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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.
I’m not sure what it was about my question that you interpreted as paranoia, but that is not terribly important. What is far more interesting to me is why roadblocks are so important to you that you have made numerous replies to this thread in their defense.
Of course, your explanation is totally voluntary. And I really don’t care nearly as much about that as I do about things like due process, right to not self-inciminate, probable cause, innocent until proven guilty, and other bits of paranoia and legal fiction...
I agree that it is fundamentally wrong, however, if you don’t want to comply then DO NOT DRIVE IN GEORGIA! They have them every holiday especially Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. It’s a given. In fact I only drink water if I even think I might be driving.
You’re trying to be funny, right? No you’re not. I’ve seen you post on several different subjects and you seem just fine with the overreach of cops and to government in particular.
So, you get stopped. At a roadblock. It’s a damn roadblock! what in the hell makes you think that is voluntary? There’s signs that tell you the roadblock is voluntary? What do you think that happens here if you turn around on a roadblock? I’ll tell you what happens. You get pursued and pulled over and questioned. I know the law or perhaps the rules in certain jurisdictions say “you can’t be pulled over for evading a road block” BS.
And it ain’t just you. WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!!! Just damn....
It’s called a DAMN ROADBLOCK FOR A REASON!!!
To Alaska Wolf: I think you are a TROLL!
You have been a member since 2003? And still you see NOTHING wrong with this practice? I read some of your posts, you seem to enjoy agitating people, yet not adding a thing to the conversation. You take someones sentence out of context, then you pick them apart. In this post you even go as far as asking our friends if they “get angry when girl scouts stop you”.
A little posting history of Alaska Wolf:
Alaska Wolf to Valpal1
Do the math, dude
That isn’t documentation that cops murder citizens and dogs every day, is it dudette?
Edward Snowden: What Happened to Just Quitting?
Monday, June 10, 2013 12:06:52 PM · 72 of 122
Alaska Wolf to Deathtomarxists
he was making too much
Have you seen his W-2?
Moments leading to fatal FBI shooting in Orlando still unclear (Todashev)
Monday, June 10, 2013 11:48:59 AM · 74 of 74
Alaska Wolf to iopscusa
typical statist.
What is it with you conspiracy freaks calling those of us who aren’t, typical statists?
They aren't. The unrestrained fear and paranoia of those posters is what is important.
I really don’t care nearly as much about that as I do about things like due process, right to not self-inciminate, probable cause, innocent until proven guilty, and other bits of paranoia and legal fiction...
Why haven't you contacted the ACLU?
Oh for Gods sake...Constitution be damned. You people...Really? Find another place..please..
I’m sorry. The stupid...it hurts.
I've done it a number of times when I've been in a hurry and nothing has happened. Who from a tourism survey or the highway department is going to pursue me?
Don't let your paranoia eat you alive.
Alaska wolf is obviously a TROLL, look at his posting history.
If you like this stuff, fine. Make sure they take your name off the Do Not Call list and knock yourself out. Maybe they will set up a special “Call ME! ME! ME!” list for all of you who love to “share”. As for me, do not unnecessarily obstruct traffic. Keep your nose out of my business.
You haven't shown supporting evidence with your post.
By chance do you work for our current administration?
No. By chance are you now under the supervision of a mental health worker?
Yeah, it’s part of a study to estimate how many people might resist when it is no longer voluntary.
There are many things I don't like, but I'm not paranoid about them.
As for me, do not unnecessarily obstruct traffic.
What do you do when you come to a detour, a parade, a town crazy days celebration, etc., continue on through?
“I’ve done it a number of times when I’ve been in a hurry and nothing has happened. Who from a tourism survey or the highway department is going to pursue me?”
BULL$#1T! Every single road block I have personally encountered has a police car WAITING for someone to make a U-turn.
LEAVE TROLL!
“...then why not put up a billboard and advertise in local newspapers and TV stations?”
They wanted random drivers who were driving somewhere as they normally would, not the kind of people who show up to give blood and dna for 60$.
Freegards
I think Alaska Wolf is a former girl scout, wannabe legal aide for the ACLU, part time tourism director that is exploring his personal “trial Balloon” for career advancement.
Yeh me too. Study, what kind of study needs to stop people on the highway and try to get their DNA? Better yet what kind of a nut give the DNA on their morning commute to work? Oh yeh stick a needle in my arm and swab my mouth here on the side of the road. Its insane.
Read the story (chilling) and:
FREEP THIS POLL ***PING!***
FRmail me if you want to be added or removed from the Fearless Poll-Freeping Freepers Ping list. (multiple votes using multiple internetz devices are allowed!)
And be sure to ping me to any polls that need Freepin’, if I miss them.
(looks like a medium volume list) (gordongekko909, founder of the pinglist, stays on the list until his ghost signs up for the list)
http://blog.al.com/east-alabama/2013/06/would_you_voluntarily_submit_d.html
You know what? I’ve been stopped at roadblocks here in my county , oh I’m guessing, I’ve been driving 35 years, probably 75 times? Could be less, could be more. In one weekend about a year ago, I was stopped 4 times at 3 different roadblocks within 2 miles of my house. And I live in a great neighborhood. And curiously, not one of them were or have been from a “tourism survey”
So, you keep throwing up your strawman. Pretty much you are full of crap. So, now you are saying this was a tourism roadblock or something. Never heard of such.
Are you crazy. Do you have a mental illness. Cause you need help. Where anywhere in this story, which I posted at 8:20 this morning, does it say anything about a “tourism stop”?
Maybe you have roadblocks for “tourism” in whatever rock
you crawled out from. But I assure you, there are no “tourism” roadblocks around here. So, give it a rest. You are looking ignorant and pathetic. Step away from the crack pipe and just go to sleep....
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