Considering that checkpoints directly violate the Constitution, I have no sympathy for them and encourage everyone to use their First Amendment rights to support their Fourth Amendment rights. Checkpoints are about proving your innocence when there is no specific cause to do so.

Meh. I lived in Ohio for awhile. They were required to post location info in the paper days before a checkpoint took place. If you got fair warning and still managed to get busted, you're too stupid to be allowed out of your own home and deserve to go to jail.

/amateurs

eddyatwork: Considering that checkpoints directly violate the Constitution, I have no sympathy for them and encourage everyone to use their First Amendment rights to support their Fourth Amendment rights. Checkpoints are about proving your innocence when there is no specific cause to do so.

While I completely agree with you, this is taking place in Edmonton, Canada.

Sybarite: Regardless of what SCOTUS says, I happen to believe that such check points violate the Fourth Amendment, so FU.

Well SCOTUS isn't the boss of Canada anyway, so we've got that going for us.

Considering this happened in Canada, I would bet that the American constitution has no bearing.

How about cops don't pull me over without probable cause?

mtbhucker: Considering this happened in Canada, I would bet that the American constitution has no bearing.

The Constitution has no bearing. It's a direct friction fit.

Juc: Sybarite: Regardless of what SCOTUS says, I happen to believe that such check points violate the Fourth Amendment, so FU.

Well SCOTUS isn't the boss of Canada anyway, so we've got that going for us.

yet...

How about instead of stopping hundreds of motorists to say "papers please" and catch maybe one drunk per hour for the checkpoint, you have those 30 or so officers actually out patrolling for bad drivers.

It isn't about catching drunks.

So one department has a problem with it, but the other does not. "We don't need the money, but they might."

It's all about the money.

Petit_Merdeux: The tweets have also angered Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

lol! U Madd?

From Candy Lightner the founder of MADD:

MADD "has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I had ever wanted or envisioned ... I didn't start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving"

/alcohol checkpoints rarely find anyone who is driving drunk - they are completely ineffective

Hey, did anyone mention this is taking place in Canada? Not that I don't appreciate the refresher on the American Constitution.

Petit_Merdeux: The tweets have also angered Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

lol! U Madd?

*WIN*

serpent_sky: eddyatwork: Considering that checkpoints directly violate the Constitution, I have no sympathy for them and encourage everyone to use their First Amendment rights to support their Fourth Amendment rights. Checkpoints are about proving your innocence when there is no specific cause to do so.

Before Twitter, but when people all had cell phones, I remember leaving shows and getting mass texts from people about where they set up checkpoints, telling people to go alternate routes. When you're a bunch of punk/metal kids, one or two beers over the course of a whole night and being under the legal limit is still no guarantee you're not getting hauled in for the night. Not worth it.

People will ALWAYS do what they can to warn of police presence. That's why all decent people flash the oncoming cars when they pass a speed trap. (Go solve some real crime instead of sitting on the side of the road hoping someone drives by above the speed limit.)

I don't really see anyone flash their lights anymore on the interstate. I always do (just a habit). Although I'm pretty sure my old Driver's Ed. instructor told us to do this. Do they not teach this in schools anymore?

The radio stations here always have an update after a given song if they hear reports of a checkstop having moved or a new one having setup.

If your checkstops are on the busy roads where drunk drivers would be the largest threat, then shouldn't you at least be happy that they're avoiding busy places?

Because, let's face it, Albertan police aren't too terribly good at their jobs in the first place. I've seen *known* repeat drunk drivers get pulled over because the cops thought they were high. And then get sent on their merry way.

Many will make it through your checkpoints, but with a bit of fear or trepidation they'll at least make an effort to avoid busy areas.

Juc: Well SCOTUS isn't the boss of Canada anyway, so we've got that going for us.

Well, Harper does look to the United States as a model government to aspire to...

Before clicking link: "Hmm, CBC? Drinking related? Must be Edmonton."

Clicked link. "Yup, Edmonton."

I love that city, but man can those people drink. I knew fun was to be had when I found out there were not one, but two bars on campus, the university hosts "Beer Gardens" in the middle of the main courtyard just before finals week, and the kids stack beer cans in the windows of their dorms of the main shopping strip.

