DUI checkpoint Saturday: eastern KC

An April Fool's Day DUI checkpoint in eastern KC - no joke:

• The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department  will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, April 1, 2006 in the eastern part of Kansas City, Missouri. This checkpoint will be preceded with a briefing at the Agnes Police Facility, 1328 Agnes at 2300 hours. 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

[Friends don't let friends drive drunk]

I wanted to be the first to say this is a great idea to get some drunks off the street. Many people including myself appreciate the police department taking drunks to jail where they belong. No everyone is free to cry and moan about their constitutional rights being violated. If you drink and drive, you go to jail.

What if you don't drink and drive and want to get somewhere without being "hassled" and getting litter (informational materials) thrown in your car!

[McGruff]

Then be thankful that they're keeping you a little safer that night from a few drunk drivers that may have ran you off the road.

[happy safe american]

I didn't know April fools day was such a good time to get drunk and drive around!
Unlike halloween or new years eve or after the St. patrick's day parade- Whew!,I had better mark my calendar!

[JP]

What happened to the police needing probable cause to pull a motorist over? What a complete waste of time, trees, & taxdollars.

[Mr. Obvious]

The first of the month is a great day to have a sobriety check point.

Why you ask?

It’s a great idea because welfare checks are distributed on the first of the month. So all of the leaches of our society will be out buying drugs and alcohol, so it would be a great way to take that money (welfare money) back through traffic tickets and surely also catch some folks out that have outstanding warrants and this will in turn clean up our streets. Clean up the streets it’s the first of the month and all of the upstanding welfare receiving citizens will be out doing their thing I think it’s a great idea!!

[SICK AND TIRED]

are they going to the minority neighborhood
instead of stopping white articulate
middle class law abiding people on the
plaza. how about a sweep of the hood
to get the weapons/drugs/hos/meth/
etc. out instead of stopping 900 cars
to catch 9 drunks...what a waste............

[Steve]

Whatever happened to watching for someone to cross the center line or make an illegal turn. I dont care what somebody's blood alcohol level is if they are competently driving their car. Its all about revenue, for the city, for the courts, for the lawyers and for the driving schools. Now that they've dialed the law down to .08, you cant even share a bottle of wine over dinner without taking a taxi home.

Good I think they should have one atleast every weekend. somewhere in the KC area!!

[McGruff]

The only reason I can logically see anyone complain about this is because you are all offenders. It doesn't matter what day of the week it is, there are drunk drivers on the roads. You think stopping 900 cars &
"only" catching 9 drunk drivers is a waste? If they only caught 1 it would be worth it. Plus they are deterring some drunk drivers just by advertising these checkpoints. Can you put a price on someones life that was killed by a drunk driver?

[loveme4418@yahoo.com]

Their is drugs and drunks every where,Someone need two let whitey know that they are just like anyone else in society.Far some reason they think that they are above the law.The cops need two go right in their hood,and u will find all the drugs,child molsters,family having sex together,and any other crime u can think of.Their is more crime their than any where we just dont here about what your white collar out at nighters are doing in the getto at night are doing.So why do they always think that they are above the law.They are the biggest drug pushers,rapist,bank robbers,and always takeing money that dont belong two them and trying two live above their means.Killing their famlies,Just because they can not take the pressure.

["The Breeze]

The freedom to move about unfettered is GONE. The freedom from illegal searches and seizures is GONE. The freedom to securely talk over the phone, and e-mail someone is GONE. The police force is watching the people, and the people just don't understand that any country that willingly gives up it's "freedom" for "security deserves neither. "THE BREEZE".

[Danny]

NO, I don't drink and drive AND I do not want to be held up for as much as 15 minutes (and this has happened) so I can prove I'm not committing a crime (thought the burden of proof was on the state?).

We require probable cause to prevent a police state, not to protect criminals. A good saturation patrol would preserve my freedom to move about freely and be more effective in catching the drunks who rightfully should be removed from the road.

[Danny]

By the way, I should say I'm not THAT Danny who posts a lot, it just happens to be my name.

