I find it interesting that people spend a lot of time raising hell about the alleged wire taps as violations of rights. However, we see much less discussion of the so-called "safety check points" that are becoming more and more common on the road. Am I the only one who firmly thinks that being detained without cause in this manner is a gross violation of civil rights?
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
Yeah, there was a caller on my favorite radio station who discussed being subjected to one of these stops. His grandfather, a refugee from the Communist bloc, was a passenger in the car. He stated that it reminded him of East Germany. I got into an argument with a colleague about this issue. He defended it because of issues of public safety. My response was that he shouldn't have any problem with random police searches of homes for meth labs since that is a big safety concern.
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
I find it interesting that people spend a lot of time raising hell about the alleged wire taps as violations of rights. However, we see much less discussion of the so-called "safety check points" that are becoming more and more common on the road. Am I the only one who firmly thinks that being detained without cause in this manner is a gross violation of civil rights?
I think they are a huge violation as well. "Safety check points" my a**. If the cops have reason to believe that I am commiting a crime, then pull me over. Check points are like casting a wide net and seeing what you come back with. It's BS.
My response was that he shouldn't have any problem with random police searches of homes for meth labs since that is a big safety concern.
This sort of thing doesn't suprise me at all. People in this country are routinely ready to give up their liberties for the "greater good" if there is the slightest possibility that it will save a life or save somebody some money. Here's a short list of examples. Seat belts, car insurance, mandatory health insurance in Mass., blaze orange, motorcycle helmets, social security taxes, gun control. Where I live even the color I paint my house is subject to approval by the local building inspector because if I paint it an "odd" color it may hurt my neighbor's property value.Many ofthese aren't great shakes issues but these and many others I'm sure you all can add to the list add up. Where does it end? We are becoming a nation of fraidy cats that have been duped into thinking that if we give up more liberty we will all be better off. Well I'm one that recognizes that hundreds of thousands in the past have struggled and died to secure for us the liberty we have. It doesn't make sense to trade it away piece meal. If we aren't quite as safe and if it costs some money and some more lives to keep the freedom to live as "free" people ought to be able to live then so be it.
O.K. I'll get off the soap box now...
One final thought... A free society isn't a perfect society. There will be costs associated with that freedom. I think we should be willing to pay a high price for it. Our predecessors certainly did.
Does anybody think giving the police even more power and discretion than they already have will make for a better system? Where is the point where the police are not the solution tosafety concerns but thereason for them?
What exactly is a safety check-point? Don't know that I've ever seen one.
Are they like the truck scales the state troopers run? If so, I never stopped at those, either. I found it much easier to make them come and get me. They never fined me any less for cooperating.[:@]
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It varies. Sometimes they block the road and stop and check all drivers coming thru on a holiday evening. Other times, it occurs during the typical day. They were initially billed as safety checks to make sure that people had insurance. Now its having insurance, and wearing a safety belt, and not having alcohol on your breath. According to the radio show I heard today, they will now sometimes question people and run background checks as well. If you try to turn around to avoid being delayed at a check point, the cops will come after you.
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
What exactly is a safety check-point?Â* Don't know that I've ever seen one.
What LCC said. There is a county (Davidson) just to the south of mine that used to be run by a guy named Sheriff Hege. You may have seen him on Court TV. He had a little program on there until he was indicted on a bunch of charges and run out of office.
Anyway, they'd have check points all over the county. They'd just stop everyone and give the vehicle the once over and check your license, registration, etc. If you turned around before you got to the road block, they'd have a couple deputies there to run you down.
A long time ago here, the highway patrol here put up signs on the highway that say, "Police check at Exit X" which would be two exits up. Then they camp out at the next exit to nab people who may be getting off early to avoid the check.
Seems all people are willing to have things done as long as they are done "within reason". The big problem everyone has a different perspective of what "within reason" is. I watch on the news as people in Philadelphia (and I know it is happening all over the US) are yelling about Bush and his wiretaps. Yet the same people in Philadelphia voted, in an over whelming majority, to have cameras installed on every street corner. So that the police can crack down on crime. The Philadelphia police informed the news reporter that the average person in Philadelphia already has their photo taken about 20 times a day on average. And this is before they put in these cameras.[:@]
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Violation of rights
