Am I correct in assuming that you are a "law enforcer"?
God, I miss the days when we had peace officers instead of revenue generators.
Where do you think more drunks are -- on the road where you have 20 officers with your c/p or on every other road in your district where you aren't patrolling?
Ray, I just saw your 251 post.
I was for a short time a sworn Peace Officer and that is exactly the wording used at the ceremony here in Cali.
So I'm going to just consider the source of that disrepect and move to the point.
Checkpoints weren't used back then and all of our DUI stops were based on direct observation and it is definately effective. I worked nights 1000-0600 East SJ/Berryessa and we caught our share just from stumbling on the DD's. Never saw a death caused by them but several pretty nasty injuries. I don't like DD's obviously and I live my life accordingly....1 brewski and I don't drive.
Checkpoints are an effective method to catch the either totally blitzed fool who can't see far enough up the road to see the sign advising of the c/p ahead as well as the arrogant "I'm ok to drive" drunk.......both may or more than likely not be spotted via regular patrol.
I can't imagine how many times on R/P we drove through intersections of stopped cars or passed slow traffic where the drivers were not doing anything noticeable and were falling down drunk. Only to have them get underway a minute after we passed. Especially during those peak hours of DD.
Anyway.....that is my perspective.
Ray, I did some looking into your posting history.
It's scary how much you and I think alike on so many issues except DUI, C/P validity and Airport security (I will agree that AP security is stupid in it's PC implemetation but not in it's priciple and nor do I believe in arbitrary ID stops and numerous provisions in the Patriot Act).
It's unfortunate you act as though all who are not falling hard for the Libertarian type beliefs are your ememy.