Posted on 11/19/2013 6:55:25 PM PST by markomalley
Dozens of Texas drivers have been stopped at a police road block, where they were then directed into a parking lot and forced into surrendering blood, saliva and breath samples in a study that has upset civil liberties advocates.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration admitted it was attempting to conduct a government study meant to determine the number of drunk or drug-impaired drivers on the road at any given time.
“It just doesn’t seem right that you can be forced off the road when you’re not doing anything wrong,” Kim Cope, who said she was forced to the side of the road while making her way to lunch, told NBCDFW.com. “I gestured to the guy in front that I just wanted to go straight, but he wouldn’t let me and forced me into the parking spot.”
The tests were made even more mysterious when reporters, alerted to the situation by concerned drivers, were unable to find any officers in the Fort Worth Police Department who had been involved. The NHTSA only admitted its involvement after local media sought answers.
The department, which says its mission is to “save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce vehicle-related crashes,” maintains that participation in the research was completely voluntary. But Ms. Cope said she felt trapped during what seemed to be an investigation.
“I finally did the breathalyzer test just because I thought it would be the easiest way to leave,” she said. “It just doesn’t seem right that they should be able to do any of it. If it’s voluntary, it’s voluntary, and none of it felt voluntary.”
When pressed, the FWPD said it was “reviewing the actions of all police personnel involved to ensure that FWPD policies and procedures were followed.” The NBC affiliate was able to determine that the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, a government contractor, was hired to conduct the check.
An NHTSA spokesperson admitted similar programs were being conducted in 30 other cities throughout the US.
But civil liberties attorney Frank Colosi does not accept the rationale.
“You can’t just be pulled over randomly or for no reason,” he said. “They’re essentially lying to you when they say it’s completely voluntary, because they’re testing you at that moment.”
He added that drivers who refused may have been targeted by police for inadvertently giving the impression they were operating a vehicle under the influence. He also told NBC that fine print on the form told drivers their breath was being tested by “passive alcohol sensor readings before the consent process has been completed.”
This oddity comes just months after Texas state troopers were caught on video conducting vaginal and cavity searches on female drivers at the side of the road. The videos quickly went viral, and attorneys for the women filed federal lawsuits against the troopers.
“It’s ridiculous,” Peter Schulte, a former Texas police officer and prosecutor, told the New York Daily News earlier this year. “I was a law enforcement officer for 16 years and I never saw anything like it.”
I miss America.
Cowards deserve this to happen to them.
The latest installment of “Cops Gone Wiiiild!”
Show us your truncheons!
Dude, Where's my Bill of Rights?!
Brought to you by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
F-— the feds all over the place.
So, the highway patrol and city cops can do what they do. I've been pulled over by cops for all sorts of things that I thought were odd. I always let it go because the THIN BLUE LINE is essential in this world and ... basically, better them than me. What a lousy job, dealing with scofflaws and thugs. NO THANKS.
That being said, they do annoy me sometimes; I'm sure the feeling is mutual.
When pressed, the FWPD said it was “reviewing the actions of all police personnel involved to ensure that FWPD policies and procedures were followed.”
Only the police can police the police, right?
Why do we need licenses to drive?
Wasn’t there a story here on Free Republic earlier this year about a similar roadblock in Alabama where drivers were pulled over and offered money if they would give samples as part of this “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration” so-called study?
Welcome to Øbomination.
So you would be willing to involuntarily give up body fluid samples--which contain your DNA--without a warrant?
If you simply say “You have no probable cause. I will not” they say “OK be on your way” If you make an issue of it, curse or swear they have a cause and you can be charged.
I used to work for a city where the police would put up a big sign on I-20 the sign said “Stop for Breathalyzer and drug test” If you just drove by they just waved. Anyone who made a U-Turn across the median was stopped for reckless driving and gave the police probable cause
“Brought to you by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”
Also Sponsored by Taser International, makers of the new Taser X2 Defender...delivering mega joules of stunning power for all your incapacitation needs!
Blood and saliva, eh? Given the proclivities of Bath House Barry’s regime from evil, for all we know they were doing random impregnations of ebola or BSE or chaga. Stay tuned.
poor english but what year?
Just...WOW!
“Am I under arrest?”
“Do you have probable cause to be detaining me?”
“Am I free to go?”
Repeat as needed.
Wasn’t there a story here on Free Republic earlier this year about a similar roadblock in Alabama...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yes.
Click on the Keyword: dnaroadblock just under the article.
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