Equipment Repair Order: Fill & Download for Free

I was aboard our submarine during the refit period, prior to going out to sea for two months. We were conducting the refit (as was usual) at our forward operating base (Guam). I had woke up, stood a watch (I don’t remember which, probably Shutdown Maneuvering Area Watch, got off watch, did some repairs/maintenance on equipment. That was a full day of work. I got ready to get some sleep, but the powers that be decided that was the time for an all-hands field day (general clean-up), so I spent that time cleaning. Now coming up on 24 hours awake, I went back to stand my next watch. 30 something hours awake. Getting a little bit punchy. Pulled a few more hours of equipment repair. Then was heading for my bunk for some well-deserved rack-time (sleep). Just then, the Chief of the Boat (senior enlisted man on board) decided I should be the one to drive the liberty bus (one of the few crew members who actually had a Navy bus driver license) that the boat had been assigned. “COB, I haven’t slept in two days.” “Tough”. “COB, it’s unsafe.” “Quit your bellyaching, it’s only four hours” “Aye, aye, Master Chief.”I made one run into town. It was night, and I was literally hallucinating… at one point I slammed on the brakes because of the snakes on the road (nothing there). I was all over the road, I’m sure. When I got back from town after that first run, I went down to the mess deck for a massive infusion of coffee. Fortunately, Doc (the Hospital Corpsman) was there. I saw him, and saw him looking at me (I was nodding off over my coffee mug.). Then I stood up and made sure I staggered a little bit. Then I announced the next run of the liberty bus. Doc asked me if I was going … and I said, “I’m driving!” He asked me when I last had some sleep. I said, “I don’t know…two or three days ago.” ( I REALLY couldn’t calculate it at the time). Doc said, “Your not driving anywhere. You are going to your rack, and you are going to stay there for 8 hours straight. We’ll figure out a relief for you on the liberty bus and the watch bill.” I was so happy, I almost cried.

I once stopped a car with multiple equipment violations. My attention was drawn to the car by its loudness. My inspection showed numerous violations due to neglect, including a missing muffler. He showed me a bill of sale to prove his ownership, but had not transferred his registration for the car, using the plates of the former owner, quite illegal too.This guy pleaded poverty as a student. He claimed he was trying to get the car fixed but between study requirements, entry level job and expenses that he had not been able to attend to the needs of the car. The violations were flagrant. I cited him for the registration violation which would not affect his insurance and gave him a break with a minor fine. I issued a repair order for the violations and ordered the car off the road for the most dangerous defects until repaired.I received a subpoena for a bench trial a few weeks later. As I was entering the court building, I heard a loud exhaust. I noticed the same guy pulling into the parking lot. The license plate was different, but it was the same car, and it was still in poor condition.In the court after my testimony the guy presented to the judge a title issued the day after the citation. He also presented new registration papers. He testified he was just “trying out the guy’s car” and had only purchased it the day after I stopped him. Therefor the car had actually been owned by the other guy and the registration citation to court was incorrect. The judge looked at me with apology written all over his face and found the guy not guilty or dismissed the case (I forget which).Ten minutes later I was in the street waiting for him in a borrowed patrol car as I had come to court on my day off in a personally owned car. The guy drove out of the court and onto the street. I pulled him over in a safe place for the lack of a muffler. He objected to that and said I was picking on him. I reminded him why I had made the original stop and it appeared he didn’t care how loud the car was for his neighbors and other residents and had ignored the repair order, endangering other motorists. I discovered he had fixed none of the defects. I issued him a new citation to court for the violations and failing to repair the car.I returned the patrol car to the court parking lot. I filed the new charges with the clerk of court. I walked into the court room to return the key to the officer who loaned it to me. The judge called out “Did you get him?” I answered in the affirmative. The judge replied, “Good! It’s a bill come due.”

In my jurisdiction you can be pulled over if any OEM light on the vehicle is out.OEM = Original Equipment from the Manufacturer.Not only is a burned out light probable cause to stop you, you can receive an Equipment Repair Order and/or a Ticket. Usually one or the other.So, if you are planning to do something illegal, make sure your vehicle can pass inspection…otherwise you may get stopped for a minor motor vehicle violation and find yourself being arrested for the controlled dangerous substances you forgot you had in the car…