Warrantless Checkpoints Hit Redmond Oregon

[indicapimp]

http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=12287115

Redmond police, trying a new method to address drug trafficking through the city, set up a special enforcement operation on the North Highway 97 Reroute Thursday afternoon, stopping drivers for traffic violations and searching some vehicles if they had cause to believe drugs might be found.

The "focused traffic patrols" took place between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., and warning signs were placed along the highway, advising motorists that drug detection dogs could be working in the area, said Lt. Nathan Garibay.

"If, when vehicles were stopped for traffic violations, police had any reason to believe there might have been drugs involved, they furthered their investigation and had the dog check the car," said Capt. Brian McNaughton.

Two people were arrested on drug charges, including the driver of a semi truck that was pulled over and searched, turning up a small quantity of cocaine, McNaughton said.

Garibay said the new step is being taken because, like most communities, Redmond "has found that a significant portion of crimes is connected" to drug manufacture, delivery and use.

Redmond police also identified illicit drugs as one of the top community priorities during a strategic plan developed in 2008.

"We are committed to protecting our citizens from all crimes and ensuring our community remains safe," the lieutenant said.

McNaughton noted that Deschutes County is designated a High Intensity Drug-Trafficking Area, which provides federal funding for drug-fighting efforts. The Warm Springs Indian Reservation recently received a similar designation, as did Lane County.

McNaughton said they expect to conduct the traffic/drug operations at least once a month, perhaps every couple of weeks.

 

[supermanlives]

bend is cool . been to the hobo train festival there. they must need more fine and impound money. glad i am medicinal in cali. no worries

 

[robbiedublu]

http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=12287115
"If, when vehicles were stopped for traffic violations, police had any reason to believe there might have been drugs involved, they furthered their investigation and had the dog check the car," said Capt. Brian McNaughton.

Uhh, don't commit any traffic violations if you're holding??

 

[Kalicokitty]

Two people were arrested on drug charges, including the driver of a semi truck that was pulled over and searched, turning up a small quantity of cocaine, McNaughton said.

.

Wow, two people, what a major blow to drug trafficing, and what by their own admission was "a small quantity of cocaine"
You know how they like to inflate the amount of whatever they seize, I bet it was a little residue on a wrap.
What do you think this complete waste of time operation cost the tax payers?

To bad the semi driver didn't floor it and ram the check point, knock the pigs into the middle of next week.

 

[ChronJohn]

4th amendment violations getting racked up. I have never stopped for a checkpoint and never will. Unless they have probable cause to pull me over I ain't stopping for no cop. roadblocks are 100% unconstitutional. Oh well shits all vacuum sealed anyways their dogs aint gonna smell shit.

 

[grobart]

Actually roadblocks aren't entirely unconstitutional. There has to be a compelling reason to limit your rights under the United States Constitution.

That's why sobriety checkpoints are legal. They provide a compelling reason to ensure the safety and security of the state while - in theory - minimizing the effect on the public and the quashing of rights.

Whether these checkpoints will, in the future, be found to be violative of the Fourth Amendment is a matter for the trier of fact to decide.

 

[NHMI]

Dogs give false positives to make their owners happy not to mention officers cox the dogs to signal getting em all excited as they bring em around whatever they want to get into. Like they wont make up fake driving violations or get on your ass and make you nervous then pull you over....

 

[elwaponino]

To grobart

To grobart

You need to research Michael Badnarick about the constitution, even doing sobriety checks are unconstitutional simply because they need a warrant to search anything of yours, including your body.Youn don't even need a license or vehicle registration, it's also unconstitutional, but Badnarick can explain better, he has a 4 hour class strictly for the constitution.

 

[crw15213]

Actually roadblocks aren't entirely unconstitutional. There has to be a compelling reason to limit your rights under the United States Constitution.

That's why sobriety checkpoints are legal. They provide a compelling reason to ensure the safety and security of the state while - in theory - minimizing the effect on the public and the quashing of rights.

Whether these checkpoints will, in the future, be found to be violative of the Fourth Amendment is a matter for the trier of fact to decide.

Sobriety checks are legal, as well as driver's license checkpoints and border patrol checkpoints within the US interior (up to like 60 miles or so). Stops must be brief and systemic, and limited in scope. Whether a vehicle checkpoint is reasonable depends on the gravity of the public concern, the degree to which the seizure addresses or advances the public concern, and the severity of interference with individual liberty.

On the other hand, vehicle checkpoints for things like illegal drugs or other general crime are constitutionally unreasonable. Info checkpoints for serious crime (i.e., murder) are reasonable, and outweigh the inconvenience posed to motorists.

Stay safe, everybody....

 

[FreezerBoy]

You need to research Michael Badnarick about the constitution, even doing sobriety checks are unconstitutional simply because they need a warrant to search anything of yours, including your body.Youn don't even need a license or vehicle registration, it's also unconstitutional, but Badnarick can explain better, he has a 4 hour class strictly for the constitution.

Badnarick sounds like a bozo out to get you arrested if not shot. Sobriety checks are legal. You have no right to drive. License and registration are required and, blow a checkpoint you're in big trouble.

Try to fight it all you like but, no judge would brook that silliness in court.

 

[Strainhunter]

Uhh, don't commit any traffic violations if you're holding??

Uhh...how about not riding dirty in first place!?

 

[indicapimp]

All Valid Points, I was just giving a heads up. Stay off main roads and maybe have a car out front if running any weight.

 

[Lazyman]

Agreed with Strainhunter and Indicapimp, don't carry anything yourself, use a runner/dodge car for carryin any weight. Hmm, I think I'm gonna figure out how to wire up a few ultrasonic dog repellant thingies in my car, so if a dog comes around I can flip a switch and hurt the mutts ears so he tries to stay away from the car. hahaha

My brother used to pour a line of cayenne pepper under the front of his sofas, so when they ran a dog thru his house the y led the dog straight to the couch, and sure 'nuff fido got a snootful of hot pepper, made him worthless the rest of the day. This was back in the 80's and the cops figured it out and were pissed, but didn't charge him with obstruction or anything. Nowadays they're more likely to nail ya.

Time to start traveling only with legal research chemicals, like say, JWH-018? Damn fine weed substitute i hear, and perfectly legal, doesn't show on drug tests and is extremely potent!

 

[OrganicMonkey]

Cops always use this tactic, they rely on traffic stops for a majority of their drug investigations. This is where they try to find narcs, they find someone with a little bit and push. It's easy for them to profile in these situations, of course if they had a K9 scratch an old ladies car or an older guys there would be serious repercussions.

Anytime you see a cop 'shooting radar', he is profiling drivers and it's a warrant-less checkpoint.

 

[Bud Greenleaf]

Uhh...how about not riding dirty in first place!?

Not gonna happen - if I have weed, it rides shotgun.

I've never been randomly pulled over - no tickets in over 20 years, drove through a seatbelt check with herb on the passenger seat.

The seatbelt checks are fine - you roll through, they just look to see if you are wearing (I ALWAYS wear).

I've been puffing and driving over 30 years, never had an issue, but I'm not some gangsta/wanksta wannabe either.

Being an old fart has it's advantages.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Random "drug checkpoints" such as these are 100% unconstitutional and would not stand up to judicial review. DWI checkpoints are generally considered acceptable (though some states, I think WA is one, have expressly outlawed them) as long as they are within the usual scope of DWI checkpoints. Like at 2am on weekends on city streets, not 12 noon on a Tuesday on an interstate. If anybody arrested fights this then every stop and search would be thrown out. The cops and prosecutors are banking on no one taking it far enough in the judicial process for that to happen.