A lesson in how to handle a DUI checkpoint

i'll just leave this here...

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

- Benjamin Franklin

also:
Legality of Sobriety Checkpoints


According to the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, unreasonable searches and seizures of U.S. citizens are forbidden. There must be probable cause for a law enforcement agent to arrest or search people on their private property. This means that an officer must have reasonable suspicion based on facts that a crime has occurred.

This leads many people to ask how officers can legally stop drivers at sobriety checkpoints.

The Michigan State Supreme Court found that sobriety checkpoints violated the Fourth Amendment. However, in a split decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that properly conducted checkpoints are legal, and reversed the Michigan Court’s decision.

The Supreme Court acknowledges that DUI roadblocks violate a fundamental constitutional right. However, Chief Justice Rehnquist argued in a majority opinion that sobriety checkpoints are justified because the state’s interest in reducing drunk driving outweighs the minor infringement on an individual’s rights.

The dissenting judges argued that the Constitution does not provide exceptions to the Fourth Amendment. Judge Brennan argued, “That stopping every car might make it easier to prevent drunken driving...is an insufficient justification for abandoning the requirement of individualized suspicion.”

Judge Stevens, who also dissented in this case, argued that the net effect of checkpoints on traffic safety is small, and possibly negative. He also stated that even if roadblocks were effective, conducting them would not justify violating people’s constitutional rights.

Many DUI attorneys call this ruling “the DUI exception to the Constitution.”

Although the U.S. Supreme Court has made this exemption to the Constitution, eleven states did not abide by the decision. These states found that sobriety checkpoints violate their constitution or outlawed them. People in these states have more protections against unreasonable searches and police DUI roadblocks are prohibited.


The Supreme Court acknowledges that DUI roadblocks violate a fundamental constitutional right. However, Chief Justice Rehnquist argued in a majority opinion that sobriety checkpoints are justified because the state’s interest in reducing drunk driving outweighs the minor infringement on an individual’s rights.

and now please refer back to my quote
 
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Not true at all. Ever been through a DUI checkpoint? Every one I've been through, I was required to hand over my license, then questioned as to where I had been and where I was headed. Perhaps in your state things are done differently. You are detained, no? Ever tried driving away without given approval to do so?

Yes, I've been through plenty of them. I've never had any issues, and never had to hand over my ID (and I'm only 20). Although if I was asked, I'd happily oblige. I have nothing to hide. If I had a warrant (or something to hide), I'd turn myself in.


I still don't see the big deal. At all.
 
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After this spectacular trip and fall from the high road you tried to ascend, I would have thought a little embarrassment might have produced a retraction instead of continued posting, pretending nothing happened, thus removing the benefit of the doubt that such emotional irrationality is rare for you.

They either don't teach humility in school anymore or he/she hasn't progressed to that class just yet. My hope is that with age come maturity and wisdom as it relates to west wind.


Who said I'm embarrassed? No way in he!! could you tell me if ANY member of his family would be affected (killed) by a drunk driver would this fool be doing this at the DUI checkpoint. Unfortunately some people live life with blinders on to the 'big picture', and until they are affected by it don't realize what the 'right thing' is. I'm all for protecting our rights, but this is something for the greater good. If they took everyone out of their cars, strip searched everyone just because they were driving from downtown, that would be an issue. A simple questions is NOT a problem. The video fool needs a wake up call, I hate to say it, but he does.


ALL reductions in rights and civil liberties for the common man are masked under the greater good scenario. Simple questions that involve the violation of rights and liberties ARE a problem - to me anyway. In my opinion, it is you, sir, that cannot see the bigger picture. Perhaps its a maturity issue, perhaps it's an experience issue, or perhaps you're just programmed to believe those in authority over you are right unequivocally (let me know if I should define that for you), however I choose to believe otherwise. Call it being a free thinker or an armchair patriot if you wish, however I resolve to guard my rights with jealous zest.
 
Yes, I've been through plenty of them. I've never had any issues, and never had to hand over my ID (and I'm only 20). Although if I was asked, I'd happily oblige. I have nothing to hide. If I had a warrant (or something to hide), I'd turn myself in.


I still don't see the big deal. At all.

At 20, you're more focused on other issues - I was there nearly 20 years ago also. You may have nothing to hide today or tomorrow. What if though, the definition of "nothing to hide changes" without your knowledge, i.e. laws and those in power change - those that get to decide whether or not you have nothing to hide or are legal? Bet you'd wish you exercised your rights BEFORE it was too late.
 
