Those who can give up essential liberty...
to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.- Benjamin Franklin
The same story regarding the profitability of DUI checkpoints appeared in at least two different news outlets today. Both written by the same person with the longer version published on California Watch. The condensed version was published in the Sacramento Bee.
Without getting into the efficacy of DUI checkpoints themselves, I still feel the same way about them as I did decades ago: I think they're illegal search and seizure, even with the supposed protections the courts have placed on them. There's also no doubt in my mind those protections will erode over time and more powers will be given to police to stop and search the citizenry.
There's no doubt in my mind about that, especially after reading the comments on the Sacramento Bee version of the article. Most comments seem to be applauding DUI checkpoints, especially when illegal aliens end up in them.
One commentator even suggests we go back to those good old days of the vehicle safety/ maintenance checkpoints of decades ago. Remember those? They'd place checkpoints up where you didn't have advance notice of them, unlike DUI checkpoints are required to do. If they found anything wrong with your car you'd get a fix- it ticket.
So the future seems clear. Eventually police will be able to stop you and search you for just about any reason. Of course, most feel that way because they think the hammer will always fall on the other guy. To those of you, another quote is probably appropriate:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.- Martin Niemoller
Labels: Drunk Driving Checkpoints
posted by Fred Mangels @ 7:56 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Police have DUI checkpoints throughout the city. They are called stop signs. All they have to do is claim you didn't make a complete stop, and bingo, umm, the officer thinks he smells alcohol on your breath, so he'd better check just to be sure.
I'm not saying cops use stop signs for that purpose. I'm pointing out just how easy it is to pull someone over on a bogus claim. I've been pulled over more than once in this county on a claim of not making a complete stop at a stop sign... never arrested or cited, but they still had a field day doing what they could once I was pulled over.
Homeland Security can put up a check point anywhere in the country within 100 miles of either the Canadian or Mexican boarders.
From RawStory.com
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/ACLU_highlights_ConstitutionFree_Zone_100_miles_1022.html
The ACLU says a "Constitution-free zone" exists within 100 miles of the US border, where DHS claims the authority to stop, search and detain anyone for any reason. Nearly two-thirds of the US population lives within 100 miles of the border, according to the ACLU, and the border zone encompasses scores of major metropolitan areas and even entire states.
I'm with you Fred on this one. Problem is the local sheriff has nothing on the DHS. One would have to go almost to Redding from here to escape this taking away of our constitution, and then you would still have the CHP and Sheriff to contend with. Obama isn't going to overturn this Bush policy. What are we to do?
See the link above for a map that includes both coast lines, east and west.
I must have left that part out.
Off topic:
Fred why don't you have a link to Mason's blog up?
Fred why don't you have a link to Mason's blog up?
Because he posts so infrequently. I did have one up when he first went on the ship, but removed it after he'd been there a while. He doesn't post often enough.
Part of it has to do with his access to internet. Still, there wasn't enough posting to warrant a link here, in my bold opinion.
He might be picking it up, though. He just posted his first video, but it's on his Facebook page. I've just been trying to try and lift it from his Facebook page and put it on YouTube, but I've been unsuccessful, so far.
If he picks up the frequency of his posts, I'll be more than happy to put a link back up here. I thought the video he posted was a blast, and I'd love to see more of them. I'm sure most others would too.
Anyone in Eureka who is stopped by the police for making an incomplete stop has a built-in defense: selective enforcement.
That's because almost no one who lives in and drives in Eureka EVER stops at a stop sign within Eureka city limits.
I live on a corner with two stop signs, and I see what goes on here in my neighborhood and all through Eureka.
In fact, if a policeman wants to find a drunk or drugged driver, he or she should look for the drivers who DO make a complete stop. Making a complete stop at a stop sign in this town is mighty suspicious.
Wait til this next generation takes over. They have been strapped in car seats in the name of safety, driven to school in the name of safety, they're seen vending machines taken away because some adult has decided to make decisions for them - they have grown up with a 'you can't do this, you can't do that' creeping nanny state.
At some point we will be old, and they will be in charge of our care instead of the other way around - and it will be into the nursing home for you, strap you into that chair so you don't hurt yourself, strap a helmet on you in case your chair falls over, and no coffee for you buster, don't you know it's bad for you?
Mandatory seat belts and helmets are questionable. Illegal aliens having their cars jacked by the police just because they can't legally get a license is downright evil.
Post a Comment
<< Home