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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Santa Clarita Station conducted a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Friday at Lyons Avenue just east of Wheeler Road between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.
DUI/Drivers License checkpoints have been shown to lower DUI deaths and injuries. A major component of these checkpoints are the deterrent effects it has on those who might drive drunk or drugged impaired, bringing about more awareness and encouraging everyone to use sober designated drivers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Ninety Percent of California drivers approve of checkpoints.
1589 Vehicles through the Checkpoint
1489 Drivers Checked at the Checkpoint
10 Unlicensed Drivers were Arrested and Sent to Court
2 Suspended/Revoked Drivers were Arrested and Sent to Court
2 Registered Owners were Arrested and Sent to Court for allowing a person to drive a vehicle without a valid license
1 Driver was Arrested and Sent to Court for failing to have an Ignition Interlock Device on his Vehicle
2 Vehicles were held for 30 Days
10 Vehicles were Released per Checkpoint Release Procedures
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting additional DUI/Drivers License Checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols throughout the upcoming year in our ongoing commitment to lowering deaths and injuries upon our streets and highways.
Funding for these operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If you see dangerous driving, Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1.
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192 Comments
That is really scary!
Really people. For 20 bucks you get home safe. Call 20$ holler.
Read the article. All of the arrests were for unlicensed or suspended licenses. 0 DUIs.
Wow. That’s crazy. I assumed it was drunk driving
No it’s just another freedom slowly being taken away from us is all.
Good we need to get the unlicensed and suspended off the road. There is no “freedom” taken away Jimmy. It’s called obeying the laws.
I’m not completely agreeing how this went down.. but exactly how many people in SCV have suspended licenses. …?
I’m not completely agreeing how this went down.. but exactly how many people in SCV have suspended licenses. …?
Turn up!
Not one DUI arrest????
All about the money.
Yea that’s messed up! They shouldn’t call it dui checkpoint then!! Wtf just such bs!!!
Isn’t it a good thing that nobody was drinking and driving?
Isn’t it a good thing that nobody was drinking and driving?
Actually it was called a DUI and Driver’s License checkpoint.
Leon I don’t care what they call it. Apparently DUI checkpoints are legal. Drivers license checkpoints are not. Most cities are smart enough to not do this stuff but then again SC was the city dumb enough to install red light cameras, so….
So Law Enforcement can conduct a traffic stop to check your drivers license without a person committing a traffic violation or probable cause that an infraction or crime has been committed?
Just something to think about.
They can do it until a judge rules against them.
Yep… they do those here in Placentia too. I got a ticket for tinted windows and no front licence plate. No drinking drivers caught that day either. Horse Excrement. They should call it “let’s see what we can get ya on” Gestapo check point disguised as a DUI check point. “Papers”
Yep… they do those here in Placentia too. I got a ticket for tinted windows and no front licence plate. No drinking drivers caught that day either. Horse Excrement. They should call it “let’s see what we can get ya on” Gestapo check point disguised as a DUI check point. “Papers”
LASD giving the middle finger to our constitution… 4th amendment what 4th amendment?
Yes. Why should they worry about that old outdated document ? They are real sure the Fourth Amendment was written to inconvenience yhem. Since they can’t catch drunk drivers in their ridiculous checkpoints, they have to catch somebody doing # something # !!
LASD giving the middle finger to our constitution… 4th amendment what 4th amendment?
Aww come on – it you aren’t doing anything illegal – like have your windows tinted too dark – then you have nothing to worry about- There are a lot of safety reasons for the laws regarding window tinting –
It’s not about doing anything illegal … In this country, the Police are supposed to detain you or stop your vehicle based upon probable cause and reasonable suspicion that a crime or infraction has been committed and you are the person that committed said violation.
Now, setting up a checkpoint to slow down cars and look for anything illegal is , in my opinion, a unlawful detention. Why, because you are not free to leave and its forced compliance.
If your driving down the street with tinted windows or no front plate and a officer see the violation… Ok he/ she can conduct a traffic stop and issue you a citation. I am ok with that.
The other ” checkpoint thing” is not what the law was designed for. In fact, the law says people are free to move about without
Officers detaining them at whim.
Sorry, I like law and order , but not Dui checkpoints
Hats off to the few people that have done thrre home work.As far as the rest of the people that dont know what we have here we have a republic if we can keep it.Democracy =SLAVERY and this is the problem its unconstitutional and a federal crime when these oath breaker violate there oath of office they dont care about you and your safety this about money and stealing it rite under your nose.The founding fathers wrote the constitution to benefit the people.If you dont know your rites you dont have any.educate yourselves your children’s future depends on it..We are heading down a dangerous road!!Is everyone blind? or that brain washed are you kidding me?Just a few here that understand the constitution this country is in trouble its going to continue to get worse mark my words there will come a time
That time you refer to has already come. Read the posts of people who believe that the police don’t have to follow the law…
Randy ..you are quite a scofflaw though
It’s about overtime money, these checkpoints do nothing to help safety
Why is that scary?
