So, what's bad about these checkpoints? We have random license checkpoints here as well, some of them are motorcycle only because of the high number of unlicensed & uninsured riders out here during the 'riding season'. Some of them are just general checkpoints, looking for seatbelts or drunk drivers as well.
I have been stopped a few times for checks. Sometimes I'm stopped as a general motorist who happens to be on a motorbike and sometimes I'm stopped specifically because I'm on a bike. It doesn't make a difference to me and I don't mind the minute or two of inconvenience if it means some dickwad without a license and insurance is held accountable for his actions in some way. It's always been a hello, some friendly bike talk, a license check and a "have a nice day, keep it rubber side down" and I'm on my way
Pardon me for responding with a C/P but someone on the other forum asked the same question. I wrote out a detailed explanation of why I am against them and there are some personal examples directed toward Moto PD and Tom Rhenda (I think I spelled their names correctly).
Anyway - I just don't have time to re-write the answers so I'm going to C/P:
The ol' suspicionless stop of motorists for "safety." I'm sure it'll be carried out fairly and in a constitutionally compliant manner.
I hate these things. The idea that police can set up an East German border crossing in the thinnest pretenses and screen drivers who arent exhibiting any poor driving makes me nuts. How about stepping up patrols? How about pulling licenses earlier for repeat offenders?
I TOTALLY AGREE!!!
I know we have talked about this before but I'm sure there are new OA members reading this. I manage a pharmacy on the night shift and that includes being the Logistics coordinator for the delivery drivers. Most nights my drivers come back and tell me about police pulling them over because they were "Weaving" or they "Looked like they were sleepy" so the officer was "checking on them".
I always ask the drivers "Did the cop ask you What are you doing driving around this late at night?" (We deliver most stops after midnight). LOL Every driver confirms that the drivers are pretty much just seeing what they are doing driving around that late at night. If you are respectful to the officers it usually goes well. A few drivers have gotten mouthy and the officers ruined their night!
I have a problem with stops like that already. I have had a few police pull me over and say they were "Drunk Fishing". LOL I train the drivers to respond "I am working officer - just like you. These night hours are tough". That usually works. People say "Just be respectful and you won't have any problems" That is true for the most part and for the first 20 stops - it's easy to be polite. After about 20 more stops - It starts to become really annoying. After 20 more stops - see what I mean?
Overall I tell the drivers "What are you going to do?". I have issued documentation that these men are delivery drivers in fleet vehicles. That helps but I routinely have police call me at night to verify employment. That is why I wanted to post this petition....I have to tell these drivers that we are stuck with it, that's the way it is, etc. Well we are not stuck with this yet. If we take action we have a chance at stopping this.
Seriously - all the guys who are considering doing this - it takes less time to read through this thread than it does to complete registration and vote. If you don't want to get Spam Emails then do use this strategy. Create a Spam Email that you use online. You know for things that you don't want to receive emails and bombarded with online offers. Most providers offer free Email accounts and this will come in handy. If you don't do it for this it's a good idea to have this trick in your bag. Just my 2 cents. LOL Actually it's more than that - I'm trying to motivate everyone to vote :hoplol::hoplol:
What's the problem with drunk driver check points? We have had commercial vehicle inspections for decades, based on the same principle.
We had the MADD stops in Charlottesville back in the eighties. They would just set up on University Avenue, near the Rotunda, and stop all vehicles for a few hours.
Never saw a problem with that. Same odds for everybody.
I'm not talking about drunk driving check points. Honestly - even though they are there - how many times have you been stopped in one of those? Bet you can count them on one hand.
Our drivers and me working at night - I can tell you EXACTLY how many times I have been stopped.......Want to know why? Because now Tx police keep track of stops. I had that used against me a few weeks ago. The policeman pulled me over because I was "Weaving" and he wanted to make sure I wasn't drinking. I WAS NOT WEAVING! I was driving through his town at 3am and he wanted to know why. This officer asked me "Mr Ford - you seem to have a lot of encounters with the law......." and left it hanging for me to comment. I said "I'm not sure what you mean?" The officer replied "You have been given 16 warnings for traffic violations". HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe this was happening! I was so angry I felt heat going through my body! This was complete Bullshit!!! Two or Three times - I had a headlight out or a license plate light (DON"T GET ME STARTED ON GETTING STOPPED FOR A LICENSE PLATE LIGHT BEING OUT) so a few of those were legit. If you think a license plate being out is legit. I was never ticketed but I am now being pulled over at 3am and an officer has just classified me as "problem". That is not a good feeling Tom. If you have not had the pleasure then I can assure you that it sucks and the officer treats you very differently. I was told to "Stop talking", "Get out of the car" and "Sit on the ground. RIGHT HERE". Each of these were issued with a menacing stare. So I sat on the ground while Officer Friendly went through my car. Now when the officer asked if I had drugs in the car I said "Yes sir I do. A driver called in sick and" That was as far as I got before I was told to sit like a dog. I couldn't stand and watch - I had to sit on the ground. There are a few reasons policemen do this....I'm not going to go into that - let me just tell you that stops like this might change your mind about "Routine Stops".
Another problem I have with stops like this is a very selfish reason. I hardly ever drink and I have a bad habit of waiting until I have to go somewhere before I leave. If I have a 10 min drive to work I will wait until about 15 min before I have to leave before I leave. Not smart I know but I keep doing it. At 42 years old I have accepted that is the way I am. Now I'm driving down the road going to work and I drive up on a "Checkpoint". To be quite honest with you - I think it stinks that I have to stop because other people are drinking. I would much rather police patrol the bar parking lots and pick drivers off as they leave. It's totally selfish but you asked. It's the same principle that since I work nights - I can't buy certain OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS because those drugs CAN be use to produce Meth. Great! We protect those Meth heads and someone who is sick cannot buy that OVER THE COUNTER DRUG and use it for what it's intended. That stinks! Glad we are protecting the ..........I will stop there!
Those are just a few of the examples. My point is that while we are sitting here on the computer talking in our free time - it's no big deal to talk about "Routing Stops" and "Check Points". Officials make it sound like it's NO big deal and if you are not out at certain times - chances are you will not run into many of these things. HOWEVER - if you work during those times - you are classified as "High Risk". Going to work is high risk?
Now I'm going to be stopped just because I drive a motorcycle? Lets be honest - what good will these stops do? They are going to be checking for license and insurance AND YOU HAD BETTER BELIEVE THAT ONCE A COP HAS YOU PULLED OVER - THE QUESTIONS START!!! They will question every single thing that you say and a "Routine Stop" turns into a 20 min Not Quite Interrogation but enough to make you uncomfortable.
My main point is this - I don't mind going along with the law. In fact I will cooperate with whatever comes along. BUT - I'm asking you to understand that the first 10 or 20 times I was stopped - I'm happy to comply with whatever. The NEXT 10 or 20 times - It starts to get annoying. It keeps compounding from there. I am glad that I only drive occasionally (if too many drivers call in sick - or I'm traveling at night - which I prefer). I NEVER had these problems before I worked nights. I will be the 1st to admit that most cops don't treat citizens like the one in my 1st example but I'm asking you to understand that some do. When you are on the receiving end - it makes you look at it from a different perspective.
