That’s because Sheriff Steve Nowlin has begun a campaign to prevent livestock theft by initiating more inspections of livestock transport.
“We have not had any thefts while I have been in office, but it is happening in nearby states, and has been a problem before in the county,” he said during the annual Southwest Colorado Livestock Association meeting Saturday.
The plan had a mixed reaction from ranchers in the crowd.
“What is your probable cause?” asked one rancher. “Random stops take up time.”
Nowlin cited Colorado statute that allows for random stops of livestock haulers to inspect proper ownership documents and animal brands.
Under Colorado Revised Statute 35-53-117, a sheriff deputy is authorized to stop and inspect any motor vehicle transporting or containing livestock and demand bill of sale, permit, or certificate. If the vehicle operator is unable to show proper documents law enforcement could make an arrest with or without a warrant, and take possession of the livestock until satisfactory evidence of ownership or permission to haul is shown.
Nowlin said the effort is not meant to be “invasive,” rather it is a preventative tactic to thwart crimes against agriculture.
“We want to protect your property by being proactive,” he said.
Nowlin said he has put all his officers through extensive agricultural training on livestock laws and branding. One of his goals of the program is to familiarize his department with the local ranchers as a way to know if something is out of place.
“There is more theft of cattle on allotments then people realize,” he said. “It’s a deterrent if (thieves) know we will be out there asking questions and stopping haulers.”
Nighttime hauling is a “red flag” because that is when thefts often occur, he said. Part of the plan is work with Dolores county to monitor key hauling routes across multiple jurisdictions.
Local ranchers said they are a tight-knit group, and they help each other during the hauling season, picking up stray cows and dropping them off to the rightful owner, or transporting for friends and neighbors.
“In a rush to get to the sale barn, time wasted at a random stop could be a problem,” said one rancher.
Nowlin answered that livestock haulers should make sure they have the proper ownership and brand paperwork with them. Horse haulers should keep travel cards with them and ownership documents as well.
When a rancher hauls for someone else, a letter of permission from the owner will smooth out the process.
“The inspections are not going to be on a daily basis; we have a limited staff,” Nowlin said. “There will be special patrols during periods when a lot of hauling is occurring.”
The livestock association agreed to attend the sheriff’s livestock and brand training sessions put on for deputies.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com