“10 Vehicles were Released per Checkpoint Release Procedures”
What is this exactly??
Those without licenses don’t get their cars taken away for some PC reasons.
” you cant drive this home, I’m not going to impound your car tonight, but you need to call someone to come pick it up for you”
” you cant drive this home, I’m not going to impound your car tonight, but you need to call someone to come pick it up for you”
I guess everyone avoided going to the 2 bars in the check point area again lol all you have to is just turn down a side street & legally nothing they can do about it unless you are in some sort of violation of a law.
UBER
Sober Drivers of Santa Clarita!!!
Not 1 DUI. This was a racket revenue shakedown.
You got that right.
Isn’t it a good thing nobody is drinking and driving?
Isn’t it a good thing nobody is drinking and driving?
Yes, but this wasn’t the real purpose. And detaining people without probable cause is unconstitutional. They were just out generating revenue in the false name of safety.
Yes, but this wasn’t the real purpose. And detaining people without probable cause is unconstitutional. They were just out generating revenue in the false name of safety.
Arrest cites. Misdemeanor……not physical arrests, no DUI’s????
Wasn’t me suckers….glad to see you are keeping yourself busy, anyone else notice they’re always finding some way to harass people….but ask them they’ll just say public safty…..
“Safety”
Fags
Just giving people a hard time… And the sheriffs getting over time.. And they wonder why people don’t like the cops…
Really don’t understand how nobody seems to care that it it is illegal to drive on a suspended license. There was probably a good reason it was taken away. I’m going to assume that if you don’t have a valid license you do not have car insurance either. Considering the alarming number of hit and runs and just the complete hassle a person goes through when hit by someone without insurance, I’m all for our law enforcement conducting these check points!!!! Look at the big picture people.
Espino E Mauro Classy
Espino E Mauro Classy
@nikki due to the reaction of ^^ I’m guessing the shoes fit??
Really don’t understand how you don’t seem to care that the cops are breaking the law…
Michael Cohn How are they breaking the law?
Do you read ? DI’d you ever learn about the Constitution?
Do you read ? DI’d you ever learn about the Constitution?
Let’s keep this pleasant as there is no reason for insults. We are all entitled to our opinions and mine happens to be that I have nothing to hide and though I do not enjoy the time it takes to get past a DUI/License Check, I am all for getting as many people off of the road be it just for that one evening my family and I are driving home, that do not have the right to operate a motor vehicle. More often than not, those people are found to be braking the law in other ways as well. I’m okay with it, your not and that is fine.
Let’s keep this pleasant as there is no reason for insults. We are all entitled to our opinions and mine happens to be that I have nothing to hide and though I do not enjoy the time it takes to get past a DUI/License Check, I am all for getting as many people off of the road be it just for that one evening my family and I are driving home, that do not have the right to operate a motor vehicle. More often than not, those people are found to be braking the law in other ways as well. I’m okay with it, your not and that is fine.
“You’re”
“You’re”
No good bunch of FASCISTS, that’s all I see.
Stopping cars for no reason….what’s next, going to peoples homes, knocking on their doors to see if there is any suspicious or illegal activity going on? I’m sure they could make a ton of arrests to justify it…
WTG SCV Sheriff, keep up the good work. To you cop haters, shame on you, it’s not harassment, it’s the LAW… The only people who complain and whine when an officer is doing his JOB, usually are the ones breaking the law. Jimmy you’re just a complete idiot. Sean, no reason??? You’re clueless.
Nazi’s were just doing their jobs too and it was 100% legal. Actually stopping people without probable cause is NOT legal. It’s unconstitutional.
Nazi’s were just doing their jobs too and it was 100% legal. Actually stopping people without probable cause is NOT legal. It’s unconstitutional.
Well said Kris
Well said Kris
Well said Eric! Liberals can’t read the 4th amendment
That’s entrapment it’s against the law I would fight it all the way.
That’s entrapment it’s against the law I would fight it all the way.
Unconstitutional. As long as you aren’t doing anything wrong, it’s OK? It’s not OK, it’s a shakedown.
It’s not the law young lady, next time while your on your smart phone and with your kids in the back seat, goggle it!
It’s not the law young lady, next time while your on your smart phone and with your kids in the back seat, goggle it!
