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.”
It wasn’t a personal attack. It was an evaluation of your statements.
I didn’t say you’re an idiot, I said what you posted was idiotic.
I ridicule people who understand that government power comes from the people? When? How?
Outrage doesn't need to be justified? It's okay to just be angry? What EXACT event outrages you so much? What intrusive and unconstitutional event outraged you so much?
People like you bring the worst of other countries to America.
WHAAAAT? I am of another country? How do I "bring the worst of other countries to America"?
People like me? You are making little sense with this. But, I understand. You are outraged and anger doesn't have much sense...only sensibility.
It was THIS close to ad hominum attack and you know it. You merely changed the noun to an adjective. Your intent was the same.
Your posts read like you think you are the most wise person in the world.
You are attacking people who are protesting intrusive and illegal actions of their government.
Why should Americans submit to activities like this one? why dont you try to explain that one.
I promised my mom a long time ago to stop feeding the trolls.
There is living abroad in Europe and other first world countries, then there's living abroad in second world countries (former Soviet Union)...and then there is living in third world countries, like Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
I lived in THIRD WORLD countries and visited the others.
Boy did I have my eyes opened.
How am I barking up the wrong tree?
Also, how does bellyaching on this site solve anything? All it SEEMS to do is air bellyaching from people who PROBABLY didn't live in 3rd world countries for years.
I did and KNOW what a fabulous place this country is. It pains me to hear SO MUCH WHINING about the very, very BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
Side note: the day I came home for good from the middle I KISSED the ground of this blessed country. I still get teary-eyed when I hear our national anthem. Sounds silly to you, I suppose. I even sing along sometimes. THAT you wouldn't want to hear.
It can't come from "collaborator" as that word is "colaborador."
Collaboratore. Che è italiano, non spagnolo.
WHAT a good boy you are. I guess you WOULD recognize trolls; you seem to know about them. I've never seen one except in movies. Did you mother teach you about them? I saw them in the old Disney movies.
yes she taught me they stink up the place
You are attacking people who are protesting intrusive and illegal actions of their government.
How am I doing that? What did I say in an ATTACK mode?
Why should Americans submit to activities like this one? why dont you try to explain that one.
I already explained that GOOD Americans report bad cops. If you think you've been wrongly treated it is YOUR DUTY to report bad cops. If you don't then you become part of the problem.
When was the last time you were badly treated by a cop? Did you report him? I hope you WEREN'T badly treated by ANYONE but if you were, I hope you did report it.
How lovely of your mother to teach you that cops stink up the place. She sounds like a CHARMING lady. What a useful thing to teach children.
Now I understand the source of your anger and angst.
I have to go now. I go to daily Mass and it's time to get rolling. I'll be back. Now where have I heard THAT before?
The way I read it they were not cops but the NHTSA.
.
The people you are arguing against are those trying to point out how to KEEP the best country in the world, and not just remember it nostalgically. From reading your posts, it appears you believe that the U.S. is a static nation - that the fact of having inalienable rights identified on paper makes those rights inviolable.
The people you are arguing against are trying to tell you that crap like the roadblocks discussed on this thread are inherently violations of those inalienable rights. Acceptance of this by subjects - er citizens - is the alienation of those inalienable rights.
Oh - I, too, have been overseas and fully appreciate the greatness of this country. I want to keep that greatness as more than a memory.
Really. That's all you you've got to say when I use the viral Twitter tag "I Miss America" from 299 Days?
You deserve what you will get, Quisling.
“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.”
If you don’t mind being pulled over without probable cause, and you don’t mind DNA samples being forcibly taken from you, would you also have no problem with police searches of your home? If, say, they set up door-to-door searches in your neighborhood looking for residents who had drugs?
If you wouldn’t mind THAT, would you mind the feds coming into your house and examining your reading material, and confiscating magazines and newspapers they didn’t want you to have?
Where does it cross the line for you?
Ed
About 8-9 years ago they were doing this in Florida. Initially they were using off duty but in uniform law enforcement to do it.
They would pull people over at random (think traffic stop on the highway) and ask for these same things. When people got pissed they switched methods.
I once got a letter in the mail saying I was observed at a certain location, they included mile market, time and date. They asked what the purpose of my trip was, where I was going, and where I was coming from among other things.
Almost a trend.
You do have reading comprehension problems. I didn't say that.
Those countries don’t have our Constitution.
Think before you speak. Read and try to comprehend.
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams
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