Editor,
April 12, 1994
Arbitrary traffic checkpoints in which all vehicles are stopped and
checked should have no place in the United States of America. They are a tactic of
tyranny.
Sure they are effective for catching criminals, but they invade the
privacy of the innocent in the process. Effectiveness is not a criterion for whether or
not something is right. Bullies can be very effective in extracting what they desire from
their victim.
The fourth amendment of the Constitution calls for the right to privacy
and security against unreasonable searches and seizures. Traffic checkpoints are a direct
and blatant violation of that provision. What's next, house-to-house searches for
unregistered guns?
The Daily Herald reported (4/5/94, p. B2) that on April 5th, the
Utah County Sheriff's office stopped between 1,500 and 2,000 vehicles at the intersection
of state roads 73 and 68, yielding 155 arrests consisting of "65 alcohol-related
offenses, 24 misdemeanors, 45 traffic offenses, six DUI's, 10 on outstanding warrants and
five vehicle impounds." Jack-pot. A thorough house-to-house search of any American
neighborhood would prove even more effective for discovering contraband, non-compliance
with codes that are legion, etc.... In principle there is no difference.
The article reported that "there were zero complaints from the
motorists." Who is going to complain? You never know if the enforcement official is a
gestapo type or a friend. The officer might think you have something to hide if you
protest. Of course no one complained.
As for those motorists who responded positively to the checkpoint, we
have to remember that if it weren't for the "all we like sheep" phenomenon,
Hitler would have never succeeded.
Please; not in America.
Sincerely,
Sterling D. Allan; Fountain Green, Utah
P.S. Ironically, after writing the above editorial, I discovered that a
front-page article in today's Daily Herald touched on the very subject addressed
above. (4/12/94, "Gun issues reverse traditional politics.") According to the
article, "A judge says warrantless gun and drug searches at a dangerous public
housing project are unconstitutional." Continuing, the article reports that
"tough-on-crime" President Clinton, who is "sympathetic to the
searches," has vowed "to get around the ruling." Responding, Rep. Don
Edwards, D-Calif. said, "...Where's it going to end, if you give the government that
much power?"
Traffic
Checkpoints are U.N.-American
