DUI checkpoint!

[Vels]

Come on, stop the whining.

These checkpoints are there to sort out the regular offenders that hold their alcohol/drugs well, and drive anyway. Or drive with a suspended license. They will most likely not get caught by a pullover.
The officers are sifting out the unwanted elements from the public roads so your kid will not loose a parent or two because some jerk did not have the reflexes to stop at the red light and swiped you sideways 50 mph.
If you are not DUI, just play along knowing that someone is actually trying to make a safer environment for you and your loved ones.

Cheers, and have a safe drive home.
Jakob

 

[brewt00l]

Well, isn't that what this topic was primarily about, people getting pulled over at DUI checkpoints, whether they've been drinking or not...?

My point is that I don't think it's a violation of any liberties... do the crime and you do the time.

I can't say that I interpreted that from the first post...the fifth post, yes.

 

[elkdog]

Right to privacy when brandishing lethal force in public (i.e. driving)? No.

 

[WortMonger]

I see it as, if everyone has to do it, it is fine. If just a few have to it is a violation. I look young and get carded at 32 for beer, yet I have seen kids younger than 21 that look older than me not. Card everyone and I don't have a problem. Pull everyone over and I don't have a problem. One street, one night, and nothing to show but a few DUI's out of how many poeple inconvenienced not to mention the huge taxpayers expense of officers not on patrol and in one spot is a violation on so many different levels.

 

[AnOldUR]

These checkpoints are there to sort out the regular offenders that hold their alcohol/drugs well

The officers are sifting out the unwanted elements from the public roads so your kid will not loose a parent or two because some jerk did not have the reflexes to stop at the red light

So you want to sift out what you consider an unwanted element under the pretense that they are bad drivers even though they may in fact be capable of driving at a standard that is acceptable. May be someday they will come up with a quick and easy test that actually shows someone’s driving ability. There are a bunch of people on the road who scare me a lot more then a guy who has a couple of drinks with dinner ever night and can still function up to legal standards.

 

[RICLARK]

First off, Road Rage DOES impair your ability to drive, or make rashonal decisions, people run lights because they're pissed and refuse to stop, they also cut people off, refuse to yeild right of ways, usually speed, etc.

Second off, that was just an example of a STUPID reason to violate our CIVIL RIGHT to protection from search without DUE CAUSE. Just like DUI check points are a violation of our Civil Rights.

This is turning into a political conversation? However, You feel that it is your civil right to drink and drive? Reguardless of how many you have had and how you feel, the bottom line is that it is Against the law...I can drink 12 and still feel fine to drive but I dont in respect for everyone around me not to mention if I loose my license I loose my Lively hood.

 

[McKBrew]

My opinion: If a checkpoint catches just one driver who had the potential to kill someone, even if 20 cars were stopped, the whole thing was a success.

Personally, if I got stopped at one of these checkpoints (sober), I'd just play along and thank the officer afterward for being there doing the job.

 

[Jesse17]

This is turning into a political conversation? However, You feel that it is your civil right to drink and drive? Reguardless of how many you have had and how you feel, the bottom line is that it is Against the law...I can drink 12 and still feel fine to drive but I dont in respect for everyone around me not to mention if I loose my license I loose my Lively hood.

Again I will say, that I'm talking about the right for protection againts "search without probable cause"...Not the "right to drink and drive"!

 

[shafferpilot]

Doesn't this in a way coincide with metal detectors and checkpoints at airports...?? They may be inconveniences for some of you and me, but I am happy they're in place because it's for our own safety and everyone else's...

To the OP, you honestly consider a sobriety test a game...? You said you were grown -up, this just shows me you have a lot of growing up to do... Go get a DUI and sit through a victim's panel and tell me how fun the game is...

You clearly didn't READ everything I wrote. I WAS NOT DRUNK!! Three beers three and a half hours earlier. If you've been through a victims panel because of a DUI when you WERE drunk, then YOU, sir, need to grow up. It definitely IS a game. I was pulled out of my car and tested after showing NO signs of intoxication. I didn't start the game, idiots like MADD started it. I/We have NO choice but to play. And the reality is that hundreds of drunks get away scott free, because officers are wasting their time with these checkpoints, instead of patrolling and catching the drunks that check the newspaper before heading out the bar to get hammered.

 

[shafferpilot]

IBTL!!!

This can only get better!

The irony of all this is that the news on the TV while I type this is about a head-on collision last night from a drunk driver going the wrong way on a divided highway and the resulting fatalities.

...Of course, those folks & their familes prb don't see the irony or humor of "playing the game" like an adult.

Pay attention to the conversation before you comment. I WAS NOT DRUNK. Drunk driving is not the game. The game is fooling the public into thinking checkpoints are more effective than patrols to stop habitual DRUNK drivers. The statistics confirm this clearly. In my state the average arrest rate for a checkpoint in 5 per night per checkpoint. It takes 20 to 30 officers to administer a checkpoint. How many DUI arrests would those officers log if they could patrol all over ALL of the roads instead of one little spot on one road with 24 hours of warning given to the idiot drunk drivers?