/6-pack of Molson and a $5 Hot 'n' Ready from Little Ceasar's was dinner most of the time
//Uni was awesome

Perhaps they should stop sending press releases to local media on when and where they'll be having such checkpoints. Then maybe word wouldn't get out.

Petit_Merdeux: The tweets have also angered Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

lol! U Madd?

tomcatadam: Well, Harper does look to the United States as a model government to aspire to...

Very true... Bill C10 is essentially a big step in the direction of a US authoritarian punitive incarceration-based justice system. Right now the conservative Senate is lubricating their rubber stamp.

Bah, its only Canada. Those horses can only do about 35mph anyway, they'll never catch up to me.

Peki: I love that city, but man can those people drink.

A pitcher of Kokanee Gold is all of $8.

That's cheaper than any of the worst bar-brand swill you can get in other Albertan cities.
And it's even cheaper than (far cheaper) buying wholesale at government stores in other provinces.

Peki: Before clicking link: "Hmm, CBC? Drinking related? Must be Edmonton."

Clicked link. "Yup, Edmonton."

I love that city, but man can those people drink. I knew fun was to be had when I found out there were not one, but two bars on campus, the university hosts "Beer Gardens" in the middle of the main courtyard just before finals week, and the kids stack beer cans in the windows of their dorms of the main shopping strip.

/6-pack of Molson and a $5 Hot 'n' Ready from Little Ceasar's was dinner most of the time
//Uni was awesome

Wow, TWO WHOLE BARS on campus! And i thought my campus was hardcore with one.

F*ck you pigs....you are all hypocrites. Everyone of you. If you have even done one illegal thing in your life, and are now busting people for the same thing, you are a piece of shiat pig hypocrite.

BurnShrike: While I completely agree with you, this is taking place in Edmonton, Canada.

Canada's charter also contains protections for freedom of speech and against self incrimination.

Specifically, section 2 and section 11

Hebalo: I would assume at the very least, the possibility of running in to one would make many people think twice about having one more for the road, or perhaps even driving that night.

Because if there are a few things we know about drunk people... they have excellent judgment, don't feel invincible, and think about the long term ramifications of their actions.

Hebalo: the possibility of running in to one would make many people think twice about having one more for the road, or perhaps even driving that night.

The people who drive drunk have an innate desire to:
-get home quickly and warmly
-not leave their car in foreign parts (i.e. outside of a quick hangover shamble out the door and the steady relief of Timmy's it brings)

At least, that's what I've seen and heard from the many times I've had to try and hide the keys.
Very few seem to ever give a damn about the chances of getting caught.

buzzcut73: It isn't about catching drunks.

What is it about, then? At least in the states, you can easily make an argument that they're searching for drugs or illegals or just to be authoritarian shiatheels. Is it the same up north?

And if you were hit by one of these drunk drivers that didn't get pulled over what would you say?

better yet, your kid was killed by a drunk driver that would have been pulled over.

Amurica...Fark Ya!: If you have even done one illegal thing in your life, and complained about it while trying to avoid paying your dues, you're a hypocrite

FTFY.

Why would I ever want to warn drunk drivers where to avoid DUI checks?

So these idiots WANT to be hit by drunk drivers?

ColonelSanders33: Peki: Before clicking link: "Hmm, CBC? Drinking related? Must be Edmonton."

Clicked link. "Yup, Edmonton."

I love that city, but man can those people drink. I knew fun was to be had when I found out there were not one, but two bars on campus, the university hosts "Beer Gardens" in the middle of the main courtyard just before finals week, and the kids stack beer cans in the windows of their dorms of the main shopping strip.

/6-pack of Molson and a $5 Hot 'n' Ready from Little Ceasar's was dinner most of the time
//Uni was awesome

Wow, TWO WHOLE BARS on campus! And i thought my campus was hardcore with one.

THIS. Only 2 bars? Sounds like someone missed a checklist item on their pre-enrollment campus visit.

As Le Geno Vert mentioned, in Ohio they have to pre-announce it, which is done on TV now, since nobody reads the paper here anymore. They still manage to get a few; the checkpoints are always in the poorer and presumably dumber parts of town.

you_idiot: Why would I ever want to warn drunk drivers where to avoid DUI checks?

Why would you want to stop me from warning non-drunk drivers where to avoid being harassed for no reason?