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Were my friend's rights infringed by the cops?

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Around here the checkpoints I've gone through haven't really been much of an inconvience at all. Road flares were setup, you drove up, rolled down your window. Cop asked if we'd been drinking, shined the flashlight in to check, then said we could go.

Like 30 seconds extra time. If that keeps a few drunks off the road, I'll make that sacrifice.

Frankly, the fact that something as small as this pisses you off so much makes me support it even more.
 
Originally posted by: Sundog
Originally posted by: lancestorm
It's Bullsh*t.
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It is not your "right" to drive a car, it is a privilege. Get over it.
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In Pennsylvania, you have to agree to submit to an alcohol test at any time before you get your license. If you refuse to take a test once you have your driver's license, they'll take you in to the station.

I don't really thing stopping everyone like this is a problem. You know they do it, and it's a good way to reduce drunk driving. It's not like they're coming into your house... you're out on a public road, potentially putting everyone else at risk if you're drunk.

Ignoring the long delays caused, I think those checks are good.
 
Simple. Dont get a license. You dont HAVE to use the government built roads which are maintained by government money for the public.
Although, it is nice to see someoen *finally* worried about their rights in America, although I think your focused on the wrong laws.
 
the PA/DE border has "seatbelt checks" but I'm not sure if they do sobriety checks. I don't really care either way because I always take backroads to avoid crossing those borders on major highways....
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Frankly, the fact that something as small as this pisses you off so much makes me support it even more.
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Like that makes much sense....


Anyways, sorry for being so pissed off about it this morning, you guys had nothing to do with it. I'm just a bit heated about this topic and will try to talk nicer for the rest of the thread 🙂 ... had to let off some steam.
 
Boo friggin' hoo. These kinds of random checkpoints are perfectly legal. BTW, stopping every car IS random - it would not be random if they only pulled over people they found suspicious for whatever reason. I don't ask you to like it, but this is nothing new and does not represent any kind of recent crackdown.
 
Originally posted by: lancestorm
There was no randomness. It was every single car. It's Bullsh*t.
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Why? It's not your right to be able to operate a motor vehicle without restrictions.
 
Having been involved in 2 accidents involving a drunken moron behind the wheel of the other car, im a bit biased... But i am more than for the practices taking place in pennsylvania (i live there).

Even better, if they see you turn off on a nearby road to avoid the block, they hop in a interceptor and chase you down 😀 more power to em. If youre stupid enough to drink and drive, you deserve the $3500 in fines.

Its MORE than worth the inconvenience.
 
Originally posted by: lancestorm
My friend said that last Friday night he was on a simple 2 way, 2 lane highway when traffic stopped completely. The reason: "DUI" check point by police. WTF? Do they have any right to stop every car? Does he not have the right to say that he did nothing illegal, thus their stopping him is against his civil liberties, and that he wants to be going on his way? It sounds like the militarization of our state and local police is here. What is this, Moscow? Is it legal what the cops were doing???
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Only the guilty have problems with this type of road block.
 
Originally posted by: Acanthus
Having been involved in 2 accidents involving a drunken moron behind the wheel of the other car, im a bit biased... But i am more than for the practices taking place in pennsylvania (i live there).

Even better, if they see you turn off on a nearby road to avoid the block, they hop in a interceptor and chase you down 😀 more power to em. If youre stupid enough to drink and drive, you deserve the $3500 in fines.

Its MORE than worth the inconvenience.
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state police don't know their own backroads. I never even get near my car when I've been drinking, but if a cop thought they were gunna catch up with me on PA's back roads even close enough to have a lights on persuit.... they have a hard lesson coming in mustang vs caprice handling rofl

:beer:
 
Originally posted by: DorkBoy
Originally posted by: lancestorm
My friend said that last Friday night he was on a simple 2 way, 2 lane highway when traffic stopped completely. The reason: "DUI" check point by police. WTF? Do they have any right to stop every car? Does he not have the right to say that he did nothing illegal, thus their stopping him is against his civil liberties, and that he wants to be going on his way? It sounds like the militarization of our state and local police is here. What is this, Moscow? Is it legal what the cops were doing???
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Only the guilty have problems with this type of road block.
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The guilty, hmm? Yeah, me the guy who is always the DD because I don't drink. Suck it!
 
Originally posted by: halik
Eh,
as long as they dont search my car i could care less. (not that i have stuff in my car, but that would be raping the 4th)

Plus I'd rather inconvenience myself than let a drunk asshole drive around
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Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
OMG LIKE THE POLICE INFRINGED MY RIGHTS WHEN THEY TOOK MY M&M!! OMGWTFBBQPORKCHOPAIRCOOLEDCAT!
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wtf? shut the hell up and try to say something constructive in a thread for once!
 
Now if they stop random cars, you'll be the first in here screaming profiling. :roll:

They do it for a reason and I'm all for it, there are many idiots that drink and drive (myself included, but that was a long time ago). A lot of times, they just slow you down, take a good look at the driver, and wave the car by. If you're suspicious, then they'll stop you and perform routine checks.

I do notice that they don't completely make you have to pass a check point, as I have seen many check points. If it inconvenient me on my trip, then I simply find another route, there are plenty.
 
Originally posted by: Mandos
Originally posted by: halik
Eh,
as long as they dont search my car i could care less. (not that i have stuff in my car, but that would be raping the 4th)

Plus I'd rather inconvenience myself than let a drunk asshole drive around
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

we can't live our lives in fear. if DUI came with one year manditory jail and 5 year licence suspension... none of this would be a problem...
 
They have these sorts of checkpoints quite often by me here in NY.
Mostly it?s just a check for out of date tags but there is an occasional sobriety checkpoint at night.
I?ve never felt impinged at all: I wear my seatbelt, my inspection and registration are up to date and if I was drunk and behind the wheel then who do I have to blame besides myself?
 
Well..

I actually agree with him. It's bullshit. I'm all for keeping drunks off the road, but there's a fine line between seeing everybody as guilty until proven innocent, and.. the way it's supposed to be, and in these cases, that line is crossed, IMO.

I imagine Oregon is another state that doesen't do these things, because I've never heard of it happening here.
 
Originally posted by: acemcmac

we can't live our lives in fear. if DUI came with one year manditory jail and 5 year licence suspension... none of this would be a problem...
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Yeah, it would. People would still drive drunk, and we would clog the courts and jails to no good end.
 
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: acemcmac

we can't live our lives in fear. if DUI came with one year manditory jail and 5 year licence suspension... none of this would be a problem...
Click to expand...

Yeah, it would. People would still drive drunk, and we would clog the courts and jails to no good end.
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and if we just let john doe potsmoker back out on the street.... and started building more jails... I vote for a massive, underground prison camp like in that one movie...

eli's right... fine line..... this is on the wrong side of that line no matter how noble the cause is
 
Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: Mandos
Originally posted by: halik
Eh,
as long as they dont search my car i could care less. (not that i have stuff in my car, but that would be raping the 4th)

Plus I'd rather inconvenience myself than let a drunk asshole drive around
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

we can't live our lives in fear. if DUI came with one year manditory jail and 5 year licence suspension... none of this would be a problem...
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Yup, and if we institute the death penalty then people will no longer kill each other!

ERRRRRRRR...
 
Originally posted by: lancestorm
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Sounds like some one's "friend" got caught saucing behind the wheel to me.
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My ass. He doesn't drink.

I'm just pissed about the whole situation. These things should NOT be happening in America. Goodbye America, welcome Russia!
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These things happen because the majority of us want them to happen. It's called Democracy. Deal with it.
 
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