[Mr. Obvious]

Loveme4418@yahoo

Are you retarded; read your latest blog, if you can? You misuse so many words it doesn’t even read correctly.

Ex: Their should be, there should be, far should be for...

What is family having sex together, did you mean families?

Takeing? Did you mean taking, money that don't belong two them? To them...maybe? Two live above, to live above???

This is exactly what is wrong with America today. We obviously are not educating our youth. I am no English major, but this post was just ridiculous. If this is a sign of what our communities are becoming we are in serious trouble!!

Go take some classes at your local community college, do something because my six year old nephew speaks and writes better English than you do.

Do it EVERY WEEKEND!!!!! Catch all those DRUNKS!

[Jeff]

Catching drunk drivers is great, It can save lives. aving lost a friend to a drunk driver I believe this whole heartedly.

Here is the problem and why I disagree with the entire system. Depending on how good your lawyer is you can either have the book thrown at you, or you can get away with a small fine. I recently had a neihbor drive his car into another neihbor's house. that was his 7th DWI..... 7th!!!!!! he now is fianlly in jail, and I haveto wonder if the only reason he is in now is beacuse he injured a child inside the house. We need to drasticlly change the way we prosecute these people. We also need to change the way we detect them as well. Here is a trick, if they smell it on your breath, and you pass the breathilizer, did you know they can make you wait for however long it takes until you fail? 1 beer can possibly make you blow .08 or above if given enough time to circulate in your system. this whole system is an issue that needs immediate attention.

[TP]

Do I agree that a DUI checkpoint had some benefits? - Yes

Do I agree that a DUI checkpoint has plenty of challenges? - Yes

However, we all must remember that police dapartments and State Highway Patrol outposts give awards for the most DUI arrests made. Now if someone can call out an award given for the most crimes prevented, i would appreciate it, because that would be an orginization that is on to something.

One more thing, before you begin a rant on what is wrong with our beloved city, make sure that you at least have a command of the English language. When it comes to a debate, our only weapon is the word, and it seems that some of you are even trying to shoot yourself in the foot with those.

[al]

I think it is very sad that people make fun of someone else's spelling or wording, just because they aren't smart enough to see that everyone is entitled to FREE SPEECH. That's why we live in america. Drinking and driving is against the law. Plan and simple. If you obey the law then there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

[AJ]

It's NOT sad that someone is being criticized for their english skills. It should be an awakening for them. If they aren't educated enough to articulate their views, then why should anyone think that that their comments are credible? That's beside the point.

The checkpoints are a good idea, even though they may be an inconvenience for some people. Is it not worth 10-15 minutes of your time to possibly save the life of another?

Don't you recognize sarcasm when you read it? loveme4418@yahoo.com is obviously mocking black people.

[openmind]

Education and Intelligence are two different things. It takes Education to have a good command of the English language; it takes Intelligence to make a good point. I know plenty of well educated people who are not intelligent, and I know plenty of very intelligent people who are not well-educated. I don’t think that a person's point should be dismissed simply because they use poor grammar. Education can be bought with money, intelligence cannot. If you need an ego boost, then go ahead and make fun of a person because they misspell words, but that is pretty pathetic. Almost every poster that has ever used this site has made a grammatical mistake of some form. Get over yourselves!

[JAMES POOL]

I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND, THE OTHER NIGHT I STOPPED A DRUNK DRIVER WHO BLEW A .276!
I STOPPED HIM BECAUSE HE WAS DRIVING ON THE SIDEWALK. NOW, WHAT IF THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND YOUR KID(S) HAPPEN TO BE WALKING ON THAT SIDEWALK AND GOT RUN OVER BY THAT PERSON? WOULD IT STILL BE OK? HELL NO, IT WOULDN'T BE YOU PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST THE LAW, WOULD BE THE FIRST TO CALL THE POLICE AND CRY THE BLUES, SAYING OH, OH, HE RAN OVER MY BABY. NOW, THE TRUTH HURTS DON'T IT?