It is a shakedown for money just as the red light cameras were.
I don’t even drink alcohol but, in no way am I willing to sacrifice my rights in order to protect them. ” Those who are willing to sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.” – Benjamin Franklin
They should have more checkpoints out there. Pulling people over on PUBLIC roads is way different than knocking door to door. I’m legal, insured, and sober- so I’m all for it!
“Am I being detained?”
Yes, you are, and without probable cause as well.
If your not driving intoxicated; which you shouldn’t and have a valid license, there is no reason to be scared. When you get hit by or see a drunk driver, who are you going to call??? And, if you do drive drunk and get in an accident, who is going to be there first, help you, call the ambulance to make sure your drunk ass loves? What sucks is civil disobedience and disregard for the gift of life! Your own and that of the innocent.
What actually sucks are people who have no understanding of civil rights and cannot read the article properly. If they did and they could, they would realize that these checkpoints are illegal and ineffective.
I felt so unsafe living in the SCV with how much freedom and power is given to the police force in town. You cant drive a few minutes on the road without seeing at least 1-3 cop cars patrolling or set up for speed traps. I met a few upstanding cops in my 25 years in the SCV but a majority of the police I experienced in day to day life were abusive, racist and violent.
I moved to Portland Oregon last year and have seen less cop cars in all that time then I would see during a 15 minute commute to work from Canyon Country to Saugus in one day.
I feel so much safer living here.
Agreed. Most of them are corrupt a**holes!
Yet another useless checkpoint in which NO drunk drivers were caught. You really think they would learn that these things are a waste of time and money
Umm 1.6% ? Good job! You spent thousands to get nothing. I’m all for getting drunks off the street, but I don’t think this was worth the time effort and money.
Umm 1.6% ? Good job! You spent thousands to get nothing. I’m all for getting drunks off the street, but I don’t think this was worth the time effort and money.
Good job. Keep up the good work!
Good job. Keep up the good work!
So out of 1489 people that they stopped for exactly NO probable cause other than driving down the street, exactly 15 were found to be in violation of some minor law. NOBODY, not a single person, was found to be drunk and driving, and I am certain they looked really hard. You all actually think this was worth taking a bunch of cops off the street where they might have actually caught some drunk drivers ?
My sister was hit and killed by a drunk driver so if you have a problem with cops doing their job to make it safer for people on the street then you are a complete moron.
My sister was hit and killed by a drunk driver so if you have a problem with cops doing their job to make it safer for people on the street then you are a complete moron.
Not 1 single DUI stopped, not 1 single safety issue addressed. These check points do nothing to prevent what happened to your sister, they simply are about overtime dollars to departments for them to spend on who knows what, officers parties is that I suspect
Paul Economou
Don’t tell jeff!!!
Exactly
Paul Economou
Don’t tell jeff!!!
Exactly
Looks like New Mexico.
Looks like New Mexico.
10 unlicensed drivers is more than 5,000 so they made what they were expecting. By the way most of the people without a license do have insurance.
10 unlicensed drivers is more than 5,000 so they made what they were expecting. By the way most of the people without a license do have insurance.
Saturation patrols are more effective and require less staffing.
Saturation patrols are more effective and require less staffing.
No DUIs as always. Waste of tax dollars. I was out last night at a bar all the way across town and heard of the check point by 7pm. All it is detouring is people driving that way home. And all the BS at the top of the article is exactly that, BS. its more like 50% of the people don’t want DUI check points. Screw you SCV News and KHTS for spreading lies in your articles.
After a LONG fight, we got rid of the ridiculous red light cameras. We can get rid of the useless checkpoints too.
People whine about stops, but if those deputies were driving around and looking for MOVING DUIs, instead of running checkpoints, we’d have safer street instead of PR. Checkpoints aren’t unconstitutional, they’re inefficient. Are LASD managers afraid that more arrests will anger the cop-haters? Don’t worry about them. They wouldn’t know the difference between nazis/fascists and legitimate cops anymore than they know what the Constitution is. Morons!
Great job!!
Vernon Peñaloza
Yep… they do those here in Placentia too. I got a ticket for tinted windows and no front licence plate. No drinking drivers caught that day either. Horse Excrement. They should call it “let’s see what we can get ya on” Gestapo check point disguised as a DUI check point. “Papers” Probable cause? Reasonable suspicion? Nope
Yep… they do those here in Placentia too. I got a ticket for tinted windows and no front licence plate. No drinking drivers caught that day either. Horse Excrement. They should call it “let’s see what we can get ya on” Gestapo check point disguised as a DUI check point. “Papers” Probable cause? Reasonable suspicion? Nope
…and where is the probable cause to warrant such a searches?