 

[shafferpilot]

Well, isn't that what this topic was primarily about, people getting pulled over at DUI checkpoints, whether they've been drinking or not...?

My point is that I don't think it's a violation of any liberties... do the crime and you do the time.

I didn't do any crime!!! That's a BIG difference!

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Wow, what a bee's nest we stirred up! Mostly my fault, and I apologize. Again, I restate myself: I do believe drinking and driving is wrong, and should be punished. Without question. I also believe that law enforcement should be required to have probable cause to give sobriety tests. Sometimes that probable cause can be as simple as seeing someone walk out of a bar and into their car. Or maybe a burned-out taillight, whatever. But someone just driving down the road and not doing anything suspicious is NOT probable cause, and that's what you do to people with these roadblocks. Ok, now I'm done with this thread before it get even more out of hand.

 

[Jesse17]

My opinion: If a checkpoint catches just one driver who had the potential to kill someone, even if 20 cars were stopped, the whole thing was a success.

Personally, if I got stopped at one of these checkpoints (sober), I'd just play along and thank the officer afterward for being there doing the job.

So, if the police were to pick a street (say yours) and search every house on it for say drugs or something, and they found one dealer after searching 20 houses including yours, then that would be okie dokie with you?

 

[Orfy]

I don't think anyone is a winner in this thread.

Play nice.

 

[Gnome]

It's not about catching DUI's, it's about money. US INC. wants as much miscellaneous revenue as it can get. IT hasn't been about right and wrong for a long time. Their not public servants, we serve the government. When was the last time you stood in line to pay the fee. You have the right to shut up and go with the flow or suffer the consequence.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

DUI checkpoints are a political tool used to rake in cash for the police depts. They are illegal. They are the equivelent of East German papers check points.

One more way to limit freedom while taking money away from citizens.

Still dont drink and drive.

 

[McKBrew]

So, if the police were to pick a street (say yours) and search every house on it for say drugs or something, and they found one dealer after searching 20 houses including yours, then that would be okie dokie with you?

My opinion, and I really don't see the comparison about something stationary as opposed to a moving vehicle that can be driven around. I fail to understand why people are so dead set against a little inconvenience in their lives if it has the potential to save yours or someone else's. If you are doing nothing wrong and you get stopped at a checkpoint, the only possible consequence is that you'll arrive at your destination late.

Again: MY OPINION.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

little inconvenience in their lives

A lasifair attitude is exactly what a police state wants.

 

[Bobby_M]

It's the principal of it. Of course we want as many people to stay alive as possible but apparent safety and freedom are on opposite sides of the same scale. There are endless "things" the government can do to ensure a fractional increment more safety but there will come a time when they try to do something YOU don't like. Manditory monthy drug tests( on random days) for all people would catch a lot of users huh? How about linking everyone's ignition to a breathalyzer, not just repeat offenders. Ban dirt bikes, they have an almost 100% rate of injury over a long enough timeframe. The same can be said for scuba and sky diving. How far does it have to go before you feel completely safe.

I agree with probable cause... They have infrared cameras on helicopters to find people with grow lights for pot. I got a knock on my door a couple years back because I had metal halide lighting for my reef tank and they picked it up. It wasn't a big enough profile for a warrant but they made a house call anyway. "Sir, is there any reason this corner of your house is hot?" "HUH"?
"we did a sweep of the neighborhood with infrared and you have a hot spot". Ok, there's a fishtank over there. Can I take a look to verify? Not unless you have a warrant. "OK, you have a good day". They never came back.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Bobby_M

Exactly-

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-- Benjamin Franklin (1755)

 

[Ryanh1801]

 

[Jesse17]

My opinion, and I really don't see the comparison about something stationary as opposed to a moving vehicle that can be driven around. I fail to understand why people are so dead set against a little inconvenience in their lives if it has the potential to save yours or someone else's. If you are doing nothing wrong and you get stopped at a checkpoint, the only possible consequence is that you'll arrive at your destination late.

Again: MY OPINION.

First, if you post your opinion on a "discussion board" it will be discussed.

Second, the comparison that I was making was this...Drug dealers kill just as many (probably a lot more) people as drunk drivers. Weather or not you/your house/your vehicle moves or not wasn't even mentioned in the constitution, and if they can stop and search your vehicle/you, they should be able to search your home. Also, if we don't pitch a fit about this, they WILL be serching your home next.

Not trying to ruffle your feathers or pick on you, just stating My Opinion, about the ideas that you posted here.

Edit: Mod's if this is too much, please delete this post. As far as this thread goes, I'm done with it before it gets personal.

 

[bobjenkins79]

I hope I never get tired of watching you guys argue.

 

[brewt00l]

Pay attention to the conversation before you comment. I WAS NOT DRUNK. Drunk driving is not the game. The game is fooling the public into thinking checkpoints are more effective than patrols to stop habitual DRUNK drivers. The statistics confirm this clearly. In my state the average arrest rate for a checkpoint in 5 per night per checkpoint. It takes 20 to 30 officers to administer a checkpoint. How many DUI arrests would those officers log if they could patrol all over ALL of the roads instead of one little spot on one road with 24 hours of warning given to the idiot drunk drivers?

