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.”
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.
Question: are ALL roadblocks inherent violations of our inalienable rights? Are there no acceptable and useful roadblocks? I live in a city and we don't have roadblocks unless there is street construction.
Acceptance of this by subjects - er citizens - is the alienation of those inalienable rights.
Accepting a roadblock is the alienation of our inalienable rights? Interesting logic. I don't understand your logic but I won't be screaming at you and calling you a troll because I don't understand your logic.
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.
Amen to that.
I lived in Mexico for two years and in Saudi Arabia for five years (with my husband).
You keep ignoring the 4th Amendment. You have no clue what America is about. Zer0!
The “static” impression is given by the comparative nature of your points - most (if not all) of us would agree that the US is better - but most of the posters on this thread are looking at what the US was and is, and seeing that things like this non-judicial roadblock for “voluntary” collection of a DNA sample is anathema to the preservation of freedom.
And I was careful to identify a police roadblock for the purposes of trying to coerce “voluntary” DNA samples. I would feel exactly the same for police roadblocks to force all drivers to blow a breathalizer test as well. Honestly - I disagree with sobriety check roadblocks too (where an initial interview determines if further field sobriety tests are warranted), but the courts have found they are constitutional.
Obviously, a road blocked for safety is not part of this discussion, and appears to be an attempt at a diversion from the discussion.
I have to sign off for now, and will likely be offline until tomorrow evening. Thank you for a civil debate on this subject. I hope you would agree that I have obliged in kind.
How dare they pull law abiding folks over like this and have the shear audacity to ask for samples.
My understanding is that they took passive breath samples without her knowledge.
$$$$$$$ Cha-ching
Some folks deserve to be controlled.
With all due respect.
Firearms: my husband worked in a sporting goods store for some time. One of the things they sold was firearms. I had never shot a gun in my life and we lived in a rural area. There were wolves, wild cats and a ton of marijuana growers, buyers and sellers in the area. My husband thought that there should be a gun in our home and that I should know how to use it.
I never had to but at least I knew how to use one. He taught me to shoot pistols and rifles. I got to shoot an "over-under air force" gun...I think that was the name of it.
You haven't read Georgette Heyer or Ellis Peters. Georgette Heyer wrote about the Regency period in England. They are romances. She wrote some murder mysteries but I didn't read them. I LOVED her Regency romances. They are famous.
Ellis Peters (woman) wrote about a Benedictine monk from the 11th century. He had been a sailor at one time and a soldier in the Crusades but returned to England to finally settle down. He turned 40+ and knew it was time to settle down. CADFAEL was his name. He grew herbs for the monastery he lived in. He used to solve the local crimes by use of herbs or plants. Great stuff.
You would, I guess, know ALL about "complete dumb @ss"es.
Animals are raised; people are reared. But you wouldn't know that.
With all due respect.
I’m thinking I just expressed what just about everyone on the thread wanted to say, but just held back.
You are...a complete dumb @$$.
And I was careful to identify a police roadblock for the purposes of trying to coerce “voluntary” DNA samples. I would feel exactly the same for police roadblocks to force all drivers to blow a breathalizer test as well. Honestly - I disagree with sobriety check roadblocks too (where an initial interview determines if further field sobriety tests are warranted), but the courts have found they are constitutional.
Thank you for the information about the constitutionality of sobriety check roadblocks.
Obviously, a road blocked for safety is not part of this discussion, and appears to be an attempt at a diversion from the discussion.
Why would you think I am creating a diversion when I an answering all and every opinion sent to me? I really was trying to follow your logic.
I have to sign off for now, and will likely be offline until tomorrow evening. Thank you for a civil debate on this subject. I hope you would agree that I have obliged in kind.
I will sign off now too. Thank YOU too for the civil debate. You HAVE obliged in kind and is it appreciated. THANK you and good night.
You are repeating yourself. Not a good sign, servantboy.
No, I don't ignore the 4th Amendment.
And, how dare you say that I don't know what America is about. Who do you think you are? YOU are a Zero--it's the sum total of your I.Q.
Thanks! I'll give her a try.
If you truly do believe what it is you wrote....You ARE what's wrong with America.
Diminishing by one little inkling the sacrifice of those who died to keep us free is absolutely repugnant. Sorry if that hurts your feelings.
Sophomoric statements in support of the actions of rogue officials only insults freedom and ultimately breeds lust to oppress a free people.
You don’t have the slightest clue what America is about. Your statements are the most idiotic drivel I’ve ever seen on FR.
What are they REALLY up to?
Bad mouthing America does WHAT to change things?
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