Do we really want a Federal agency to become the de facto National Police Force? That’s where this is headed. DHS has Tahoe’s and Suburbans running all around the country with Police painted on their vehicles. When the FBI was formed, Hoover had to fight for permission to arm them. We may have made a mistake giving into him on that one.
They are able to stop DUIs that even Ray Charles can see are drunk. And they do. . .but they would rather be catching smugglers and illegal aliens.
The issue of DUIs usually is related to BP checkpoints that are placed among major corridors where smugglers and illegal aliens are shipped, and when a DUI vehcle rolls up and the driver is obviously drunk, the BP detains and calls the locals for pick up.
It is not like the BP are off the beat to arrest and process a drunk driver, they detain at the checkpoint, park the vehicle, take the keys and go back to the checkpoint and do their job until the locals arrive.
In many places there is a very close relationship between the BP and the locals, not only for DUIs, but for calls involving violence. . .a local sheriff's department midnight shift doesn't have many officers and BP may be the nearest to support. For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtGtVWvaSxc
Cool video. . .