By Greg Reeves
Sobriety checkpoints are carefully choreographed police operations. Almost every move is dictated by lawyers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
That becomes clear at the 9 p.m. Saturday pre-checkpoint roll call of a dozen Kansas City police officers and a dozen Missouri Highway Patrol troopers at KC police traffic headquarters, 1328 Agnes.
Each officer gets an 11-page "Sobriety Checkpoint Written Plan" with a map. Where to go, what to do, how to do it. Steps 1-13. These are not optional.
Supervising Sgt. Roger Hill: "We want to use a standard greeting to all drivers." Here it is:
- "Hi, my name is Officer (YourWorstNightmare). We're conducting a sobriety checkpoint. May I see your driver's license? Have you had anything to drink tonight?"
If you're sober but don't have your driver's license with you, it's your lucky night - you won't be ticketed. If for some reason you say you're suspended, however, you'll need a ride home.
More later on the Plaza DUI checkpoint. Results.
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