Sobriety Checkpoints
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I take it you didn't even read my post 2 above yours? If you want to waste all those resources for a miniscule amount of arrests, then go ahead and pay for it, but certainly don't waste tax payers money on something that has been proven inefficient in more than one way.
Last edited by ezriderpgh; Jul 25, 2009 at 02:22 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Every checkpoint gets at least one drunken *** off the road for a while, and that is worth whatever cost it takes. I wont argue with your point about roving patrols, the more enforcement the better. As far as wasting money goes, i'd rather see it used for checkpoints than public housing or foodstamps.
Say we end up with 20 people. Meaning 1.5%. We just spent 40 grand and made a thousand dollars tops out of the deal. We just wasted 39 grand.
Plus I don't know about down in pittsburgh but up here they use all but maybe one cop on the force at them. Meaning no cops on the streets for all the killers to have their way, all the drug dealers to go about their business, robbers stealing from anywhere and anyone, etc.
There goes more resources to waste.
Or we can do the efficient thing, and in most cases bring in a surplus of money by using a saturation or roving patrol. Get those dealers, get those drunk drivers, get those idiotic drivers, get those stolen vehicles, be everywhere at one time instead of one place for hours on end.
Hell, they even use the helicopters when they do saturation patrols here.
If you want to be like the most of Americans and support idiotic wasteful things like this instead of being smart about it, then you deserve everything this country is coming to.
When are people going to realize just because people in power do something doesn't make it right, responsible, or worth it? They rely to much on their gut and beliefs than actually using their head. Well, I take that back because they might be using their head but damn this country is stupid. I learned more in 3 years out of school than I did in 13 years of it.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,705
Likes: 358
From: C-Town
Even The Supreme Court acknowledges they are in fact illegal, BUT they still allow them through some BS exception.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
Ok, so let's spend 40,000k on a checkpoint. Stop 3,000 cars, get 10 drunk drivers off the road, get a few people with warrants, and a few people with drugs.
Say we end up with 20 people. Meaning 1.5%. We just spent 40 grand and made a thousand dollars tops out of the deal. We just wasted 39 grand.
Say we end up with 20 people. Meaning 1.5%. We just spent 40 grand and made a thousand dollars tops out of the deal. We just wasted 39 grand.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
Having taken part in a few DUI checkpoints I have to ask... Where the heck have you ever seen a checkpoint large enough to have cost $40,000? I've been doing the math in my head and even a large checkpoint with, say 10 officers on overtime (est. $40.00 per hour), lasting 4 hours, the total labor cost is $1,600. Add in fuel and incidentals and maybe you're up to $2,500.00. Your math is WAY off.
And it's the drunk drivers themselves who fund the checkpoints in the form of fines. The only thing accurate in his remarks is that relatively few dds are arrested through their use.
One reason for this is the officer has mere seconds, based on physical cues alone, to determine if the driver may be under the influence. For that reason many over the limit drivers get passed through.
As I said before I believe the main benefit of checkpoints is there deterrent effect. Face it, most dds believe they are driving fine and won't be detected by the average cop. And this is often true. Especially with the seasoned repeat offender drunk who is also arguably the most dangerous.
These folks will not get caught by typical patrol. Actually by virtue of shear numbers any drunk driver has a good chance of not getting caught. They're out there every night waiting to kill you or your loved one.
That's why I believe in checkpoints. I would go even further and say that I would support random roadside drugs/alcohol screening. We do it to keep our workplaces safe and drug free, we do it for CDL license holders and pilots. Why not do it to make the most dangerous place in our country safer. Our highways.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Having been apart of these checkpoints, I can tell you that in most cases, more drunk drivers are taken off the streets in that short period than would be if there was no checkpoint and just routine patrols. So, spend the money anyway and get maybe 1, or spend the same money and get 10. Sounds to me like a win-win situation if you want to get ignorant people off the streets.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 539
From: BHC, Arizona
DUI check points are driven by $$. This money comes from state and federal funds. It's called Education and Safety. Do you think for one minute that a bunch of LEO's hanging around the donut shop all of a sudden say " Hey!! Lets go get us a bunch of drunks." Nope, they need to keep the the fed $$ coming in so they implement a program, part of that program is a couple of DUI checks over a set time.
