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Jthundercleese t1_jedlyo6 wrote

It's really impressive how often keys are left in the ignition or just somewhere on heavy machinery like this. They probably won't change anything and just hope no one else has the same idea.

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Jthundercleese t1_jedmydq wrote

Getting it to your place would be the hardest part. Not being seen by someone inclined to call the cops, basically. They're slow, so you'd have to do it when there's no traffic to back up. Maybe like 2:45/3:00 in the morning. Well after bars close, but before the super early work shifts start. You'll want to bring extra fuel, and maybe chose something with tires that can drive a bit faster.

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Flash_ina_pan t1_jedns5c wrote

It's more about preventing unauthorized use, it ties into

1917.43(b)(3) When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load-engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls neutralized and brakes set. Unless the truck is in view and within 25 feet (7.62 m) of the operator, power shall be shut off. Wheels shall be blocked or curbed if the truck is on an incline.

This is what I have seen cited

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porcelainvacation t1_jedph3g wrote

When I was a kid I used to mess around in the woods and came across a logging site. The keys were in the bulldozer so I started it and took it for a joy ride. I couldn’t figure out how to turn it off so I left it running. Later I learned that diesel engines of that era had a mechanical lever that pushed on the injection pump to shut them down.

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Blakut t1_jedtkkn wrote

driving a forklift without a certification, that's life in prison buddy

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LuccaJolyne t1_jedusdh wrote

Okay but let's face it, if you're going to do chase someone in a forklift, why wouldn't you laugh maniacally?

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misterfriend t1_jee0vts wrote

That's all they cost? Good lord, I'm imagining all the activities and places I could see with one of those.

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Norjac t1_jee966t wrote

Maybe it's a homeowner who is fed up with the homeless situation chasing a homeless pedestrian. If so, completely understandable.

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jimi15 t1_jeebcv0 wrote

"This is the song Starting off our medley"

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HYPERBOLE_TRAIN t1_jeeczeh wrote

Most of these machines have a manufacturer-universal key. These machines do not abide by automobile conventions for operation.

This is to say that the person who knows how to operate the machine also has access to the key regardless of whether a key is in the ignition. The standard for disabling machines like this is to remove the “night-key”, which disables the battery and therefore the ignition. The problem with that is the universal nature of night-keys.

Edit to add that a lot of forklifts operate pretty similarly to autos, besides the rear-wheel steering. The mini gradeall in the pic takes a little more knowledge to get moving but an average driver could figure it out in a couple minutes.

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ramriot t1_jeehur0 wrote

Menacing pedestrians I don't get, but the laughing maniacally while joyriding a stollen forklift I totally get.

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5uper5kunk t1_jef9lhj wrote

Yep, I work in industry where I'm constantly dealing with rented industrial equipment and I have a zippered pouch with like 75 to 100 random keys in it that I've accumulated over the years. I have never fail to be able to start any piece of keyless equipment that have I come across so long as it's something I've rented before.

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5uper5kunk t1_jef9xg3 wrote

So the reason this happens a lot is the nature of rental equipment. A lot of the times the renter isn't there while the gear is being dropped off or picked up, so there's no chance for an in person key transfer.

Reasonable people use one of those magnetic key boxes and then send a text/email giving its location, but either hanging in the ignition or under the seat are absolutely the industry standard

Multiple times over the course of my career have I a "borrowed" a random forklift when I needed to move some thing and mine either wasn't available/had not been delivered/ran out of power.

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CoffeeAndRegret t1_jefamf9 wrote

Crimes that are funny should get a free pass. This man is out there making society more interesting and we are being so ungrateful by imprisoning him. /s

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porcelainvacation t1_jefj1t4 wrote

No idea, nobody caught me. It was the 80’s, they either would run you off or give you a job if you were a kid hanging around a site. I had a job at 14 years old doing tractor work on an estate because I got caught joyriding a Kubota tractor

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alexjaness t1_jefm3cb wrote

as if there is any other way to laugh in a stolen forklift.

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LaughableIKR t1_jefo9j5 wrote

Why not. I sounded like he was having a great day.

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Jthundercleese t1_jefwbcr wrote

I think that's tough to argue. In a forklift controls are always "neutralized". Lift, tilt, shift, etc all put themselves into neutral when you're not using them. And an ignition key in the off position, hard to argue that's not neutral. That's semantics that I think really wouldn't hold up.

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Jthundercleese t1_jefykfu wrote

I would definitely argue with someone from OSHA over it. When a car's controls are in neutral, no one ever assumes that means the key is not in the ignition or specifically not in the car whatsoever. I would definitely cite my 8 years of driving lifts and dozen times talking to OSHA where it was no a problem. If they want keys stored when machines aren't in use, that's got to be written specifically.

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goliathfasa t1_jeg7x3q wrote

Portland trying to top Florida.

You’ve still got a long way to go, grasshopper.

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thirdeyefish t1_jegcqxz wrote

I feel like the value of th forklift is not an important part of this.

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Conflixxion t1_jegi6sz wrote

looks more like a telehandler but I get it... most people wouldn't know what the hell a telehandler is.

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somedave t1_jegzcxb wrote

Florida man's cousin: Portland man. Probably slightly closer than cousin, the tree is not very branched.

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