Murfreesboro Roadblock off 840

[Kenstaroni]

So I was on my way back to the Boro this evening, got off 840 onto Broad and looked up and saw a half a dozen troopers about 1/2 mile ahead. I thought it might a wreck, but with no sign of fire or rescue it didn't take long to figure out it was a roadblock. I waited patiently as cars were looked over one by one, many receiving visual inspections with flashlights running through front and back seats, ect. I pull up, officer asks for my drivers license..I hand him my license and permit. He takes a quick look and says "that will do, have a good night.". No flashlights, no fuss. I went through faster than anyone I saw.

I wanted to post this as I do appreciate the courtesy given to permit holders by most law enforcement, at least that has been my experience so far. I do however think road blocks and other forced interaction with law enforcement are unconstitutional and although they serve a purpose are just horsesh*t.

[Guest Chattanoogan]

I do however think road blocks and other forced interaction with law enforcement are unconstitutional and although they serve a purpose are just horsesh*t.

Whats horse sh*t is when your friends dad gets killed in a head on collision by a drunk driver.

Maybe if the drunk had of drove up on a road block, my friends dad would still be alive.

[Kenstaroni]

You may be right, but you missed the point.

[Guest nysos]

You may be right, but you missed the point.

The reason they can justify it, is because there is mostly no bias. If they interact with everyone, then the person they find something on (illegal weapon, drugs, driving drunk, etc.) can't argue that they were singled out. I personally don't care about the roadblocks as long as common sense and courtesy is shown by the LE, and also that they do their best to keep things moving so people aren't greatly delayed.

[Fallguy]

I'm pretty sure had you just shown your DL you would have been waived through just the same.

The courts have ruled that notice of roadblocks must be given to the public...newspaper, radio etc... that gives you the opportunity to avoid them if you like.

[Fallguy]

I'm pretty sure had you just shown your DL you would have been waived through just the same.

The courts have ruled that notice of roadblocks must be given to the public...newspaper, radio etc... that gives you the opportunity to avoid them if you like.

Local briefs: THP plans roadblock; DAR to hold free genealogy session; Chili supper planned; Facing Future Choices conference set | The Jackson Sun | jacksonsun.com

[JayC]

Whats horse sh*t is when your friends dad gets killed in a head on collision by a drunk driver.

Maybe if the drunk had of drove up on a road block, my friends dad would still be alive.

Then sit outside the bars at 3am and take care of the problem

It's not like the cops don't know where the drunks are starting out from 95% of the time.

And no offense but you're family members life isn't as important to me as my God given rights not to be stopped and asked questions on the side of the road without any probably cause that I've committed a crime.

[Guest kirkosaurus]

Whats horse sh*t is when your friends dad gets killed in a head on collision by a drunk driver.

Maybe if the drunk had of drove up on a road block, my friends dad would still be alive.

So I guess having your rights violated is OK as long as there is a fraction of a chance it might save someone?

[-Bristol-]

Ah Yes, the ever inconvient road block. Kind of like stop signs and speed limits. I hate being told what to do while I'm on the road.

But seriously, I don't mind 'em. I don't find "right to drive" in the constitution. I think of it as a privilege I qualify for. And I hope when I'm 85 amd half blind I no longer qualify. I hope they take my privilege so I don't kill someone. Same for those people who loose their privilege due to DUI, but somehow those people continue on the road thinking it is their right to drive regardless.

[BlackHawk93]

Ah Yes, the ever inconvient road block. Kind of like stop signs and speed limits. I hate being told what to do while I'm on the road.

But seriously, I don't mind 'em. I don't find "right to drive" in the constitution. I think of it as a privilege I qualify for. And I hope when I'm 85 amd half blind I no longer qualify. I hope they take my privilege so I don't kill someone. Same for those people who loose their privilege due to DUI, but somehow those people continue on the road thinking it is their right to drive regardless.

+1 I fly many of the injured motorists who are victims of being hit by these DUI offenders to the trauma unit and it is really sad. Alcohol is responsible for alot of vehicular accidents in this state and around the nation. But you are also right when it comes to getting old and not realizing that you have become impaired by age. It's a sad fact of life. I, too, hope I am not allowed to drive if I live to be that old.

[Guest msparks]

Alcohol is responsible for alot of vehicular accidents in this state and around the nation.

And a road block is helping the problem how, besides violating innocent free peoples rights to travel without being accosted? It's another feel good BS plan just like the TSA crap.

---Papers Please (Said in a German Accent)

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

And no offense but you're family members life isn't as important to me as my God given rights not to be stopped and asked questions on the side of the road without any probably cause that I've committed a crime.

Since when is that a God given right? I don't think He has much to say on the subject of probable cause.

[Guest kirkosaurus]

Since when is that a God given right?

Ever heard of the 4th ammendment?

[Guest Chattanoogan]

Ive been thru many road blocks, never once has it been a burden to me. Never once did I feel violated. I rest easy knowing that they "will" catch people who are DUI, or have warrants.

