Seat Belt and DUI Checkpoints

Yesterday while on my way to get a new tractor battery I had an experience I did not appreciate.As I approached a 4 way stop intersection on a very rural road, there were 3 neon traffic cones in the road and behind each one of them was a State Trooper.Every car was reviewed for current inspection sticker,occupant seat belt use,drivers license,current registration and proof of insurance.I gave her everything but my license which is always in my wallet.I told her I had to get it out of my wallet and when I went for the wallet she began to assume the free hand near the gun position.I was going to mention for them to go down to the near city where there is truly rampant drug and violence problems but I thought better of it.I was sent on my way with a Have a Good Day.I was 100% in order. It was just some sort of routine I am sure, but somehow it set up very bad vibes all over me.The only thing missing were the dogs and helicopters.

Whats your location? That happens every now and then, over here. They call it a "Seatbelt check", but they never asked me for "My Papers". Sounds like a throwback to bad time in Germany?
Just another method of doing illegal mini-searches, I guess.

stovepipemike wrote:Yesterday while on my way to get a new tractor battery I had an experience I did not appreciate.As I approached a 4 way stop intersection on a very rural road, there were 3 neon traffic cones in the road and behind each one of them was a State Trooper.Every car was reviewed for current inspection sticker,occupant seat belt use,drivers license,current registration and proof of insurance.I gave her everything but my license which is always in my wallet.I told her I had to get it out of my wallet and when I went for the wallet she began to assume the free hand near the gun position.I was going to mention for them to go down to the near city where there is truly rampant drug and violence problems but I thought better of it.I was sent on my way with a Have a Good Day.I was 100% in order. It was just some sort of routine I am sure, but somehow it set up very bad vibes all over me.The only thing missing were the dogs and helicopters.

Maybe it was a OJT exercise for newer officers ? two ways to look at it, naturally being a good citizen and all in order as a inconvience or intrusion, but if it was different for the guy in front of you and he/she was a bad apple......

could be there was a bad apple using that road and they were looking???

These checkpoints are pretty common in PA, I've only ever been stopped at one and that was a "seat belt" checkpoint. More common is the DUI checkpoints at night they set up they occasionally on the weekend. Never went through one of them. I have been stopped numerous times in the truck by DOT but that's a little different and understandable IMO.

Frankly they should be banned as unconstitutional, the argument is that driving is privilege and not a right. At the very least if it's a "seat belt" or DUI checkpoint that's what they should be looking for and send you on your way if you have your seat belt on or they have no suspicion you are intoxicated.

As for the cop going for the gun I don't blame her, if I was an officer of the law my hand would be on that pistol when approaching any vehicle.

Edit: good topic, I changed the title.

Richard S. wrote:As for the cop going for the gun I don't blame her, if I was an officer of the law my hand would be on that pistol when approaching any vehicle.

Agreed! Look at it from the standpoint of a LEO.....Vehicle stops are probably the most dangerous thing they do & they usually have no way of knowing who is in the vehicle, what they may be doing, what they may be hiding or if they're wanted for mass murder somewhere. Look at what happened to those 4 cops who were just gunned down in Oakland less than a week ago.
As far as the DUI checks themselves, that is a political decision that your town council or state legislature decides. Write/call your local pols .....but the cops are just doing their (very dangerous) job.

Devil505 wrote:

Richard S. wrote:As for the cop going for the gun I don't blame her, if I was an officer of the law my hand would be on that pistol when approaching any vehicle.

Agreed! Look at it from the standpoint of a LEO.....Vehicle stops are probably the most dangerous thing they do & they usually have no way of knowing who is in the vehicle, what they may be doing, what they may be hiding or if they're wanted for mass murder somewhere. Look at what happened to those 4 cops who were just gunned down in Oakland less than a week ago.

Yes that is the Exact reason why. SOP

I agree with Richard, these DUI checks are unconstitutional! I live in N/E Ohio and checks are very common. There was an article in the local newspaper about a month ago that the DUI checks were partly responsible for two restaurant/bars closing. Our area has been hit very hard by the recession. We don't need any small business closings due to these Gestapo like tactics The drunk drivers need to be stopped, but there has to be a better way

problem drunks???