AP
AP
Last edited by Apendejo; Jul 25, 2009 at 12:15 PM.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 267
Likes: 8
Ok, so let's spend 40,000k on a checkpoint. Stop 3,000 cars, get 10 drunk drivers off the road, get a few people with warrants, and a few people with drugs.
Say we end up with 20 people. Meaning 1.5%. We just spent 40 grand and made a thousand dollars tops out of the deal. We just wasted 39 grand.
Plus I don't know about down in pittsburgh but up here they use all but maybe one cop on the force at them. Meaning no cops on the streets for all the killers to have their way, all the drug dealers to go about their business, robbers stealing from anywhere and anyone, etc.
There goes more resources to waste.
Or we can do the efficient thing, and in most cases bring in a surplus of money by using a saturation or roving patrol. Get those dealers, get those drunk drivers, get those idiotic drivers, get those stolen vehicles, be everywhere at one time instead of one place for hours on end.
Hell, they even use the helicopters when they do saturation patrols here.
If you want to be like the most of Americans and support idiotic wasteful things like this instead of being smart about it, then you deserve everything this country is coming to.
When are people going to realize just because people in power do something doesn't make it right, responsible, or worth it? They rely to much on their gut and beliefs than actually using their head. Well, I take that back because they might be using their head but damn this country is stupid. I learned more in 3 years out of school than I did in 13 years of it.
Say we end up with 20 people. Meaning 1.5%. We just spent 40 grand and made a thousand dollars tops out of the deal. We just wasted 39 grand.
Plus I don't know about down in pittsburgh but up here they use all but maybe one cop on the force at them. Meaning no cops on the streets for all the killers to have their way, all the drug dealers to go about their business, robbers stealing from anywhere and anyone, etc.
There goes more resources to waste.
Or we can do the efficient thing, and in most cases bring in a surplus of money by using a saturation or roving patrol. Get those dealers, get those drunk drivers, get those idiotic drivers, get those stolen vehicles, be everywhere at one time instead of one place for hours on end.
Hell, they even use the helicopters when they do saturation patrols here.
If you want to be like the most of Americans and support idiotic wasteful things like this instead of being smart about it, then you deserve everything this country is coming to.
When are people going to realize just because people in power do something doesn't make it right, responsible, or worth it? They rely to much on their gut and beliefs than actually using their head. Well, I take that back because they might be using their head but damn this country is stupid. I learned more in 3 years out of school than I did in 13 years of it.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,705
Likes: 358
From: C-Town
No, really you are, right?
Do you think for one moment a PD would run these knowing they would LOSE money? Just because the PD will not call it a profit, does not mean that's not what they are looking for.
It's revenue for the city, plain and simple.
If it's a DUI checkpoint, why do the bust people with another offense?
They don't care about stopping drunks, they are out for revenue for the city.
Open your eyes, Bob.
Put down them
Bob. Open your eyes.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Bob, you are kidding, right?
No, really you are, right?
Do you think for one moment a PD would run these knowing they would LOSE money? Just because the PD will not call it a profit, does not mean that's not what they are looking for.
It's revenue for the city, plain and simple.
If it's a DUI checkpoint, why do the bust people with another offense?
They don't care about stopping drunks, they are out for revenue for the city.
Open your eyes, Bob.
Put down them Bob. Open your eyes.
No, really you are, right?
Do you think for one moment a PD would run these knowing they would LOSE money? Just because the PD will not call it a profit, does not mean that's not what they are looking for.
It's revenue for the city, plain and simple.
If it's a DUI checkpoint, why do the bust people with another offense?
They don't care about stopping drunks, they are out for revenue for the city.
Open your eyes, Bob.
Put down them
Bob. Open your eyes.Actually, I've never met a cop whose first concern was to make their employer, whether City, State, or Federal, any money.
Now, I've seen them use it as leverage to get what they want. Like write 300 warnings in a single day instead of citations.