first and foremost. I’m not sure why so many people in the comments love the taste of boots, but it was very unprofessional for a LEO to laugh at a citizen for exercising his right to remain silent. Yes, he has a point about driving in the left lane and flashing headlights but that’s not a reason to laugh or say exercising our rights is hilarious. The truck driver responded appropriately, in my opinion, based on the trooper’s  comments in the beginning. We, the people, are not supposed to be subservient to law enforcement.  Part of the reason they issue citations is to bring in revenue for the state. They are not our friends and the truck driver responded appropriately.”

On the flip side, they should also understand what they might inadvertently do when they flash their lights at other drivers: warn predators or others actively breaking fairly serious laws.

“I am shocked to see you react the way you did to this officer, he was respectful to you. And he is right in what travels the roads now days. I really thought you had a more level head than that as I have been watching you for a long time now. And you are very wrong about not being a professional. A professional is generally someone who makes their living from a specialized activity or occupation that requires significant education, training, and experience. And my friend, from what I have seen, you are very much a professional, this day just seems to have been one of your off times. Enjoy your retirement, I retired from it over 20 years ago and could not take it out there anymore either, it’s crazy what has happened to the trucking industry. Good luck my friend and stay safe out there.”

“Johnny..I looked at it like you did. Tickets are expensive. I would warn drivers too. However..he made a point about traffickers, kidnapping, drunks etc. I probably won’t do that anymore…at least no ticket.”

In the end, the trooper wished Johnny a good life and a nice retirement

They parted ways peacefully, though it’s obvious the trucker was a bit shaken from the interaction.

Watch the full video here: