Posted on 07/19/2004 1:29:52 PM PDT by JOAT
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Police in Independence conducted a driver checkpoint on Thursday, but it wasn't to look for drunken drivers.
For about an hour Thursday afternoon, officers stopped vehicles to make sure drivers had valid licenses. But some are questioning the legality of holding such a checkpoint.
Independence police have arrested more than 1,300 drivers this year for driving without a valid license, KMBC's Jim Flink reported. On Thursday, police stopped about 300 drivers on a busy street.
Independence Officer Tom Gentry said drivers without licenses pose a safety concern.
"It's a public safety issue. On public highways, you don't want illegal drivers out there who might pose a grave danger," he said.
But Gentry added there are other reasons for wanting to make the stops.
"People who don't bother to get their driver's license or get them renewed -- usually that's an indicator of other problems as well," Gentry said.
Independence officers issued 10 tickets on Thursday, and they also arrested four people on outstanding warrants and one person for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
But Dick Kurtenback, of the American Civil Liberties Union, said he's troubled by police stopping drivers for this type of search.
"This bothers me -- they're conducting general searches without probable cause," he said. "I think the problem there is they're changing some essential aspects of this country's character, and I think it's troublesome that they're doing that."
Kurtenbach said the searches may violate people's Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure. Some drivers with whom Flink spoke agreed.
"For public safety, I think it's all right. But it does kind of bother me, in the sense that I think it's an invasion of my personal liberty," driver T.K. Shiao said.
But motorist Jan Huff-Soper thought police were doing the right thing.
"It sounds like they have a lot of people driving without licenses, and I would hope people driving out there would have valid licenses," she said.
Police said the number of arrests this year proves the roadblocks work. The police department is basing its use of checkpoints on a Supreme Court case that allows DUI roadblocks in the interest of public safety.
Kurtenbach said drivers without licenses aren't inherently dangerous, even if they are breaking the law.
My city recently added a utility tax, which is as regressive and unfair tax as I can think of. Poor and middle class families have a difficult time paying their utility bills when winters are particularly cold or summers are particularly hot or the price of energy skyrockets. But these buffoons in city hall have positioned themselves to get more tax when utility bills become more burdensome. I spoke against the tax at a city council meeting and I said hesitate to mention the only tax which could be more onerous and that would be a tax on prescription medicines. I say I hesitate because I am afraid I might be giving you ideas, because the elderly and infirm are about the only group who is in a lesser position to resist than the group who you are now punitively taxing. If these coppers do not have anything better to do than go fishing for fees, I say lay the buggars off.
Like illegals who are driving without insurance are going to do anything differently because they get another citation.
Ja, und your papers seem amiss. Step this way, bitte.
Well, that is one of the components, but let's not dismiss the very real possibility that some people like the feeling of control over others.
Those that would trade liberty for security deserve neither.
I appreciate your position, and for the record, I am a far right wing sort of guy. I wonder if you're aware of AlQ's boast that they will kill 4 million Americans. Perhaps you would like to have this chat after they've set off some nukes in major cities. Will you then be so ready to defend your right to keep your trunk sealed (except for probable cause) or be asked by a cop in a random stop to see your license? After all, we know we have numerous terrorist cells in this US right now, and over 10 million muslims living here, precious few of whom have expressed outrage at the attack on the WTC. As a matter of fact, many of these moderate muslims were dancing in the streets celebrating the collapse of the towers. Need I say more???
Those *&^% FOID cards bug me a whole lot more than traffic stops.
Hey, copper, how's about checking the oil and windshield washer fluid?
Are you here legally? Can you show me some paperwork to prove it?
"Every American is a potential criminal "
Especially the white, non-arab looking males !!
I am.
Perhaps you would like to have this chat after they've set off some nukes in major cities
I'll never forfeit liberty in the face of foreign aggression. Will you?
Will you then be so ready to defend your right to keep your trunk sealed (except for probable cause) or be asked by a cop in a random stop to see your license?
Yes, free people are not detained or searched by armed agents of the state absent probable cause.
After all, we know we have numerous terrorist cells in this US right now, and over 10 million muslims living here
Yeah, please let me know when the Mexican border is sealed and immigration restricted. But we both know that'll never happen because that would undermine cheap labor and social security, both of which are infinitely more important than mere freedom. So we'll let whoever walse right in and do whatever, and when they do, I'll be subject to random shakedowns in this "free" country. Great!
So 'far right' is now defined as using the constitution for toilet paper if we feel scared and insecure of this week's boogeyman?
Just as socialists and communists stole the term liberal, fascists and totalitarians have stolen "right wing".
If four million Americans slain by terrorists won't make you realize that the freedoms RESPONSIBLE Americans enjoy are being abused by terrorists intent on our destruction, what will? What level of chaos, carnage and destruction must you witness before you agree (no, demand) that the police, FBI and military get involved and rid our society of these sub-human predators! I am at that point. For me, 911 was all I need to give our law enforcers permission to do things that would have previously offended me.
Does this ring a bell?
"Papers Please"
"It sounds like they have a lot of people driving without licenses, and I would hope people driving out there would have valid licenses," she said.
I love how they always put in a dumbass, sheeple comment like this in every article that admits to eroding rights. It gives the fake conservatives (like so many that now post on FR) something to hold on to to 'debate' with when they explain why losing liberty is okay so long as we feel safe.
I already told you, I'll never forfeit liberty in the face of foreign aggression. Free people live free or die, or they do not stay free.
For me, 911 was all I need to give our law enforcers permission to do things that would have previously offended me.
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