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At 20, you're more focused on other issues - I was there nearly 20 years ago also. You may have nothing to hide today or tomorrow. What if though, the definition of "nothing to hide changes" without your knowledge, i.e. laws and those in power change - those that get to decide whether or not you have nothing to hide or are legal? Bet you'd wish you exercised your rights BEFORE it was too late.

Like what though? I could magically have a warrant out for my arrest without me knowing? I don't speed, transport drugs, drink and drive. In fact, I don't do anything to break the law. I'm not trying to be a **** or anything, I'm just trying to understand your view on things. :)
 
Like what though? I could magically have a warrant out for my arrest without me knowing? I don't speed, transport drugs, drink and drive. In fact, I don't do anything to break the law. I'm not trying to be a **** or anything, I'm just trying to understand your view on things. :)

How about if the police showed up at your home, disrespected your family (sorry, I had to, lol), and asked you questions about what you were doing in there? Would THAT be considered a violation of your rights? How is that different than an unprovoked series of questions when you're out driving your car, not doing anything wrong that would justify being pulled over? Where do you draw the line? It could be argued that the home inspections are a valuable tool in identifying and shutting down meth labs, would that make it OK?

If you aren't doing anything to break the law, then why are you OK with being hassled with no justification?
 
How about if the police showed up at your home, disrespected your family (sorry, I had to, lol), and asked you questions about what you were doing in there? Would THAT be considered a violation of your rights? How is that different than an unprovoked series of questions when you're out driving your car, not doing anything wrong that would justify being pulled over? Where do you draw the line? It could be argued that the home inspections are a valuable tool in identifying and shutting down meth labs, would that make it OK?

If you aren't doing anything to break the law, then why are you OK with being hassled with no justification?

This has nothing to do with the police coming to my home and disrespecting me. All of my commentary has only reflected upon DUI checkpoints. Just because the police run these checkpoints, doesn't mean they are going to show up unannounced at your house to ask you if you're growing marijuana or beating your wife and kids (or something stupid like that).

Why am I ok with being "hassled"? Because I don't view it as hassling. I view it as a way to keep unsafe drivers off the road, and I'm ok with that.
 
This has nothing to do with the police coming to my home and disrespecting me. All of my commentary has only reflected upon DUI checkpoints. Just because the police run these checkpoints, doesn't mean they are going to show up unannounced at your house to ask you if you're growing marijuana or beating your wife and kids (or something stupid like that).

Why am I ok with being "hassled"? Because I don't view it as hassling. I view it as a way to keep unsafe drivers off the road, and I'm ok with that.

It's more of an issue to me that LEO pick one road, and EVERYONE on that road at that particular point in time is stopped and questioned. There is no reasonable suspicion or probable cause that anyone on that road is speeding or drunk or has any other infraction, but everyone is suspected as being such until they can prove themselves innocent by answering these questions. Suppose they pick one neighborhood and "hassle" as you say everyone coming into or out of that neighborhood. They do it to that neighborhood enough, and property values start to change.
 
I read through the 1st two pages then skipped to here. Driving is a privilege not a right. I drive and obey the traffic laws to the best of my ability, sometimes I speed and if I get caught... Well, I pay the fine or go to court to fight it.

Driving on public road in which I help fund and and the LEO's have a DUI checkpoint. If I happen to pass through then so be it, I'll answer the LEO's questions. Is it a matter of rights? No, not iMHO.
 
We've had at least one road block on the road I live on. It's a dead end road, less than a half mile long and only college students live in the apartment complex.

That wasn't right in my opinion. They knew that the only people back there were college kids.
 
We've had at least one road block on the road I live on. It's a dead end road, less than a half mile long and only college students live in the apartment complex.

That wasn't right in my opinion. They knew that the only people back there were college kids.



fish5.jpeg

:fishing:
 
We've had at least one road block on the road I live on. It's a dead end road, less than a half mile long and only college students live in the apartment complex.

That wasn't right in my opinion. They knew that the only people back there were college kids.

How is that not right? If those college kids are drinking and driving, they should be thrown in jail. :)
 
How is that not right? If those college kids are drinking and driving, they should be thrown in jail. :)

They specifically targeted us. It's not a normal road. It's a half mile dead end road.

It'd be a different story if it was a main road that all ages of people traveled.
 
Possibly, but at the same time they were making sure there weren't any drunk kids out driving that could potentially kill themselves or others.
 
They could also do that by just patrolling the main roads. It would probably be a lot more effective too because they would reach a larger audience.
 
They are. The entire police force isn't operating a single DUI checkpoint. There are still plenty of officers on patrol and ready to respond to other incidents.
 

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