This week, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement (MVE) called out a serious lug nut situation spotted by an officer on an off ramp. On December 27, 2022, Iowa DOT MVE shared a social medial post detailing a recent traffic stop:

“The other day, one of our officers was conducting a traffic stop on an off ramp. During the stop, the officer looked over and saw this going down the ramp next to him. Needless to say, the first traffic stop came to an end pretty quick…”

Several Facebook commenters speculated that the driver must’ve forgotten to do a pre-trip inspection. Others suggested that an inexperienced tire technician could have contributed to the lug nut issue.

“Held on by hopes and dreams,” said a Facebook commenter.

“Result of no pre inspection,” one Facebook user said.

“Look man it’s connected by Bluetooth Mr. DOT officer get with the new technology,” another person quipped.

“A lot of times this happens because of uneducated tire guys, that think they can zip lug nuts on with impacts running wide open, and they stretch the studs out on the hub, then this happens and unfortunately it falls on us drivers!” another user suggested.