To quote a little thing called the Fourth Amendment of The Constitution:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
…and where is the probable cause to warrant such a searches?
To quote a little thing called the Fourth Amendment of The Constitution:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
So you’re telling me, everyone’s getting heated because people are seeing consequences for doing things they’re not supposed to do and somehow they’re the victims? You all need to pull your heads out of your asses
Eric do you actually believe the Constitution Somehow Doesn’t Apply To Cops ?
As we’ve mentioned, if you’re not making these comments under the post on our Facebook page, whomever you’re talking to is not seeing your comment.
I can’t find this article on your Facebook page.
this link might take you there directly… https://www.facebook.com/scvtv/posts/810195059058552:0
So you’re telling me, everyone’s getting heated because people are seeing consequences for doing things they’re not supposed to do and somehow they’re the victims? You all need to pull your heads out of your asses
Would be nice if they did saturation patrols instead that per the FBI, catch more drunks than checkpoints.
Would be nice if they did saturation patrols instead that per the FBI, catch more drunks than checkpoints.
Everyone should go on Twitter to Mr DUI checkpoint and he tells u all the locations. Your welcome!! :)
Why is eastbound Lyons Avenue at 8:45 pm a place of great opportunity?
10 unlicensed drivers and only 2 impounds? Pathetic.
Shakedown. These are a waste of time, BS, and must stop.
It’s not just dui they run your I’d even if your sober it’s a harassment or almost like military checkpoint
It IS a military checkpoint looking for the “enemy” who has no driver’s license.
In just gonna leave this here. http://traffic.findlaw.com/traffic-stops/are-dui-checkpoints-legal-.html
Seth, if you read that carefully, nowhere does it say that “drivers license checkpoints”are permitted. DUI checkpoints are, but they do a lot more than that and that is the problem.
You may want to read the entire opinion including the dissents, and also read Delaware v. Prose which seems to be on point regarding the type of checkpoints that have been implemented in the SCV.
Nazi germany
Download waze, they let you know where cops are posted and where dui stops are.
Sure. As long as they treat you with respect and dignity while they violate your rights, it’s all good. Some of you are really nuts.
The right to travel with out a license is a constitutional right not a privilege!!The fruad and criminal acts these officers are committing are as follows:felony treason,failure to up hold there oath of office,witch is to uphold the constitution !!How can these officers think what they are doing is rite?Policing for profit id like a cancer!!4million Californians Are driving on suspended licenses becase this is big money inslaving the citizens of the land of the not free!!Its legal SLAVERY and stealing money and property with out due process.So we the people must stop this before it destroys the what used to be free United states of America!!If you think this is about saftey your either brain dead or just plain stupid im open for comments if you think im wrong do yout home work!!Wake up people and smell the constitution!!
Let me see if I got this straight:
Don’t drink and drive
Have a drivers license and insurance
Don’t resist
Wear your seat belt
Don’t use your phone while driving
Have 2 license plates front and back
Stop at stop signs
Pull over for emergency vehicles
Stop for pedestrians
Don’t park at a red curb
Man this is so hard, guess I could just start walking everywhere
Let me see if I got this straight:
Don’t drink and drive
Have a drivers license and insurance
Don’t resist
Wear your seat belt
Don’t use your phone while driving
Have 2 license plates front and back
Stop at stop signs
Pull over for emergency vehicles
Stop for pedestrians
Don’t park at a red curb
Man this is so hard, guess I could just start walking everywhere
Sounds like a good night to get the drunks off the road, how many times does it take to say, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, guess it takes killing someone
Sounds like a good night to get the drunks off the road, how many times does it take to say, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, guess it takes killing someone
By the way… I am hardly a Cop Hater… As a former LAPD Sergeant for 30 years, former Chief of Police and currently employed as a Peace Officer, I stand by my comments. Read them again and you might educate yourself on civil rights and state law.
Steven you’re a cop and on fb. WTF is wrong with you ? I have multiple friends in the lapd , lacsd, vcsd. Not one of them is on fb dumb ass
30 plus years and your still getting a check, at full pay and benefits… Wow I salute you sir…
No actually I work part time .. As a Park Ranger no benefits and somewhat low pay for the industry ..
But probally like you Dave I like the outdoors and new adventures …
I was hit by a drunk driver in 96, major injuries to my back left arm, shoulder, ripped my arm out of socket, hit the rear of my lit up caltrans truck doing over a 100 miles a hour, all I had a chance to do was gas it and hang on, slow down in the cone zone, lol yeah not back then.
A toyota knocked a 1 ton ass end over end, I ended up under the glove box.
