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 don't have that experience. I DID get stopped by a cop, but I had rolled through a stop sign. He didn't give me a ticket but very gently scolded me.
I did live in a 3rd world country, twice. The cops patrolled like they were on the lookout for a good bribe. That would be Mexico.
The Saudi cops, if ever they were visible, were just so very pathetic. They were to avoid.
True story. A Saudi cop stopped my husband on camp. Husband and I WERE racing each other on camp. It was two A.M. and the streets were deserted. Anyway, the cop took my husband to jail, the next day. When the cop in charge of the precinct heard WHY ... he was angry at the cop for doing that. He made the cop bring my husband home.
However, I understand your point of view. I sure wouldn't want to be a cop. Cops are TARGETS for the disenfranchised bad guys. That cop uniform provides a big blue target.
So I am what wrong with America. You sure know how to insult. I'm very grateful that I don't know you. I guess what I wrote just doesn't come up to your standards and I guess there's only room in this great country for YOUR standards.
Am I still allowed, by your standards, to say: GOD BLESS AMERICA??
You didn’t hurt my feelings. How could you? Your bile isn’t MY problem, it’s yours.
I don't know you, I just read your comments and it floors me how naive and submissive they appear. I really hope you alter your views someday before we all find ourselves in the midst of a full blown police state.
I apologize for calling you a dumb @$$...I admit, that was outta line. You're entitled to you're opinion.
God bless and happy Thanksgiving to you.
You believe I am naive. I probably am. I've had tons of grief in my life, losing parents, sister and husband but I have my faith and that seems to help me.
As for naivete about this country. I guess I am. I've lived in pit holes, both places with enough money to NOT be pit holes and they still are because of greed. But I should NOT assume that our folks are one iota better. Maybe I'm just too spoiled and life is just too good for me now.
I lived in police states and they were horrible. So, I guess, by comparison, things are so much better HERE that I don't see things through your eyes.
I do have faith, however, in the battalion's of lawyers in this country. My mother became a lawyer at 60 years old and practiced family law for 20 years. She was definitely for the little guy and helped as much as she could. Too often the down and out she helped never did pay her, even in a token way. She let it go.
Also, I ended up having a plethora of lawyer friends, some who played the same sport I do, and I heard little else but their take on things. Yep. Greed is a big factor in humanity and I accept that this country is going down the wrong path.
Is it Obama? Is it the Democrat party? Is it the attitude of the endless government money tree? It is the whine-line that we can't take care of ourselves? I don't know. You would probably know more about that because you seem to have your ear to the ground better and hear the rumblings of bad things. I accept YOUR take on things too.
God bless you and yours and happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Burp. I had a bit of pre-Thanksgiving dinner already.
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