I was paying attention coach! You don't know if you would have blown an .08 + or - ....but you were obviously concerned enough. You mention you weren't drunk at all but then all the sweetening the deal and:

Reality is that I was probably close to the .08 limit. I pulled up to the checkpoint and rolled down the window after telling SWMBO "just follow my lead and if they take me out of the car DON'T tell them ANYTHING about what we did tonight!!! Just say, you'll have to ask him, or I don't know."

I'm sure he didn't notice the sarcasm that was spinning in my head

If you're just questioning the effectiveness of checkpoints, that was lost in your post from my POV. You had to expect that a description of how to get through a check point with a few under your belt was going to draw some heat. I'm not your moral compass. I can't say what you did was right, wrong or if you were or were not over the legal limit.


I just hope that we all stay safe and legal behind the wheel.

 

[Vels]

So you want to sift out what you consider an unwanted element under the pretense that they are bad drivers even though they may in fact be capable of driving at a standard that is acceptable.

Yes - tests show that no matter how good a driver - when DUI senses are still dulled and reaction time is slowed. Even though many poeple could pass a driving teast at .08 or more, alcohol at that level does impact reaction time and decicion making in crisis situations. This starts around .04 and is clearly measurable between .06 and .08. Also most illegal substances have undesired reaction time, concentration, personality altering and decision making effects on drivers.

May be someday they will come up with a quick and easy test that actually shows someone’s driving ability.

Its allready done, here police have started to use a prescreener that you just breathe on for a second and it will tell if further testing is nessasary. It takes only a second or two.

There are a bunch of people on the road who scare me a lot more then a guy who has a couple of drinks with dinner ever night and can still function up to legal standards.

Me too - DUI checkpoints does not eliminate regular patrol. "can still function to legal standards" is ok, but at above allowed blood alc level, senses and reaction time are still impacted that is why there are legal levels and not just a "have to be able to walk the line" law.

Cheers
Jakob

 

[McKBrew]

I see the same arguments here that I am seeing today with a law recently passed in WA state regarding text messaging while driving. http://www.komotv.com/news/local/7470007.html

People are griping about how "big brother" this law is as well and how this law is taking us down the road to a police state. The government makes laws like this and has DUI checkpoints because some people don't have the common sense to avoid distracting behavior or avoid getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

I guess no matter what the government does to make people safer, someone is going to be bothered by it, and we will continue to post about it and bicker back and forth. I also suppose that it's pointless for me to get worked up about it, because no one is going to change the way they feel about the issue.

Have a great day.

 

[Reidman]

You clearly didn't READ everything I wrote. I WAS NOT DRUNK!! Three beers three and a half hours earlier. If you've been through a victims panel because of a DUI when you WERE drunk, then YOU, sir, need to grow up. It definitely IS a game. I was pulled out of my car and tested after showing NO signs of intoxication. I didn't start the game, idiots like MADD started it. I/We have NO choice but to play. And the reality is that hundreds of drunks get away scott free, because officers are wasting their time with these checkpoints, instead of patrolling and catching the drunks that check the newspaper before heading out the bar to get hammered.

If you read what I wrote I never accused you of being drunk once, I was replying to your statement of PLAYING THE GAME....maybe I'm confused as to what "game" you are playing but it sounded like you escaped a sobriety checkpoint and are gloating about it which just didn't sit well with me, sorry...and since you brought it up yes I have been through a victim's panel and have done a TON of learning because of it. Cruel reality is I passed my house to drop a friend off because he had more to drink than I did, doesn't make it right though and believe me I've paid...

 

[todd_k]

ib4tl + 1!!!!

 

[AnOldUR]

Jakob wrote: DUI checkpoints does not eliminate regular patrol. "can still function to legal standards" is ok, but at above allowed blood alc level, senses and reaction time are still impacted that is why there are legal levels and not just a "have to be able to walk the line" law.

The part I don’t agree with is the testing of alcohol level to determine someones ability to drive. They should be testing the actual ability to drive. May be some kind of reaction time simulator or some other test that directly checks if you meet the skill level needed to be behind the wheel. My point was that the reason this will never happen is that too many people would fail with no alcohol in their system.

 

[TxBrew]

I have never got stopped at a random checkpoint but I disagree with them on a philosophical level. I don't buy into the loss of freedom for the greater good concept. If you want to keep drunk drivers off the road then increase the penalities for drunk driving because most are repeat offenders. It's amazing how many people I talk to who have multiple DWI. In the news you often see DWI manslaughter offenders not getting life in prison. Don't inconvenience and waste my time when I have done nothing. That's a bad path to take especially when the public becomes content with the concept of being stopped and evaluated at random without merit.

Why not randomly search people on the street for illegal gun and contraband, they are moving. Who knows the police might have stopped the Virginia Tech villian or the Omaha Mall shooter doing random walking checkpoints.