[al]

So let me understand this if you aren't educated your opion shouldn't count? But,even the un-educated people still pay taxes.

[Juls]

The grammer errors or language usage did not bother me as much as the issues that the post was speaking on. A few bad apples spoil the whole peck. Every race has a few that make the rest look bad. And if that post was written by somebody in a sarcastic manner - that laugh could have been left at home. The racial tension needs no fuel for the fire. Matter at hand...I understand the DUI checkpoints but I do think the public would be better served using the "wolf pack" system. If you go out and share a bottle of wine over dinner or have one beer, you would probably rate more then .08 but actually not be impaired - a wolf pack would not stop you, DUI checkpoint you would be busted. Then depending on your pocketbook you get either a slap on the wrist or jail. Most drunk drivers are repeat offenders, why not have the 3 strikes your out - even if you have the money. They should make a law so that a lawyer can not plead down a DUI. It would be interesting to know what happened to the 9 drunks that were found after stopping over 900 cars. How many were repeat offenders, under 21 years old, received jail time or paid off the judge & lawyer. Maybe Greg can find some stats on the outcome after the DUI has been issued.

To the PIG who arrested someone for driving on the sidewalk. Good Job. Don't have me pull over so you can "illegally" search my car. Keep pulling over the drunks and leave me the f@@k alone!

[Juls]

James Pool - just want to say "Thank You"! Now if only he will get what he deserves and not be able to buy his way out of it. Wonder how the judge or lawyer would feel if it was their kid on the sidewalk.

[averagejoe]

To the officer who arrested the person driving on the sidewalk.......Did it take a sobriety check to figure out he was drunk? Sad we live in such a time where all choices are made out of fear. How about we quit the degression into fascism and start punishing the people who actually break the law. The guy driving on the sidewalk should go directly to jail and not be able to drive again. That said....do we need to infringe upon hundreds of other rights by pulling over their cars and harrassing them, when they have committed no crime? I think not.

[Butch]

James do we have to type in ALL CAPS?

Very police like of you trying to dominate everything.

[Butch]

James

I am glad you were there to save the day. We are so blessed to have wonderfulk peoplelike yourself protecting our sidewalks from drunken idiots.

Really though, thank you.

[Jared]

McGruff will you please enroll in your local inner city grammar school, or at least lay down the crack pipe long enough to post you blog.

[McGruff]

Only if you quit slacking & get back up to the cash register. I'm ready to order my hamburger.

[Brian 2]

Openmind, What the hell does that have to do with DUI checkpoints? It reiderates that the way to stop them is to see them and catch them, not to stop 500 people who have done nothing wrong and make them prove they've done nothing wrong. Idiot cop. Idiot.

I never care too much about the check points. I haven't even been through one yet. Maybe it does do some good, but in reality there are still many people that are driving drunk and missing those checkpoints. My real concern is this: the boys (police) are out doing checkpoints and claiming that it prevents crime and dangerous outcomes from occuring across the city, however I can turn on the news the next morning and hear of 1-4 murders or other crimes that have happened that night. Why aren't these guys PATROLING the streets watching for suspicious behavior instead of wasting a majority of peoples time doing these checkpoints? They want to catch and jail drunk drivers; but all the while someones breaking into a home, robbing a convenience store, or blasting someones brains out.

[openmind]

Brian 2,
What the hell does your post have to do with me? it just reiterates the fact that most of the people on here react irrationally and make decisions off of faulty information that they want to believe. Idiot poster. Idiot.

FYI, the poster’s name is listed below their post. This applies to the person who was yelling at McGruff.

[Willy]

Someone suggested that the police time might be better spent on trying to clean up the crack and meth problems. Well, even though that happens to be a couple of the most destructive drugs around, it also may involve danger. It's much safer to have a big sobriety checkpoint party instead. Another plus is, think of all the "revenue sharing" between the state, city, lawyers and judges. Crackheads don't have any lawyer $, and they may just fight back. Imagine the fear our police have at the prospect of fighting real crime. I'm not against arresting for drunk driving - it's just not as high priority IMO.