If I had the seat belt on in this old truck the Dr’s said it would have ripped my head In half.
Took 1 year to heal so they could do surgery and another year after the surgery.
The arrested the young Korean kid, felony DUI with gross injuries
Never heard a word back on what happen to him, nothing for the 2 years.
So much for trust in the system.
We used to beg the chp to come sit in our lane closures and they could just pick drunk drivers out of the cars, they were to busy watching the donut shops.
Last year I got pulled into one by my house on newhall ranch road, the guy asked me why my boat trailer didn’t have tags on it, he made me sit for 45 minutes while 5 of the guys and girls making 250 a hour, remember it’s ot for them, to figure out its a special plate and doesn’t need tags.
I was ask 15 times if I’ve been drinking, told no I don’t drink, guess they think boat, lake party time.
Looked at the local papers crime log, 6 unlicensed drivers, Mexicans that work and pay taxes but can’t get a lic because there undocumented.
Some might forget these check points are against the constitution, illegal search.
At least I didn’t get shot or body slammed while getting upset with these GED grads that I don’t need tags for a trailer, it renews every 5 years and is current.
I was hit by a drunk driver in 96, major injuries to my back left arm, shoulder, ripped my arm out of socket, hit the rear of my lit up caltrans truck doing over a 100 miles a hour, all I had a chance to do was gas it and hang on, slow down in the cone zone, lol yeah not back then.
A toyota knocked a 1 ton ass end over end, I ended up under the glove box.
If I had the seat belt on in this old truck the Dr’s said it would have ripped my head In half.
Took 1 year to heal so they could do surgery and another year after the surgery.
The arrested the young Korean kid, felony DUI with gross injuries
Never heard a word back on what happen to him, nothing for the 2 years.
So much for trust in the system.
We used to beg the chp to come sit in our lane closures and they could just pick drunk drivers out of the cars, they were to busy watching the donut shops.
Last year I got pulled into one by my house on newhall ranch road, the guy asked me why my boat trailer didn’t have tags on it, he made me sit for 45 minutes while 5 of the guys and girls making 250 a hour, remember it’s ot for them, to figure out its a special plate and doesn’t need tags.
I was ask 15 times if I’ve been drinking, told no I don’t drink, guess they think boat, lake party time.
Looked at the local papers crime log, 6 unlicensed drivers, Mexicans that work and pay taxes but can’t get a lic because there undocumented.
Some might forget these check points are against the constitution, illegal search.
At least I didn’t get shot or body slammed while getting upset with these GED grads that I don’t need tags for a trailer, it renews every 5 years and is current.
First of all, it’s illegal search- no probable cause whatsoever. Second, you can call the sheriff’s office or the CHP and they have to tell you when and where these little illegal searches are to take place.
They actually list them in the newspaper a week before.
Shawbe Jones
Mr. Checkpoint lets you know where they are, BEFORE the fact.
When did you get out # 1
When did you get out # 1
Kimmie Turner Hoover lmfao
God job Officer ,better safe than never
Michael, not sure you are thinking correctly. Red-light cameras saves lives and so do cops. What law are they breaking? They Didn’t have a sign that said, all SCV idiots get in line if your drunk or driving illegally? You had nothing to worry about if you were driving legally right? Who did the arrest? Oh ya that’s right, people who were breaking the law, go figure…..
Red light cameras were installed for the purpose of enriching Redflex, the company that makes them, while also giving a few dollars to the city. When the yellow light durations were adjusted to the proper timing, the cameras stopped issuing tickets and we’re promptly deactivated. They will be physically removed soon. This indicates that they were a scam from the beginning. No lives were saved But money was made. The DUI checkpoints are an excuse to pay cops overtime with our tax dollars, and they are an exception to the law requiring a warrant for search and seizure. However, the exception does NOT extend to checking drivers licenses, and that is the problem. If they stop doing that, the rest of it is legal, but they will look really bad as they will then have to report NO arrests. This is the USA – we don’t allow the police to simply go around demanding ID from people without probable cause.
Ok why dont you people get this look up your right to travel freedom means you have god given rights that is the right to travel with out a license and a fee put on it unless its for commerce the dmv is a private corporation you register your car and if you read the small print you basically sign your car over to them you dont own it any more its the the biggest scams in american history tripple AAA started the dmv and what corporation are they insurance go figure we the people have been scamed and we beg for it all for saftey it doesn’t have to be his way just for saftey we can be free and safe with out all the crashing fees and fines these greedy people are imposing on all of us its unconstitutional !!!And Its wrong !!
Never in my life have I felt so violated. I was taking my son to his basketball game. Got stuck on the traffic jam didn’t know want was going on. Turns out to be the police stopping me for no reason asking me if had had been drinking. No. Do I have a valid license. Yes.
