sheriff believes roadblocks ineffective & unconstitutional but sets them up for $$$$$

[750rider]

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interesting.. he would know..

Ohio Bribes Sheriff to Set Up Roadblocks

Summit County, Ohio sheriff believes roadblocks ineffective and unconstitutional
but sets them up in return for $175,000 in DUI grants.

The Summit County, Ohio sheriff believes roadblocks are unconstitutional and ineffective in fighting drunk driving -- except when the roadblocks come with cash. Sheriff Drew Alexander will accept $175,000 in state grants, usually paid for with federal gas tax dollars, that the state will only offer to law enforcement agencies that agree to set up roadblocks. The Akron Beacon Journal newspaper asked Alexander if he thought roadblocks violated the Fourth Amendment.

"I do," Sheriff Alexander responded.

Roadblocks are becoming more and more frequent in Ohio. Last year 68,656 motorists suspected of no wrongdoing were stopped and interrogated. In just the first eleven months of this year, 117,858 innocent motorists were detained. The Journal cited Ohio statistics that showed traditional police patrols catch drunk drivers five times more effectively than roadblocks. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court similarly found that 99.3 percent of those stopped at roadblocks were completely innocent and that it took 53 percent more manpower to effect an arrest at a roadblock than with the less-intrusive roaming patrols.

Sheriff Alexander expects to have the first DUI roadblock running by December 20.

Source: Sheriff wins state grant for sobriety checkpoints (Akron Beacon Journal (OH), 11/30/2007)


Ohio Bribes Sheriff to Set Up Roadblocks

[636blurr]

And the overintrusive government continues...........

[OFFICER737]

I am not a huge fan of roadblocks myself but sometimes they are a necessary evil.

[robert_s_hunter]

In Ohio, they announce well in advance just where and when they're going to have a "sobriety checkpoint". If someone is still stupid enough to get caught by one, they deserve it just for being a moron....

[iaresev]

They are occasionally around local roads here in NC. This poses a problem for me.

I have had my truck registered in this state since August of 2006, and have yet to get it inspected.

After beeing stopped at 2 checkpoints in the last year, the "I'm from Florida what the hell is an inspection sticker" line is bound to not work much longer. Stop the roadblocks! Protect my 4th amendment rights!

[Gilitar]

Originally Posted by OFFICER737

I am not a huge fan of roadblocks myself but sometimes they are a necessary evil.

IMO the ONLY time they are necessary is when law enforcement knows there is a murderer, bank robber, rapist, etc... in the immediate area.

Roadblocks are unconstitutional when used to randomly search people and ask for ID, insurance.

Law Enforcement has been given too much power in the country. We are quickly losing our rights and freedom.

Hey look..... yet another reason to vote Ron Paul.

[Czolgosz]

Originally Posted by Gilitar

IMO the ONLY time they are necessary is when law enforcement knows there is a murderer, bank robber, rapist, etc... in the immediate area.

Roadblocks are unconstitutional when used to randomly search people and ask for ID, insurance.

Law Enforcement has been given too much power in the country. We are quickly losing our rights and freedom.

Hey look..... yet another reason to vote Ron Paul.

[Fred S]

Roadblocks are unconstitutional when used to randomly search people and ask for ID, insurance.

If those are requirements of operating a motor vehicle in your state how can you bitch about needing to show them to officers? I'm not a fan of being pulled over just so they can search for any BS infraction, but I wouldn't mind if people driving without a license and/or insurance were caught.

Seriously, if the roadblock gets one drunk driver off the road shouldn't it be considered a success? The DD checkpoints are announced here in SoCal as well but they always end up catching more then one dumbass DDing anyway.

[636blurr]

Why does someone without a liscense drive worse than someone with one?
You could argue that well yes, becouse they lost there liscense. And if that is the case, it could have been lost for a variety of reasons, and I would agree on that point.
However with that said having a drivers liscense hardly makes anyone a qualified driver. Even say to take a CDL test is better than nothing but really does not apply, there are still plenty of shit truckers on the road.
Licensing is nothing more than a easier way to Identify/Monitor people.

[Czolgosz]

Originally Posted by Fred S

...
Seriously, if the roadblock gets one drunk driver off the road shouldn't it be considered a success?
...

Not at the cost of fucking w/ everybody who happens to be on that road at that time.

[Czolgosz]

Originally Posted by 636blurr

...

Licensing is nothing more than a easier way to Identify/Monitor people.

+1

[636blurr]

Interesting article on drunk driving laws possibly being unconstitutional.

New DUI Laws Unconstitutional?

[636blurr]

Originally Posted by Czolgosz

Not at the cost of fucking w/ everybody who happens to be on that road at that time.

Well said

[bumblebee]

Imagine that...some law enforcement agencies have discovered that they can generate revenue...

[jetblack]

Originally Posted by OFFICER737

I am not a huge fan of roadblocks myself but sometimes they are a necessary evil.

No offense, but that's bullshit, unless you are referring to a violently dangerous criminal that is known to be in the area. That is the ONLY time a roadblock is justified. You don't infringe on the rights of many innocent people, just in the hope you'll catch the random person. This is serious stuff, but hardly anyone seems to realize it. They've all been drinking the kool-aid since they were little kids.

Setting up roadblocks just to catch random DUIs and other minor stuff is heading towards a military state.