Posted on 06/10/2013 3:32:45 PM PDT by Bodleian_Girl
PELL CITY, Alabama -- St. Clair and Bibb county authorities are confirming there were roadblocks at several locations in their counties Friday and Saturday asking for blood and DNA samples. However, the samples were voluntary and motorists were paid for them as part of a study, they said.
According to Lt. Freddie Turrentine of the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, it isn't the first time such roadblocks have occurred in the area.
"They were here in 2007," said Turrentine, the supervisor in charge of the roadblocks, which took place in several locations in St. Clair County Friday night, early Saturday morning and Saturday night and early Sunday morning. "It's just with social media and Facebook now, word of it has just exploded."
Turrentine said the roadblocks were part of a study conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, working with the National Highway Safety Administration. St. Clair County was asked to participate by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs because it had worked with the group six years ago.
Sheriff Keith Hannah in Bibb County said they too had previously participated in the study.
Here's how the road blocks worked, Turrentine said:
Off-duty St. Clair County deputies stopped cars at random at road block areas. The road blocks were marked with signs stating it was a paid survey. Cars stopped were asked for voluntary cooperation. Drivers were offered $10 for a mouth swab, and $50 for a blood test. If they refused, they were free to drive away.
[ POLL: Would you voluntarily submit DNA, blood sample for government study at roadblock? ]
Road blocks took place Friday at the New London Fire Department, Alabama 34 in Pell City near the old Dan's Car Wash, U.S. 231 at Alabama 144, at White's Chapel Parkway and Moody Crossroads in Moody. In Bibb County, the road blocks took place in five areas in the county on Friday night through early Sunday morning.
If drivers participated, they were directed to an area where someone from the group carrying out the study took the samples, he said.
"It was completely voluntary," Turrentine said, saying reports that people were detained if they did not cooperate were untrue. "If they didn't want to take part, they could drive off."
The samples were anonymous, he said.
Poll: Would you voluntarily submit DNA, blood sample for government study at roadblock?
"They were taking the samples in other parts of the country," he said. "They want to find out of all the people surveyed, how many people were driving with alcohol in their system, or prescription drugs, things like that."
This will be the only time this year the survey takes place in St. Clair County, he said.
Turrentine, who was at one of the roadblocks, said the group carrying out the study would ask for a certain number of volunteers. Deputies would stop drivers until that number of drivers needed agreed to the survey. Then they let cars pass while the samples were taken.
"We would have a lot who didn't want to take part, especially at night," he said. "But then we'd have a few that when we'd tell they could make $60 bucks, they said, 'What do I need to do?'"
If you were stopped in one of the roadblocks, or took part, and would like to talk, email eastalabama@al.com.
You made the first one, crybaby. If you start something with me, expect to get it back in aces.
I at least can respond to YOU without stooping to your level. EVERYONE LOOK AT THIS TROLLS POSTING HISTORY AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. HE IS A TROLL!
You're a liar besides all your other faults.
This is a silly analogy. You can walk on by the girl scouts without giving them so much as a glance. Somehow I think driving on by without an acknowledgment was an option?
I have a very low tolerance for liars, fools and cowards.
“Your ability is evidently quite limited, paranoid coward. You are really pathetic.”
BTW, I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU to say that to ANYONE’s face, not just mine, in real life.
TROLL!
Is anything truly “voluntary” if armed agents of the government request it?
It was meant to be, just like all the whining about a roadblock that some alleged required people to give swabs and blood or have their cars searched.
Call me paranoid, call me a conspiracist, call me a futurist.
The logical extrapolation of what CAN happen should always be considered.
I made this video a few months ago.
And yes the music is loud, because that’s what I like.
Police State USA , Life During Wartime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYn9JF0TSgw
ALASKA WOLF IS A TROLL!
Well you do have issues.
You ought to consider cancelling your subscriptions and
You seem to have that covered, Jethro.
“You made the first one, crybaby. If you start something with me, expect to get it back in aces. “
Game on.
ALASKA WOLF IS A TROLL, LOOK AT HIS POSTING HISTORY AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF!
girl scout
If a person approaching this “roadblock” is compelled to have any interaction whatsoever with law enforcement, then I have a problem with this. We have a right to travel freely, unmolested by government agents. They (the government) must have a compelling public safety rationale for stopping travelers, and I don’t think a “study” reaches that high bar.
Get over yourself, coward.
With cowards, fools and liars. You don't?
I was stopped once in my county when a bad guy had broken out of prison and cops wanted to be sure he had not stopped one of our cars and gotten in. After I left that road block, I saw a man walking in the direction of the road but off it and he had his shirt off. Used my cell phone and called sheriff’s office to report the man. Any car that would have turned around to miss that road block would have been chased for sure.
I would not let anyone put a needle in my arm on the side of the road and would not let them swab my mouth. I wouldn’t know if all that was sterile, plus I own my body and they are not getting part of it.
The Alaska guy/woman is a fruit cake troll.
Coward yourself
Dog pile.
Kewel
No matter how many names you call me, I will only call you one:
TROLL!
Again, I dare you to say that to ANYBODY to their face.
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