I believe in enforcement but there is definitely something un American about these checkpoints.
Becket, welcome to the post 9-11 world where the cops can kill anyone they want to with no consequences, where the Fourth Amendment isn’t worth the parchment it was written on, and where your fellow citizens think all of this is just fine.
BS stops is more like it!! Not 1 single DUI and I’ll bet they didn’t cite a single immigrant for driving without a license
Dave, my wife also was hit by a undocumented mex. without license. Until now she’s still have backpain due to that accident.
Dave, my wife also was hit by a undocumented mex. without license. Until now she’s still have backpain due to that accident.
Random breath tests are conducted in Australia daily anytime on our roads and has reduced no. Of drunks unlicensed drivers apprehended fined or charged in court. Which is good for community safety.
Drunk drivers deserve nothing. They have killed some very good friends of mine, good for the sheriffs. They make the SCV worth living in.
It would probably be even more worth living in if they actually caught any drunk drivers…
Amores, what you do or did in Australia is completely irrelevant regarding what we do, and don’t do, here. You aren’t in Sydney anymore.
I think the SCV schools should devote less time to teaching creationism and asserting the the earth is 6000 years old, and devote more time to teaching civics. The number of people who have no basic understanding of the US constitution is just appalling.
A large majority of the comments on this thread are so entertaining. It’s amazing how many “wannabe” lawyers are out there defending our Great Constitution “eerrr” using it to defend their stupidity. People, don’t break the law, carry all you documents, register your vehicles, put your tags on, keep both front and back plates on, and do what your suppose to do and you have no problems. Have one plate? no license on your person? no current registration? no proof of insurance? Well then expect to get questioned and detained. Life is simple when you keep it simple. I have been on the road for 30+ years all in California and have never had an issue at a check point. For all you law enforcement officers reading the threads and not responding…Keep up the good work and thank you for your service.
A large majority of the comments on this thread are actually quite alarming. You do not need to be a lawyer to understand the law, at least to the extent that it isn’t a complete mystery to you. Either people on here didn’t get that civics class, or they cannot read, which seems unlikely, given the fact that they are posting on here. Post like those of my good friend so cal guy are the most alarming of all, because they advocate the position of “do what they tell you and shut your mouth” as a way of managing what is actually an infuriating and probably illegal situation. Don’t dare question the government who is, after all, acting in your best interests. Excuse me if I express some skepticism regarding this. My position is that the government needs constant scrutiny lest it assume too much power, and I am pleased to not be alone in this view, since the founders of this country took an identical view and in fact expressed that view in many places, among them the 4th Amendment to our Constitution. “Go along to get along”, as so cal guys suggests, will get you only so far before you realize that the rights you once had have evaporated. In a way, this entire issue of police checkpoints mirrors a much larger problem of government intrusion into private life that has been occurring since 9-11, and perhaps well before. It is this problem that needs to be addressed in a definitive fashion, and discussions such as this are a highly effective way of gauging the support that one has for one’s particular position. That said, I find myself disheartened indeed by posts that tell me to “obey the law and you won’t have trouble”. This is patently false; you can do every single thing that so cal guy so kindly advises, and you will still be stopped at police checkpoints and questioned, and it is this practice that is intolerable. This is still the USA, and we still retain some (rapidly disappearing) rights.
Regarding the Constitution, The Constitution does not prohibit all search and seizure, just “unreasonable” search and seizure. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled (see Michigan v. Sitz, 1990) that sobriety checkpoints meet the Fourth Amendment standard of “reasonable search and seizure.” The Court is, by force of Article III of the Constitution itself, the final arbiter and interpreter of the Constitution. We may not agree with what they rule. But what they rule is law until reinterpreted by a later court. We can whine, but they win, not because of a left or right wing conspiracy, but because the Constitution itself says so. In addition, court rulings over the last 20 years have put more and more restrictions on checkpoints, leaving them less obtrusive and more transparent, with less chance of abuse.
What makes this unconstitutional its a violation due process to take your property with out a affirmation of oath and a signed warrant by a judge.Its voilating your right to due process.Its hopeless trying to get you people to under stand the fraud going on here police ing for profit you refuse to even look it up!!Until you get caught up in this scam and dont think you have to be breaking the law to get caught up.If a law can be proven unconstitutional its null and void from the time of its inception.
Regarding whether checkpoints work or how they work. Patrols are meant to catch active drunks, get them off the streets and prosecute them. Checkpoints are highly visible, highly publicized events meant to deter drinking and driving in the first place.
