Checkpoints: The Poll

[rambone]

Do you personally feel any checkpoints are "reasonable" ?

I'll do my best to specifically define checkpoints.

Checkpoints: A place where you are stopped by agents the government, to be checked out in some way, without having any reason to be suspected of a crime.

• Stop/Contact occurs before any probable cause of a crime has been established.
• (ETA) This poll refers to checkpoints inside U.S. borders only.
• Checkpoints can be indoors or outdoors.
• Checkpoints can stop pedestrians or vehicles.
• Checkpoints stop every passer-by, or select individuals to stop using any random or deliberate means -- other than establishing probable cause for a crime.
• Checkpoints can involve the following methods. (Basically any level of contact actual stopping & contacting the person w/o PC.)

1. Asking questions
2. Having the citizen provide ID, papers, documentation
3. Having the citizen prove their sobriety
4. Having the citizen follow the flashlight with eyes
5. Having the citizen blow into a machine
6. Having the citizen walk a straight line
7. Having the citizen perform a drug test
8. Having the citizen provide a saliva, urine, hair, or blood sample
9. Searching the citizen's pockets & clothing
10. Searching the citizen's bags & briefcases
11. Searching the citizen's phone, computer, & electronics
12. Searching the citizen's vehicle
13. Searching the citizen with a dog
14. Having the citizen receive a pat-down
15. Having the citizen receive a strip search
16. Having the citizen receive a cavity search
17. Having the citizen receive an X-ray
18. Having the citizen receive a biometric reading

Check all that apply. Do you find them reasonable, in general? If your answer is "some/most of the time," then check the box. Be honest.

 

[Prometheus]

I'm assuming you mean except those actually AT a border/port of entry.

In which case, none of the above.

In which case of at the border, proof of citizenship would bypass virtually any screening procedures.

I may be missing something, but that's basically it in a nut shell for me.

 

[rambone]

I'm assuming you mean except those actually AT a border/port of entry.

In which case, none of the above.

Good call. Checkpoints within our borders are what this poll refers to.

The border itself is something else entirely.

 

[Bendrx]

I have checked the reasonable ones, see my list below:

 

[Ashkelon]

Trick Question. Nice work rambone.

 

[littletommy]

I would almost agree with the weigh station one, but I know safety isn't reason number one for the existence of these things, it's a source of revenue for the state, so, my answer was....None of these.

 

[rambone]

Trick Question. Nice work rambone.

Please explain?

 

[jedi]

Hum...
Immigration/documentation checkpoints

8 40.00%

8 of you are willing to allow the feds to stop you so they can check out your Indiana LTCH? After all your LTCH is a document, right? Wow....

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[skseifert]

If the "government" seizes you from your activity, isn't that considered under the "illegal search and seizure"?

 

[Ashkelon]

Please explain?

Even better work. I like your posts and find them thought provoking and your game is getting sharper grasshopper.

Regardless, you can't side with any check point or against all of them without being logically dishonest. The question is a box you can't get out of regardless of the answer.

 

[Benny]

I clicked none, but I'm fine with weigh station check points.

 

[Bond 281]

Even better work. I like your posts and find them thought provoking and your game is getting sharper grasshopper.

Regardless, you can't side with any check point or against all of them without being logically dishonest. The question is a box you can't get out of regardless of the answer.

The correct answer is none of them. I don't see how a blatant violation of our rights, in direct opposition to the constitution, is in any way, shape, or form reasonable.

 

[rambone]

Even better work. I like your posts and find them thought provoking and your game is getting sharper grasshopper.

Regardless, you can't side with any check point or against all of them without being logically dishonest. The question is a box you can't get out of regardless of the answer.

I think you are you saying that I should have had extra options in the poll. Although I can't really think of what they might be. For what its worth, I tried to be specific and unbiased when I wrote this thread.

 

[jbombelli]

I don't agree with checkpoints. Except at the national border.

 

[Arm America]

I'm okay with the weight/safety check points of commercial vehicles.
The rest of the choices are infringements on citizens rights.

 

[MinuteMan47]

Agreed with weigh stations for COMMERCIAL vehicles.

 

[.40caltrucker]

I would almost agree with the weigh station one, but I know safety isn't reason number one for the existence of these things, it's a source of revenue for the state, so, my answer was....None of these.

Some get it, why don't others? \/ \/ \/ \/

I clicked none, but I'm fine with weigh station check points.

I'm okay with the weight/safety check points of commercial vehicles.
The rest of the choices are infringements on citizens rights.

Truck drivers are citizens also.

Agreed with weigh stations for COMMERCIAL vehicles.

Do you guys work for the DOT?


I voted immigration assuming it's only along the borders. I've been stopped at almost all immigration checkpoints in our country. Most see I'm to white to bother with and wave me through, some ask if I'm a citizen then send me through.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Some get it, why don't others? / / / /


Truck drivers are citizens also.



Do you guys work for the DOT?


I voted immigration assuming it's only along the borders. I've been stopped at almost all immigration checkpoints in our country. Most see I'm to white to bother with and wave me through, some ask if I'm a citizen then send me through.

This.

 

[SemperFiUSMC]

I voted yes on the weigh station and immigration check points. I didn't read the post-poll stipulations. I have not problem with either of these types of checkpoints at point of entry. I would not support them in the interior.

 

[VERT]

I actually caught the stipulation of the checkpoint being within american borders. So I did not check the box for immigration. I do think this is reasonble when entering the country.

Sobriety Checkpoints in my opinion are ok. Drunk driving is still a major problem. At least locally they tend to have these during major events where drinking will happen. No secret they are going to happen.

I also checked weigh stations. I assume the OP is referring to commercial vehicles. Truck drivers are professionals that have to follow a set of rules. Is this a source of income, yeah I suppose one could argue that. But how is that different then any other cost of doing business? I don't think that DOT should be able to check passenger compartment or sleeper. Weight, tires, lights, straps/load security and on your way.