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MADD plans to go on patrol for DUIs
St. Petersburg Times (tampabay.com) ^ | September 29, 2007 | ABBIE VANSICKLE

Posted on 10/01/2007 6:37:03 PM PDT by elkfersupper

TAMPA - Had a few drinks before getting behind the wheel?

Think again. That harmless-looking minivan in the rearview mirror might be the neighbors on patrol.

That's how Mothers Against Drunk Driving pitched its latest plan to get impaired drivers off the roads.

Called the Traffic Observation Program, the pilot program is slated to begin in Hillsborough County and may become a statewide initiative, according to Don Murray, Florida's executive director for MADD.

The plan: Recruit 20 volunteers armed with donated cell phones and send them out in the middle of the night to watch for telltale signs of drunk drivers.

MADD has worked closely with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, so Murray suggested to other MADD members that the pilot program begin here.

Murray envisions a program that will pair up community members who are willing to go through a screening process, including a criminal background check and an interview to ensure that those going out on the streets have proper training and experience.

He wanted to make it clear that volunteers will not be acting like law enforcement.

"This isn't like a vigilante program," he said. "They won't be attempting to stop or in any way interacting with these vehicles. They're basically just observers."

Volunteers will go out in teams. They will drive their own vehicles and take GPS equipment, so they'll be able to find their way through unfamiliar areas for two to four hours of searching, Murray said. 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.

"We certainly don't want our observers to be calling erroneous reports in," he said.

If participants spot a suspicious driver, they will jot down the license plate, a vehicle description and a location and notify the Sheriff's Office. It's up to the deputy to check out the vehicle to determine whether an arrest is appropriate, Murray said.

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

"They'll likely lose officers from the road," he said. "We were looking ahead to try to see what our organization can do."

Hillsborough sheriff's Cpl. Stephen Decatur said the program is just a formalized process for what already happens everyday: People call law enforcement when they see something suspicious.

He praised the idea, but he cautioned that it's vital that volunteers don't try to do the work of law enforcement in apprehending and accusing suspects.

"If anybody's overzealous, if they play outside the guidelines, then they're acting above and beyond just being observers," he said. "We want them to do it in a responsible manner, and it looks like the program is set up to do that."

Tampa police Cpl. Jared Douds had much the same reaction. It sounded like a Neighborhood Watch group for the roadways.

"Obviously anything that's going to get drunk drivers off the road, we're interested in," Douds. "That's certainly a positive for everybody."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: cellphoneequals08; dui; dwi; madd; neoprohibition
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To: panzer_grey
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

121 posted on 10/01/2007 10:36:52 PM PDT by tpaine (" My most important function on the Supreme Court is to tell the majority to take a walk." -Scalia)
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To: ozzymandus
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.
122 posted on 10/01/2007 10:47:00 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin; LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget; elkfersupper
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...

123 posted on 10/01/2007 10:54:13 PM PDT by Gilbo_3 (A few Rams must look after the sheep 'til the Good Shepherd returns...)
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To: Gilbo_3
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.

124 posted on 10/01/2007 10:56:47 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin; LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget; elkfersupper
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...

125 posted on 10/01/2007 11:17:35 PM PDT by Gilbo_3 (A few Rams must look after the sheep 'til the Good Shepherd returns...)
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Comment #126 Removed by Moderator

To: Myrddin

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


127 posted on 10/01/2007 11:21:52 PM PDT by Gilbo_3 (A few Rams must look after the sheep 'til the Good Shepherd returns...)
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To: Myrddin
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>

128 posted on 10/02/2007 5:42:16 AM PDT by calex59
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To: OCC
"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.
129 posted on 10/02/2007 6:11:06 AM PDT by tfecw (It's for the children)
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To: Starwolf

bttt


130 posted on 10/02/2007 6:15:45 AM PDT by petercooper ("Daisy-cutters trump a wiretap anytime." - Nicole Gelinas - 02-10-04)
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To: geopyg
"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.
131 posted on 10/02/2007 6:19:06 AM PDT by tfecw (It's for the children)
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To: elkfersupper
Neighbor spying on neighbor, kids spying on parents....Where have we seen this before?

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

Mike

132 posted on 10/02/2007 6:28:56 AM PDT by MichaelP (The Big Picture IS important!)
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To: Minn

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


133 posted on 10/02/2007 6:35:41 AM PDT by Rick.Donaldson (http://realitycheck.blogsome.com - and yes, yes, I'm a "FredHead". Fred Thompson for Prez.)
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To: Myrddin
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?

134 posted on 10/02/2007 6:39:54 AM PDT by zeugma (Ubuntu - Linux for human beings)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
OMG you are a guy??????? Holly heck...

LOL. That was my reaction as well! 

135 posted on 10/02/2007 6:49:10 AM PDT by zeugma (Ubuntu - Linux for human beings)
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To: inneroutlaw
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.

136 posted on 10/02/2007 6:55:08 AM PDT by IronJack (=)
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To: elkfersupper

“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!


137 posted on 10/02/2007 6:56:22 AM PDT by CSM ("Dogs and beer. Proof that God loves us.- Al Gator (8/24/2007))
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To: weegee

“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.


138 posted on 10/02/2007 7:12:11 AM PDT by gracesdad
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To: Gilbo_3
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.

139 posted on 10/02/2007 7:32:42 AM PDT by Starwolf
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To: elkfersupper

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.


140 posted on 10/02/2007 7:36:32 AM PDT by TheKidster (you can only trust government to grow, consolidate power and infringe upon your liberties.)
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