Patrols have little deterrent value, but high enforcement value. Checkpoints have been shown to have the potential to lower DUI fatality rates by up to 20 percent by virtue of their deterrence. People go through them, drive past them, hear about them via multiple grapevines and get the ongoing impression that drunk driving is dangerous, socially unacceptable, and that law enforcement is actively looking for it.
They are both good tactics and both should be in the arsenal of DUI combating tactics, along with others. In terms of catching drunks, nothing beats patrols. In terms of saving lives, nothing beats checkpoints.
And where exactly is the data to support all of these contentions ? It is all fine and well to throw numbers around, but you also need data to support them, or they are meaningless. I hear the deterrence argument a lot but have yet to see a single study supporting it.
Regarding it being a revenue generator. Think about it. If it was to generate revenue, why would they publicize it? Keep it quiet so you can rake in more bucks, right? And as it being a revenue generator, the police normally get little and often nothing from the tickets they write. The CHP gets none at all. Cities get a little, counties get some, the courts get a pretty good share for building, operating and security, emergency medical services get some for cleaning up after crashes, the State gets some, there is some for getting DNA samples from those in jail, and the list goes on.
If you really want to protest the cost of a ticket, there is a foolproof way to do it, to thwart their evil, money grubbing intentions. Just don’t break the laws! No violation, no ticket, no revenue generated to the government! What could be simpler? Done deal. Starve them with compliance.
Dave, the Constitution and specifically the 4th Amendment prohibit warrantless search and seizure in the absence of probable cause, although some exceptions have been made, such as police checkpoints to search for drunk drivers. There is no such exception relating to driver’s licenses, and again, I think that Delaware v. Prouse is directly on point regarding this. The police are not permitted to go on “fishing expeditions” in the hope of finding a possible violation of some law.
Dave, the revenue flows to the police, who collect overtime for working these checkpoints. That is a major reason that they exist at all.
If they’re on OT, then it looks like you just blew the “they should be out catching criminals” argument to smithereens. :)
If they are on overtime, they most certainly SHOULD be out catching criminals, not hanging around a checkpoint that does nothing to improve safety.
Regarding checkpoints being “show me your papers” Nazi tactics. When people complain about checkpoints, calling them Nazi tactics, they are forgetting one thing. When those regimes “asked for papers,” that meant show me your state-issued internal passport that often said who you were, what job you had, where you were allowed to travel to, what restrictions on your movements had been placed on you, what religion you were. If you were someplace you weren’t supposed to be, you got arrested. At DUI checkpoints, they ask for your drivers license, which you must have to operate the vehicle you are driving. And they check to see if you show signs of impairment. That is vastly different than Nazi “show me your papers,” shows a lack of understanding of history as well as demeans what the people of Germany and Europe went through.
Dave, the fact that there are significant differences between what the Nazi papers contained and what a modern drivers license contains is irrelevant, although if they run the number through their computer system, it contains a LOT.
Still, the argument you make is specious. What is at issue is the lack of authority for the police to ask for driver’s licenses absent probable cause, such as seeing a person speeding down the street. It is very difficult to commit a traffic violation while waiting in line at a checkpoint, and the police ask for licenses, I believe solely for the purpose of finding a pretext to impound vehicles and collect revenue. No matter the reason, this practice is unconstitutional (Delaware v. Prouse).
msc545, the information contained within the magnetic strip on a California Driver License is the same as what is contained on the front, no more, no less. Further Delaware v Prouse held that stopping a motorist solely for the purpose of checking a license or registration was against the 4th Amendment. Checking license and registration as an adjunct to a lawful stop is legal. And, as I pointed out earlier, DUI checkpoints have been found to be reasonable and legal via Michigan v Sitz.
Dave, I was actually referring to the fact that inputting the driver’s license number into the computer in any police car at the checkpoint will yield a LOT of information, and the police routinely do this.
I don’t think that the court in Michigan v. Sitz intended to legalize the practice of “piggybacking” otherwise prohibited search and seizure on to an initially legal search and seizure such as a checkpoint for drunk driving. If they had done that, it would follow that the police could stop you at a checkpoint, get your address, and then do a warrantless search of your house to see if there was anything illegal inside. That would be an absurd result.
msc545, the only time your license would be run as part of a checkpoint is if you were pulled out for further testing. It’s not done in the line. They only check to see if you have a license to legally operate the vehicle you are driving. To do it in line would be against the guidelines of Ingersoll v Palmer, one of which is delay through traffic as little as possible.
Since you previously classified my statement as a specious argument, I’m going to have to return the favor about your warrantless search argument. That has never been suggested, much less gone through any court. Not only would it be an absurd result, it’s an absurd suggestion bordering on a straw man argument.
