Downright pleasant sobriety checkpoint

[RA8]

I won't be getting into the issue here on whether or not the DUI checkpoint is legal, constitutional, or right. I've personally had a dear friends life ruined because of a drunk driver rear ending his motorcycle, and I don't drive drunk. I I just don't care if they do them. I'm only reporting on how pleasant the police were with me while I drove through one. I did have my phone on record as I pulled through, so this is basically a transcript, not a recollection.

OS:HEY!
Me:Oh sorry, I thought you were waving me through( There were literally 15 people standing around, I had no idea who to look at.)
OS:You're alright. Officer Schneider("OS"), we're running an OWI checkpoint. License and registration?
Me:Sure
OS:Pretty dog!
Me:Thank you
OS:Always a little leery when they're that big but he looks friendly
Me:Hes a big sweetheart
OS:You got a gun on you tonight?(My LTCH was in front of my license)
Me:Yes sir
OS:K, What are you carrying?
Me:Sig 229
OS:Like the gun I have on my side, man!
Me:Yes sir, they're the best!
OS:Haha, it is the best!
Me:I stopped carrying my Glock once I had a Sig in my hands for the first time.
OS:haha, I hear ya! Good to go, he's going to say something to you and get you outa here, ok?
Other cop: Drug free task force, Tippecanoe county, We're handing out some info on drunk driving. I want to thank you for being responsible and give you this sunglasses visor clip if you want it.
Me:Actually, I will take one of those, thank you!
OS:Take care!

I was never disarmed.

On a side note, this was at 10:30. By the time 2 am came around, they had broken down the checkpoint and gone on to bigger and better things. WHY on earth would they take down the sobriety checkpoint before everyone leaves the bars?

 

[misconfig]

Good report, thanks for sharing.

 

[Que]

That's a really good experience. Some counties set up check points as a deterrent. They set up early and hope drinkers see they are out and don't drink and drive in the first place. The word gets around in bars that check points are set up.

 

[patton487]

Glad you get along so well with the Nazi brown shirts, God! they take away our rights and as long as they are friendly, we smile all the way to the prison camps. Don't get me started, never mind........

 

[eldirector]

On a side note, this was at 10:30. By the time 2 am came around, they had broken down the checkpoint and gone on to bigger and better things. WHY on earth would they take down the sobriety checkpoint before everyone leaves the bars?

#1 - overtime pay
#2 - it isn't about safety

Sobriety Checkpoints are about as unconstitutional as you can get. You do not need a license or registration to determine if I am intoxicated. You cannot legally stop me (detain me) if I am not breaking any laws.

Glad you enjoyed your pit stop

 

[Bigum1969]

#1 - overtime pay
#2 - it isn't about safety

Sobriety Checkpoints are about as unconstitutional as you can get. You do not need a license or registration to determine if I am intoxicated. You cannot legally stop me (detain me) if I am not breaking any laws.

Glad you enjoyed your pit stop

Gotta agree with this.

Glad it went well. Sounds like you interacted with professional and polite officers. But the whole concept makes me puke a little in my mouth.

I've NEVER driven drunk. EVER. I hold utter contempt and hatred for those that drive drunk. Let me be clear about that.

But the idea of being pulled over and asked for your papers with no other probable cause than you are driving on that road is sickening.

The constitution has been flushed down the toilet so many times now you can't read the words anymore.

 

[RA8]

I won't be getting into the issue here on whether or not the DUI checkpoint is legal, constitutional, or right. I've personally had a dear friends life ruined because of a drunk driver rear ending his motorcycle, and I don't drive drunk. I I just don't care if they do them. I'm only reporting on how pleasant the police were with me while I drove through one.

Please don't turn this into a constitutional argument. Please feel free to start another thread if you have a rant about the checkpoints. This is a carry issues post.

 

[Bigum1969]

Please don't turn this into a constitutional argument. Please feel free to start another thread if you have a rant about the checkpoints. This is a carry issues post.

You are correct. My apologies.

But the puke in my mouth made it hard for me not to say anything.

 

[EvilleDoug]

You know something, I have honestly never had a bad experience with a LEO. Even when I was a kid doing dumb kid stuff, they were never rude or acted any way other than professional. I know, there are pri** LEOs out there I've seen the hidden video stuff too, but for me, they have always done what they had to do.

