MADD plans to go on patrol for DUIs

St. Petersburg Times (tampabay.com) ^ | September 29, 2007 | ABBIE VANSICKLE

[tpaine]

As someone who has lost a sister to a drunk driver, I have one word for this:
Good

As someone who has lost many relatives in our fights for freedom, I have one word for this petty form of prohibitionism:
Bad

[Myrddin]

The only drunks I've ever called in were bouncing off the curbs or already involved in a hit and run. I wasn't cruising around looking for them. They were encountered in the process of traveling. The night I did the "ride along", another officer arrested an emergency room nurse for DUI. I assisted in pushing her vehicle to a safe parking space off the street. She was not only drunk, but she also had a gallon of wine open and a partially consumed plastic cup of wine on her console. She was too drunk to stand without support. Both headlights were broken. The windshield was broken. All the airbags had deployed long ago and were just rolled and taped with duct tape. The car was full of trash. It was apparently her "home" as well. There was body damage from all directions on the car. We parked it and rolled the windows up as best we could. The Breathalyzer confirmed the obvious by a wide margin. She was booked and released to her family.

[Gilbo_3]

There is a nearly endless list of other forms of probable cause. Headlights, tail lights, cracked windshields, improperly affixed registration tags, missing license plates, overly tinted glass, missing mirrors or bald tires. That's just for a start. The local cops are familiar with the habitual drunks, druggies and thieves. They employ the common list of PC, then add driving without a license, driving on a suspended license, driving without insurance, driving without a seatbelt.

Don't drink and drive. They won't have any means of bothering you.

when I'm tired and want to get home at dark thirty, the last thing I need is a nosey nanny followed up by a pr!ck with a badge...

[Myrddin]

They are going to be reporting people driving within speed limit and stopping at red lights, then using this 'observation' to have leo detain people...

The LEO must make the PC observation...unless the MADD observer files a written complaint or insists on making a citizen's arrest. I doubt either of the latter will ever occur. The officer won't attempt to detain unless he/she can corroborate probable cause. To do otherwise would get the case tossed with ease.

The LEO that I accompanied for the "ride along" wouldn't write a speeding citation unless the vehicle exceeded 38 MPH in a 30 MPH zone. In the two years preceding when I did that ride along, he had written 300 speeding tickets. Only 2 were successfully challenged. Cops don't want to waste the time doing it wrong. They have to sit in court every time they write a citation.

[Gilbo_3]

See #123, in your own words, the 'PC' as you so state it from your royal perch is ANYTHING a bully with a badge says it is.

Ive been stopped AND written for too many things to believe that this a@@kissing of madd is anything more than a PR stunt for them and leo.

Pr!ck cops WILL write BS violations, you HAVE to show for court[or pay it] while they stay home to beat their kids...

[Gilbo_3]

Oh and I have to ask... What exactely is the ‘PC’ at those little nazi checkpoints???

[calex59]

Neither party qualifies as vigilantes. Rent a copy of "The Punisher" or any of the old Chuck Bronson movies. That is vigilante justice. It's also Hollywood farce. Don't try that at home.

You still don't get it. I really don't need a lecture, or an explanation of the term "vigilante". I told you, I was being sarcastic and making fun of the Bush remark. Got it now, or do I have to drop a tree on you in order for you to get the SARCASM of my comment? You are a humorless person and rather brainless as well, IMO>

[tfecw]

"They'll be told ahead of time of the sometimes-subtle clues for drunk drivers, such as driving under the speed limit or lingering too long at a green light, Murray said."

Wow, that's how you tell Drunk Drivers? I guess about 90% of the people on my morning commute @ 7AM are drunk.

[petercooper]

bttt

[tfecw]

"As someone who had a sister that was an alcoholic - I say good too."

That's unfortunate you relied on the state to care for you're own sister.

[MichaelP]

Neighbor spying on neighbor, kids spying on parents....Where have we seen this before?

MADD is an anachronism to what America stands for...

Mike

[Rick.Donaldson]

I’m OUTRAGED they are wasting so much gas, and causing so much CO2 build ups! Why can’t they just stfu? (/snicker). Actually, drunk drivers are a bad thing. But, I don’t think this is going to help all that much. Why don’t they go on midnight patrol for illegal aliens and rapists instead? I’m sure they’d catch more of them

[zeugma]

Don't drink and drive. They won't have any means of bothering you.

Really? I wonder if they'll be protected from wrongly reporting people. 

I hope some of them get the living crap beat out of them. Aren't these types of informers just so eastern-european?

[zeugma]

OMG you are a guy??????? Holly heck...

LOL. That was my reaction as well! 

[IronJack]

Of all that is so terribly wrong with this story, you’re worried about the safety of the Gestapo’s snitches?

You're reading an awful lot into what I've posted. I'm concerned about a whole lotta lives getting messed up because of a bunch of self-righteous busybodies posing and posturing where they have no expertise. There could be any number of unintended consequences come out of this, including a lot of bruised soccer mommies.

[CSM]

“The program was Murray’s idea, he said, inspired by worries of what potential budget cuts could do to law enforcement’s DUI teams.”

Yepper, they are worried that their court ordered donations would decrease.....couldn’t have their revenues impacted, so they better get out there and become civilian reveneurs!

[gracesdad]

“How do driving under the limit on a city street at “dark 30” (late night) or “lingering too long at a green light” pose risks to other drivers?”

Most of my near-accidents have been because of somebody driving way too slow or not flowing with traffic.

[Starwolf]

when I'm tired and want to get home at dark thirty, the last thing I need is a nosey nanny followed up by a pr!ck with a badge...

Roger that, just don't be dangerous to the rest of us when you do. If you are a regular 2nd/3rd shift person you can take it to the bank the local cops know your car. Also they are watching you not only for DUI but for falling asleep at the wheel

DUI is a serious issue, it crosses the political and social spectrum. Illegals to Hollywood actors. The extremes make the news, those in the middle don't

If DUIs only killed or injured themselves, I would not be as concerned about it, Darwin and all that. However they don't, and enforcement action is warranted .

I was once stopped due to a MADD style report. They said I had left a resturant/bar and was walking unsteadily. It was the truth. I was two weeks post op on my left knee.

[TheKidster]

So....when is President Bush going to publicly brand these people vigilantes as he did with the Minute Men on the border? It’s pretty much the same thing, observing and reporting illegal activity. I’ll be holding my breath for the announcement to come..... any minute now.