To Openmind,

Thanks for your worthless comment. Now you can go back to your desk jockey job of shuffling paper and answering the phone since you don't know what your talking about. Wish you could be at the party.

I really find it funny to read some of these post bashing the police. As you can tell, most of the bashers never had the nuts big enough to be a cop. Its easy to hide behind a computer and throw stones and talk smack. Oh, well I guess there bored sitting in the office and frustrated with their careers that they have to take it out on someone. No one better than the police.

[Brian 2]

Sorry, Openmind my mistake should have been addressed to James Pool. Idiot. Sorry to hurt your brain with having to figure that out.

[Brian 2]

As you can tell, most of the bashers never had the nuts big enough to be a cop.

Funny, I've always noticed it's the people with no nuts hiding behind a gun and badge. I fight in local toughman contests and the cops are ALWAYS beat in the first round. Firemen at least make it to round 2.

[McGruff]

Brian,

You have to admit it requires some "nuts" just to enter a toughman. While they may not make it past the first round, that's far more than 99.9% of the population can claim. I've never once heard a cop claim they were some tough guy. They really don't have to be. They have power in many other ways.

The Federal Govt is the one that is really pushing the no drunk driving campaign. They've made it a priority & all of the states are enforcing it. Why? Because evidently the voters told capitol hill that's what they want done.

If you haven't been drinking & you're driving down the road at 1am, is it really that big of an inconveniance for you to stop for a few minutes & talk to the cops? That's when they do these checks. They're not doing them at 7am when you're driving to work. They're not doing them at 5 when you're in a hurry to get home. They're doing them late at night, when odds are you have nothing much going on anyways.

nuts big enough to be a cop. cops are nuts, how big is that? they are pure nuts. crazy. pig headed. abusive. they are drunk more than civilians. look at the Pugh report on police behavior. 73% are certified alcoholics. who better to check for dui. more than 38 % drink on the job regularly. check it out. it is accurate and sad statistic. we need to clean the house of these nuts.

[happy safe american]

A riverside JUDGE got busted for drunk driving not too long ago...

[dave]

I agree with the check points. Now how do we keep the cops from drinking and driving?
Its a fact police have a high percentage of heavy drinkers. They just (badge em) its a double standard.

[Glenn]

Check Points are a gret idea. Too bad they announce where and when. That way, the drunks can skip them, because the locations have been announced.

[John Boy]

Gret ????????

[Don't Tread On Me]

Come on folks, get a life. So many here resort to ridiculous histrionics instead of common sense and basic logic.

I respect those who feel that check points are worthwhile if they take even one drunken idiot off of the road, but I really resent their endorsement of my rights being violated. I am not a drinker and would never consider driving drunk even if I did. Neither would the large percentage of decent ordinary citizens.

Don't violate my freedom and don't treat me as if I am a criminal. This is the United States of America - I am innocent unless proven guilty.

I got a new idea (I know this is cruel and unusual punishment - but I gaurentee it will work):

Anyone convicted of the following:

- Underage drinking
- Distributing alcohol or hosing "teen parties" for minors
- Driving drunk or under the influance

Should be required by law to go to church conseling or be sentanced to 5 years of community service picking up trash off the sides of the road - because thats what people who get involved in alcohol under the legal age or drive under the influance are - trash.

Addendum: Not to mention that those type of "cocky" attitude people can also be quite the obstruction on the roadway. I seen my share of those "super ego" attitudes through my time at college, and know for a fact that people who drink - especially underage people - tend to get in more accidents either "showing off" by burning their tires and then crashing into someone or simply driving under the influance. I thank god that nobody I know has died from any drunk mofos, but with all the driving I did too and from school over the past 3 years, I've seen my share of mofos that I bet had too much to drink the night before.

[Danny]

Well there should be more check points by all agencies in the area, the drunks and the drugs are getting out of hand, more power to the law enforcement, if you think your rights are being violated, don't drink and drive or use drugs...