Glad your check point went well, maybe he saw you click the record button on your phone and was pretending to like Sigs. I keed, I keed.

Oh and by the way, calling LEOs "Nazi Brown Shirts" that's not going to win you any friends here. There are several members of the Law Enforcement community among us, and like you, I'm Sure, that don't like to be categorized or even compared to something bad.

Thanks for the AAR

Doug

 

[LEaSH]

I'm glad you were on your way after only a few moments. Best way to expedite something like that depends on the attitude of the driver, too.

I bet if you were impatient or otherwise grumpy, you might have been 'scrutinized' a bit longer.

Always hoping for the professionalism when I here about these.

 

[techno.m3]

I read they they were going to have a sobriety checkpoint around Purdue in the paper yesterday. Are they required to publish that information?

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

Glad you get along so well with the Nazi brown shirts, God! they take away our rights and as long as they are friendly, we smile all the way to the prison camps. Don't get me started, never mind........

I wear a blue shirt.

 

[OAK]

#1 - overtime pay
#2 - it isn't about safety

Sobriety Checkpoints are about as unconstitutional as you can get. You do not need a license or registration to determine if I am intoxicated. You cannot legally stop me (detain me) if I am not breaking any laws.

Glad you enjoyed your pit stop

A checkpoint isn't a stop. It's designed with safety in mind, such as a seatbelt check. When they approach the vehicle to see that you're wearing a seatbelt, they also observe the driver to see if he/she is intoxicated. Since it's illegal to drive intoxicated and they observed you drive, they can stop you.

All vehicles pass through the checkpoint and therefore any of the vehicles are subject to being stopped, the driver and passengers being asked for identification and so forth.
Such action does not legally constitute profiling or harassment.

Besides it's made "common knowledge" that there will be a check point... Check the paper, news coverage, or police website... I promise it is listed somewhere for you to read!

 

[bglaze]

#1 - overtime pay
#2 - it isn't about safety

Sobriety Checkpoints are about as unconstitutional as you can get. You do not need a license or registration to determine if I am intoxicated. You cannot legally stop me (detain me) if I am not breaking any laws.

Glad you enjoyed your pit stop

What would happen if you refused to show license and registration and told them just that, "Officer, you do not need my license and registration to see that I am perfectly sober. May I be on my way?"

What is the law here? Can we decline to submit to this?

 

[bglaze]

I'm glad you were on your way after only a few moments. Best way to expedite something like that depends on the attitude of the driver, too.

I bet if you were impatient or otherwise grumpy, you might have been 'scrutinized' a bit longer.

Always hoping for the professionalism when I here about these.

Blind and polite obedience. That is what they are looking for, so they would definitely not hold you any longer than necessary. You are the type of citizen they are looking to groom us all into.

 

[OAK]

What would happen if you refused to show license and registration and told them just that, "Officer, you do not need my license and registration to see that I am perfectly sober. May I be on my way?"

What is the law here? Can we decline to submit to this?

IC 34-28-5-3.5
Refusal to identify self
Sec. 3.5. A person who knowingly or intentionally refuses to provide either the person's:
(1) name, address, and date of birth; or
(2) driver's license, if in the person's possession;
to a law enforcement officer who has stopped the person for an infraction or ordinance violation commits a Class C misdemeanor.
As added by P.L.1-1998, SEC.24.

 

[LEaSH]

Blind and polite obedience. That is what they are looking for, so they would definitely not hold you any longer than necessary. You are the type of citizen they are looking to groom us all into.

Whoawhoawhoa there cowboy. The OP expressed that he didn't wish to make it question of constitutionality. I respected that and left out my feelings on that all together.

You have no idea about what kind of citizen I am. I bet I know what type you are, however...

 

[Tripp11]

^^ Yeah, but there hasn't been an infraction or ordinance violation by the driver yet during a checkpoint....has there?

 

[RA8]

Whoawhoawhoa there cowboy. The OP expressed that he didn't wish to make it question of constitutionality. I respected that and left out my feelings on that all together.

You have no idea about what kind of citizen I am. I bet I know what type you are, however...

I've handed out too much rep today... so

 

[OAK]

^^ Yeah, but there hasn't been an infraction or ordinance violation by the driver yet during a checkpoint....has there?

Obstruction of Justice... Broad enough to cover a refusal...