Dave, I think you might be making my point for me, but I need to ask you – what sort of further testing are you referring to?
As for the warrantless search argument, it was you who stated that asking for a drivers license was legal since it was part of the already legal scrutiny for impaired driving, but it would not be legal if it occurred in a situation where people were not being scrutinized for impaired driving. In other words, you can ask for a driver’s license, but only if you are also checking to see if someone is impaired. If you can do that, what is to stop you from asking for other things – like insurance, registration, or anything else you hope might yield evidence allowing you to cite or arrest the person ? The request for a drivers license is without probable cause but still apparently legal in this situation. You do not need a driver’s license to determine if someone is impaired. I agree that this concept has not been tested in court as yet, but when the police start asking for other things, and they eventually will, then it will find it’s way to a court. Perhaps several. On it’s face, asking for the license appears to be illegal especially since it is unrelated to impaired driving.
msc545,to answer your first question, to test for DUI. Moving on to the rest – police can request license, registration and proof of insurance either at a checkpoint or as a result of any other lawful traffic stop. Those are things you are required, by current law, to show an officer if requested to. And they do result in citations or arrests for things like driving under a suspended license. They can ask for other things, but you are not required to show them unless they have probable cause for requiring it, rather than just asking for it. Requiring showing drivers license, registration and proof of insurance has likely been through the courts, although I cannot cite any ruling, because there are a lot of good defense lawyers out there looking for anything they can find to get a client off and people wanting to make a point.
Dave, thanks for your response. I do have more questions. What is the probable cause to ask for a driver’s license, insurance, etc., absent any reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation ? I would think it would be very difficult to commit a traffic violation while waiting in line at a checkpoint although I guess it is possible…in any event, why would a driver’s license be necessary in order to conduct a DUI investigation ? Second, since officers ask people for their license even when DUI is not suspected, what is the probable cause basis for this ? I am comparing this situation to the one in which an officer notes that someone is speeding, stops them, and asks for the license etc., which makes perfect sense.
msc45, legally speaking, it’s a series of events. First event is that you are stopped at a constitutionally legal DUI checkpoint. Since you are lawfully stopped, that triggers the second legal event of being asked for license, registration and proof of insurance. The law allows for those to be checked during a legal traffic stop, which a DUI checkpoint is considered. If they were to go beyond that, say to demand to see in your trunk, it would have to be with provable probable cause, not just being stopped for a checkpoint. License, insurance and registration have to do with legally operating a motor vehicle. What’s in your trunk doesn’t.
Thank you. Yet another question please. What law is it that permits checking a license, registration, and insurance at a a DUI checkpoint ? It may be legal to stop people at a DUI checkpoint, but as I noted earlier, how does this then morph into checking documents when the stated purpose of the checkpoint is to apprehend drunk drivers? What law differentiates this practice from the practice of checking trunks ? As you can probably tell, the problem I am having with all this is that checking the license etc, feels a lot like fishing for violations with no probable cause, and it really is unrelated as to whether or not a person is impaired, e.g., a licensed driver could be impaired, and an unlicensed one not impaired. None of these conditions is predictive of the others. I am struggling to understand all of this and I thank you for your continuing help.
Motorcycle Safety Operation in West Hollywood, May 2
Improving Motorcycle Safety Aim of The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Operation.
Careless motorists as well as riders get special scrutiny.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on Saturday, May 2, 2015, in the City of West Hollywood in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur. Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle crashes. They will be cracking down on both those operating regular vehicles and motorcycles who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, making illegal turns, or any other dangerous violation.
Motorcycle fatalities saw a phenomenal drop of 37 percent from 2008 to 2010, but then rose 23 percent by 2012. Operations like this are aimed at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward. Over the course of the past 3 years, motorcycle involved collisions have resulted in 850 fatal and injury crashes.
California collision data reveals that primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs by both riders and drivers alike.
Safety tips for riders – See and Be Seen:
• Ride with lights on during daylight hours.
• Use your lane position to increase visibility; change lanes only when there is ample room.
• Match your speed to surrounding traffic.
• Always wear a DOT compliant helmet and brightly colored, protective clothing.
Safety tips for drivers – Share the Road:
• Look twice for motorcyclists, especially when entering the roadway, turning or changing lanes.
• Motorcyclist are allowed in HOV lanes unless prohibited by signage.
Riders are urged to get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at http://www.CA-msp.org or 1-877 RIDE 411 (1-877-743-3411).
Funding for these operations is provided to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety http://www.ots.ca.gov/ through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.gov/. The message to all drivers and motorcyclists is: share in the responsibility and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”