It's the seatbelt law that bugs me. That law was pushed through by the insurance company's. They forced the states to enforce this law all for there bottom line. Now that the insurance co's are saving on all those head into the windshield claims, have all the people that buckle up every day seen any savings? I encourage the use of seatbelt's but they are trying to protect people from themselves. It should only be mandatory for people under 18. Right now the helmet law is up to the states, but that may change if the insurance co's want it to.

That is always a drag.
Years ago I went to the NJ State Inspection Center, before they had their act together, and there was a line of cars four blocks long waiting. I have this hysterical problem where I have to work for a living, so I thought I would try again soon. The next day I was trapped by an Inspection roadblock in another town while on my way to the lumber yard. They set up portable inspection sites; and some monkey started kicking my exhaust pipe. Humiliating. They do this for one reason: to generate money for individual municipalities. I was so furious I left without my licence and registration. I had to go back and face a big bull cop to get my licence back.

Another time I was trapped in a similar roadblock, mouthed off to the cop, and he impounded my truck just to be a bully. They were singling out any vehicle with the slightest violation, I had a cracked windshield. Ticket plus money to get my truck out of the impound lot. EXTORTION!

The seatbelt laws and checkpoints are BS - your tax dollars helping the insurance co's, thanks to all the "help the govm't protect me from myself" morons.

There's plenty of laws and penalties against DUI. Pull someone over if they're driving erratically but if you have done nothing to demonstrate you're DUI there's no reason to be hassled. Cops here killed several bars because they would sit up the street and pull over anyone seen leaving the bar, drunk or not.

The DOT checkpoints are a hassle but a lot of the guys bring it on themselves. There's no section in the MV laws that state commercial vehicles are exempt from working lights, brakes, or being excessivley over the GVWR, yet a lot of them think they are. I drove a tow truck for a few years and am too familiar with the local town DOT revenue operations.

All opinions/points made are good ones. At my office we do them at random, mostly Gov't grants pay for them. They are annoying but the truth is they work. Last summer, a TCP was setup in one of our towns. In less than a hour, 12 under arrest and the TCP was broke down due to lack of man power. Normally the K9's dont get involved in the stops/interviews. All handlers had an arrest that night. I get just as frustrated when Im not working and come across one. And now days we park a Plate reader car at one of the ends to asst in the stolen, susp reg, susp driver.... I dont think they will go away anytime soon.


GR

A few years ago a New Jersey state trooper was killed at exit 18w on the turnpike checking seatbelts. The trooper accidently slipped and fell underneith a tractor trailers trailer wheels. I feel sorry for the driver who has to live with what happened even though it was not his fault and was never charged.

Now that the roads less busy, the PA SP have been reading the NEPA forum about members hauling overloaded..... cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycle w/side car as haulers....I advised you guys to keep a low profile! :annoyed:

The seat belt thing is just an excuse to find a Chevy 1500 pulling a 5 ton trailer (with no brakes) making it's way along I-81 with what looks like wheelie bars on the back of the truck, to keep the bumper from scraping.....hauling 6 tons back to the hamlet! Keep it legal....please. :woot:

This is like the 'Dukes of Pottstown'...30 ply aviation tires, 16" brakes, solid axle setups.....880 cu in Mountain Motors...just for the thrill of 'haulin' yer' own fuel.'
:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :fear: :fear: :fear: :nono: :nono: :nono: :bang: bop2 bop2 :hammer: :hammer: :alone: :stretcher: :stretcher: :crutch: :pepsi:

I was in Berks County earlier today visiting my daughter. I saw 3 PSP Troopers on I-81 and 2 on I-78 on the way there. On the way back I saw 1 on I-78 and 2 on I-81. Seems like they were out today watching and waiting. Everyone seemed to be on good behavior for a change. Saw one Trooper on US 15 on the way back as well. Haven't been stopped at a checkpoint in a few years. It's somewhat annoying I suppose but, then again I have nothing to hide.