Don't sweat it!
Posted on 02/10/2005 8:53:28 PM PST by tbird5
"...Can you say where this took place? Was this on a public thoroughfare? What law did they cite as authorization for asking for "your papers please?..."
This occured on busy roads in New Jersey. The checkpoints were well-marked with "fluorescent yellow" signs, police cruisers, and officers on foot. I was not singled-out as virtually everyone who was passing in both directions was stopped and inspected. It is hard to say which would bother me more...checking everyone or just being randomly stopped.
Once my turn arrived, I presented the three documents and I was on my way pretty quickly. While I've nothing to hide, if they wanted to see inside my trunk I would have insisted upon a search warrant and a sergeant/lieutenant to be in attendance. The business appointment just would have had to been rescheduled at that juncture...
This was the same procedure I've encountered in Pennsylvania and Ohio at sobriety checkpoints, too. My concern is that we Americans typically just "shrug our collective shoulders" and willingly accept this behavior from our government. The fact that I encountered two checkpoints within five hours seems a bit overbearing.
~ Blue Jays ~
It sure is unconstitutional. I wonder if if the NJ legislature authorized such things.
I have no idea how decisions for license/registration/insurance/sobriety checkpoints are made. One sees them in many states, but I couldn't tell you if arrangements are made at the township, county, or state level. All I know is that anytime I've encountered these stops, they've been manned by local law enforcement.
Am I just overreacting? It must be that patriot blood in my veins, because I find the intrusion into my schedule quite annoying. My family plays by the rules and we wish to go about our private business without interruption provided that we continue our behavior as good, honest, law-abiding citizens.
~ Blue Jays ~
oh, I guess all the words mean something.
Don't sweat it!
The last itme I looked, bar codes and the like were machine readable. Hardly what I'd call "electronic ID". I think that our author needs to knock a few back and calm down.
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