In the wonderfully quirky town of Spurbury, Vermont, four dedicated state troopers—Lieutenant Arcot Ramathorn, "Rabbit" Roto, "Mac" Womack, and Carl Foster—oversee a 50-mile stretch of highway while indulging in their playful rivalry with the local police department. Although they are cautioned about their station's dangerously low productivity, these troopers find more joy in orchestrating elaborate pranks on hapless motorists and each other than in doing their actual jobs. This playful spirit is particularly directed toward their colleague, Rodney Farva, who, overflowing with self-confidence, has recently been suspended following an undisclosed incident.
Under the stern supervision of Captain John O'Hagen, the troopers receive a call regarding an abandoned Winnebago on the roadside. However, they arrive to find that the Spurbury police, led by Chief Bruce Grady, have already claimed the scene, aiming to assert their jurisdiction to shut down the troopers' station and bolster their own funding. This brewing conflict escalates into a chaotic fight, where amidst the scuffle, the body of a murdered woman is uncovered in the Winnebago.
Intriguingly, the corpse features a tattoo depicting a monkey, which catches the troopers' attention. Their subsequent routine traffic stop leads them to uncover a significant stash of marijuana adorned with similar monkey stickers, hinting at a connection to the murdered woman. Despite their findings, Chief Grady dismisses the troopers' concerns and rebuffs Captain O'Hagen's appeal for collaboration.
While pursuing a budding romance with Spurbury officer Ursula Hanson, Foster uncovers hidden bundles of the monkey-embellished marijuana during a private encounter in the impounded Winnebago. Together, they concoct a plot to showcase their bust at a forthcoming visit by the governor—aiming to humiliate the local police and validate the troopers’ instincts.
Simultaneously, Farva's return to active duty leads him to partner with an increasingly frustrated Ramathorn. But Farva soon finds himself in trouble, getting arrested after a violent outburst against a restaurant cashier. Seizing the opportunity, Chief Grady tries to recruit him to spy on the troopers, yet Farva resolutely declines. Following a heated confrontation with Captain O'Hagen, Farva earns another suspension from duty.
As the day of the governor's visit approaches, Ramathorn and Foster devise a scheme to expose the marijuana discovery during a press conference. Their plan is thwarted when they arrive only to find Chief Grady has already claimed credit for the bust, stirring a storm of blame that initially points to Ursula as the informant. However, it quickly emerges that the true traitor is Farva, donning a makeshift Spurbury uniform and playing both sides of the conflict.
Realizing Farva's betrayal, the troopers retaliate by wreaking havoc at Chief Grady's home, forcing him to witness their boisterous celebrations. As night falls, Ursula offers her insights as a strategic ally against corruption, sharing intel that aids their mission. A dramatic twist occurs when they confront an armed Farva, who berates them for their perceived disrespect. Captain O'Hagen intervenes to de-escalate the situation, convincing Farva to join forces with the troopers against the drug smugglers.
Their pursuit leads them to a nearby airfield where they discover a plane—from Canada—offloading marijuana intended for the benefit of the Spurbury police. This revelation triggers a massive brawl between the troopers and corrupt law enforcement officials, resulting in multiple arrests.
Several months later, a letter of gratitude from the governor reaches Captain O'Hagen, commending their efforts even while condemning their station to closure. Now relegated to a new line of work as deliverymen, Ramathorn and Rabbit find themselves tasked with transporting beer to a rowdy college party hosted by a group of teenagers they once apprehended. As the underage partygoers unleash their newfound freedom, the deliverymen shed their uniforms, revealing their true identities as Spurbury officers, now dedicated to upholding the law in a changed environment.
