DUI checkpoint: St. Patricks' Day

Kansas City police will conduct a DUI checkpoint in Midtown Friday night - St. Patrick's Day. It's the third scheduled Midtown DUI checkpoint. The first, Feb. 17, was cancelled due to cold weather; the second, March 4, netted 12 drunk-driving arrests.
Most of these run 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. The briefing Friday is a relatively early 9 p.m., so this one may get going earlier:

• The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department along with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, March 17, 2006  in the midtown part of Kansas City, Missouri.
• During this operation there will be signs placed in advance of the checkpoint site and officers will be on the street directing traffic. Motorists will be directed to a location where an officer can conduct a brief check to determine if the motorist should be delayed longer. If not, the motorist will be delayed only a very brief period of time and will then be furnished with written material about drunk driving.

Comments

[Alcho-Anonymous]

Boo! Its Saint pattys day were are all suppossed to get smashed! Boo this check point, BOO it!!

We as citizens of Kansas City should be happy the KCPD is keeping us safe from drunk drivers. Now all we need is a racial profiling/Overblown Ego check point for all of the A** hole officers in this city!

[Dirty Harry]

What good does one check point do ? Why not more ? What are other cities in this area doing ? Seems lack luster at best.

I got one for you idiots who like being drunk and act like kids! Lets let the cops shoot you if you try to drive a car and kill my family.

[bahua]

I think it's fantastic that the KCPD is conducting sobriety checks. People will be getting smashed, as I certainly will be, but folks, if you want to avoid trouble, DON'T DRIVE!

Take the bus. Take a cab. Walk! Just because the city is encouraging you to drink and drive by requiring parking lots for bars is no reason for you to get yourself in trouble.

[Marco Polo]

I'm curious as to why they announce where the checkpoint is going to be held. Why not spring it on people? I would expect it would be far more effective if it was a surprise.

[tex]

Marco -

I think the intent is to prevent people from driving if they know there will be a check point. I'm sure there are some who will simply avoid that part of town, but if folks know there is a sobriety check somewhere around Westport, they will be less likely to drive. At least that is my understanding.

[Pro KCPD]

Actually, the real reason that the checkpoints are announced is because the Supreme Court of the United States has said that DUI checkpoints must be made public before being administered.

Yeah, let's all hate on police officers, because they risk their lives everyday to make our communities a safer place to live, work, and drive. If people were not out breaking the law and doing stupid things, they wouldn't get in trouble, and police officers could spend more time and energy on people who really need help and not on drunkin idiots.

[IrishKC]

Another reason to get the St Paddy's Wagon then.

[Mike]

Ugh, are we going to get into YET ANOTHER stupid discussion about whether cops are good or bad people? GROW UP YOU NITWITS. Respond to the issue: DUI enforcement on Saint Patrick's Day, not the relative ethos of police officers.

[Ian]

The Drunk drivers is the reason I stay at home on a day like this. I'm tired of the amatuer hour that people like to make it into. People drinking and driving is what has made this holiday like others I enjoy from not being as enjoyable.

[Miller]

I wont be drunk but I will be smoking crack so watch out cause I drive crazy!!

[Justin Penney]

The wonderful public transit system makes getting around the KC metro area (including suburbs) such an easy task.

Please take note of the sarcasm.

[kelsey]

I think that the check points are fine. The police are just doing there job, and we need to do ours and be smart. I'm only 21 and I know just to call a cab, stay at an hotel i can walk to or call a sober driver because I plan on getting wasted tonight.For all you that do get wasted and drive I hope you do get a DUI for being sooooo dumb. Yellow cab from 3p.m.-12am free rides 816-943-3949(up to 25 dollars much cheaper then an dui or killing someone.)

[Les]

I for one am glad that the checkpoints will be there. The police are not only doing their job, but they are keeping the streets safe for all of us. It's quite simple actually - if you're going to drink, DON'T DRIVE, or at least take a cab (I believe there are even some free tonight). Wake up people!!!