Licensing Roadblocks Generate Revenue by Seizing Cars

Licensing Roadblocks Generate Revenue by Seizing Cars
Roadblocks in California and North Carolina generated significant revenue from licensing infractions and automobile seizures.

Roadblocks in California and North Carolina generated significant revenue from licensing infractions and automobile seizures this week. North Carolina state police have begun experimenting with short-term "safety checkpoints" that contrast with the more traditional approach used in California.

Troopers in Rocky Mount, North Carolina set up a roadblock on Riverside Drive that lasted just thirty-minutes. Joined by the city police, the troopers were able to issue $75 tickets to anyone neglecting or choosing not to wear a seatbelt. Forgetting a driver's license at home yielded $160 citations. The intention behind the short-term roadblocks was preventing motorists from using cell phones to warn friends and family to avoid the road and its inconvenience. According to police, the location of each roadblock spreads quickly.
So basically they're trolling for minor, victimless infractions. Rocky Mount NC PD, meet the 4th Amendment. And while you're at it, a discussion of the intent of the 2nd might be in order too...you know, why they wrote it, that sort of thing.

Traditional four and six hour roadblocks in California this week allowed two police departments to seize 119 vehicles likely to yield $140,000 in fines and fees. In Gardena, 1489 motorists traveling on Redondo Beach and Crenshaw Boulevards between 10am and 2pm yesterday were stopped and ordered to show their paperwork. The effort yielded 62 vehicles seized over licensing violations each of which will likely net $1200 in towing and storage fees. Officers were able to issue another 34 tickets for seatbelt and window tinting issues. No drunk drivers were identified.
The whole purpose of these checkpoints was originally to catch drunk drivers, no? I can't see where this gets called a success. They inconvenience nearly 2,000 drivers, seize dozens of vehicles over minor infractions (do they call a cab for you if they impound your vehicle, or do you walk?), and they can't even claim it was a success according to their original intent.

"We were only there for four hours and under 2,000 cars went through the checkpoint," Gardena Police Officer Carl Freeman told the Los Angeles Daily Breeze newspaper. "That means almost 2,000 drivers got educated."
Of course those drivers got educated you self-righteous pig with delusions of adequacy. They got educated as to abuses of power, they got educated as to what it feels like to hear "Papers, please" inside American borders, and they got educated as to abridgement of their God-given, Constitutionally-guaranteed rights. Mr. Freeman (irony there is strong, isn't it), should be tossed in prison, IN uniform.

The city yesterday received a $468,445 grant of state and federal gas tax money from the California Office of Traffic Safety to conduct additional DUI roadblocks.
State and federal gas tax money. So now I'M helping to pay for unconstitutional behavior by the NC police department. Beautiful. Do they have a 5 year plan for checkpoints as well?

In the city of Bakersfield, another 1300 motorists were subjected to a search at at Chester Avenue and 40th Street allowing police to collect 57 cars. The roadblock, funded by state and federal gas tax money, lasted from 7am to 1pm. Only one suspected drunk driver was identified.
Well, at least this one was a success. 6 hours, 1300 motorists' rights abridged, one drunk driving SUSPECT caught. Notice how the police were "allowed" to collect 57 cars. I don't think there was any deniable permitting going on there.