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Indep. Police Stage Roadblock To Check Driver's Licenses
Kansas City Channel 9 ^ | 7-15-2004

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.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 4thamendment; biggovernment; billofrights; fakeconservatives; freedomlost; governmentassavior; privacy; rino; sheeple; statism; welfarestate
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To: JOAT
This is simply about revenue. The federal govermnent is completely bankrupt, but they have a printing press. State and local governmnents are bankrupt but they do not have printing presses. It is political suicide to overtly raise income and property taxes, so these boys and girls raise fees and subtle taxe and look for other easy ways to keep from making hard decisions, such as cutting back on the size of bloated government or telling the voters the truth which is they are essentially broke.

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.

61 posted on 07/19/2004 3:11:52 PM PDT by Biblebelter
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To: johnfrink
Uninsured motorists are a tremendous problem in this country

Like illegals who are driving without insurance are going to do anything differently because they get another citation.

62 posted on 07/19/2004 3:14:05 PM PDT by steve86
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To: JOAT
YOUR PAPERS!!!! YOU MUST SHOW YOUR PAPERS!!!!
63 posted on 07/19/2004 3:16:46 PM PDT by fightu4it (conquest by immigration and subversion spells the end of US.)
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To: fightu4it
YOUR PAPERS!!!! YOU MUST SHOW YOUR PAPERS!!!!

Ja, und your papers seem amiss. Step this way, bitte.

64 posted on 07/19/2004 3:21:39 PM PDT by JOAT
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To: Biblebelter
This is simply about revenue.

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.

65 posted on 07/19/2004 3:23:59 PM PDT by JOAT
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Comment #66 Removed by Moderator

To: freeeee; Imagine

Those that would trade liberty for security deserve neither.


67 posted on 07/19/2004 3:27:33 PM PDT by wbill
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To: freeeee

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???


68 posted on 07/19/2004 3:27:33 PM PDT by Imagine
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To: bjs1779
As a person who lives in Illinois I'm not bothered by them stopping people in Missouri. If they start doing it in Illinois, that's another matter...

Those *&^% FOID cards bug me a whole lot more than traffic stops.

69 posted on 07/19/2004 3:28:51 PM PDT by Mini-14
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To: JOAT

Hey, copper, how's about checking the oil and windshield washer fluid?


70 posted on 07/19/2004 3:31:26 PM PDT by sergeantdave (Gen. Custer wore an Arrowsmith shirt to his last property owner convention.)
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To: OPERSYST4
Nice grammar. Sounds like English may not be you primary tongue.

Are you here legally? Can you show me some paperwork to prove it?

71 posted on 07/19/2004 3:32:39 PM PDT by JOAT
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To: The Libertarian Dude

"Every American is a potential criminal "

Especially the white, non-arab looking males !!


72 posted on 07/19/2004 3:33:11 PM PDT by traumer
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To: Imagine
I wonder if you're aware of AlQ's boast that they will kill 4 million Americans.

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!

73 posted on 07/19/2004 3:35:03 PM PDT by freeeee ("Owning" property in the US just means you have one less landlord.)
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To: Imagine; freeeee
I am a far right wing sort of guy.

So 'far right' is now defined as using the constitution for toilet paper if we feel scared and insecure of this week's boogeyman?

74 posted on 07/19/2004 3:36:56 PM PDT by JOAT
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To: JOAT

Just as socialists and communists stole the term liberal, fascists and totalitarians have stolen "right wing".


75 posted on 07/19/2004 3:39:51 PM PDT by freeeee ("Owning" property in the US just means you have one less landlord.)
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Comment #76 Removed by Moderator

To: freeeee

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.


77 posted on 07/19/2004 3:47:44 PM PDT by Imagine
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To: All

Does this ring a bell?

"Papers Please"


78 posted on 07/19/2004 3:49:32 PM PDT by Leatherneck_MT (Good night Chesty, wherever you may be.)
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To: freeeee
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.

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.

79 posted on 07/19/2004 3:49:36 PM PDT by JOAT
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To: Imagine
What level of chaos, carnage and destruction must you witness...

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.


80 posted on 07/19/2004 3:52:28 PM PDT by freeeee ("Owning" property in the US just means you have one less landlord.)
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