Local police here got a tip somebody was going to be passing thru here, they set up a roadblock and nabbed him.

Driving is privilege, not a right.

If you feel violated by road blocks, turn around next time you see one, then see how violated you are. :-)

[Guest PapaB]

Ive been thru many road blocks, never once has it been a burden to me. Never once did I feel violated. I rest easy knowing that they "will" catch people who are DUI, or have warrants.

Local police here got a tip somebody was going to be passing thru here, they set up a roadblock and nabbed him.

Driving is privilege, not a right.

If you feel violated by road blocks, turn around next time you see one, then see how violated you are. :-)

+1

[bajabuc]

[h=3]Motor vehicle[/h]Main article: Motor vehicle exception

The Supreme Court also held that individuals in automobiles have a reduced expectation of privacy, because vehicles generally do not serve as residences or repositories of personal effects. Vehicles may not be randomly stopped and searched; there must be probable cause or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Items in "plain view" may be seized; areas that could potentially hide weapons may also be searched. With probable cause, police officers may search any area in the vehicle. However, they may not extend the search to the vehicle's passengers without probable cause to search those passengers or consent from the passenger(s) to search their persons or effects.

In Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. ___ (2009), the Supreme Court ruled that a law enforcement officer needs a warrant before searching a motor vehicle after an arrest of an occupant of that vehicle, unless at the time of the search the person being arrested is unsecured and within reaching distance of the passenger compartment of the vehicle or police officers have reason to believe that the evidence for the crime for which the person is being arrested will be found in the vehicle.^[66]

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

Ever heard of the 4th ammendment?

Did God write the Constitution?

[NRA]

And no offense but you're family members life isn't as important to me as my God given rights not to be stopped and asked questions on the side of the road without any probably cause that I've committed a crime.

I think you win the cold hearted award with this comment

[Guest nysos]

As said before, driving is a privilege - not a right. My step mom was widowed before she married my father, they were our neighbors and friends of my father from high school. Her husband was killed in a head on collision. In my opinion driving laws are too lenient, there are many people that should not be allowed on the road but are. In order to drive, we have to obey the rules of the road. We don't own the roads, the state does. Yes we pay for them in the form of taxes (because we use them), but that doesn't mean we get to decide what we can and can't do on them. Now if at the roadblock, everyone is asked to exit their vehicle for a pat down & vehicle search - I would have to agree with you, but that is not the case. They are either looking for a wanted felon, or someone driving under the influence. If you don't want to get asked "license please, where you coming from? where you going? have a nice night" then start walking.

Maybe if more licenses were revoked for DUI then public transportation might be more popular and worth investing in by the state and city governments.

And no offense but you're family members life isn't as important to me as my God given rights not to be stopped and asked questions on the side of the road without any probably cause that I've committed a crime.

I would like to know the list of all the "god given rights" that you are entitled to, because I assure you - driving a car in itself isn't one of them. And don't mistake the "land of the free" for "I get to do whatever the hell I want". It means we are given the opportunity to make the best of our lives, the harder you work the more you can benefit.

Edited November 1, 2011 by nysos

[Fallguy]

"We don't own the roads, the state does." (borrowed for use, post not directed specifically toward anyone)

Well who is the state but us? Although it has become this way...the government isn't supposed to be some omnipotent entity that controls and rules over the citizens. It is supposed to be made up by citizens and for the citizens.

I don't think most are saying they have a right to drive as much as they have a right to be free from Law Enforcement interaction without there being some reason to suspect them of criminal activity.

I also don't think anyone is condoning drunk driving or any other dangerous or illegal activity.

[JayC]

Since when is that a God given right? I don't think He has much to say on the subject of probable cause.

Umm the 4th Amendment? The 5th? My God given right to travel between places without being stopped and ask for permission?

So if I get on the roads and start driving a horse drawn carriage and they stop me at a roadblock it's a violation (since they had carriages back then) but not because I'm driving a new bit of technology? The founding fathers were aware of the issues with drinking, and performing other tasks, such as driving a carriage through town and playing with firearms.

The problems haven't really changed all that much in 230 years, only our inability to deal with the fact that humans are fragile and get killed, and that we should bring the party responsible to justice.

This entire drunk driving business has gotten way out of hand (and no I don't drink at all):

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/07/woman_in_wheelchair_charged_wi.html

They're charging a woman with DUI for driving around in a wheelchair in a MOTOR home park on private property. Now exactly how is she going to kill anybody in a 4 mph wheel chair? A real 'risk' to humanity right there.

We live in a police state, and it doesn't make us any safer, it makes us less safe, our founding fathers knew that.

[JayC]

Wow, lets see how bad this idea is...

First we do have a God given right to travel freely. Second, driving is a mode of travel, and we've all been tricked into giving them 'Government' the ability to treat it as some privilege instead of the right it was treated as for hundreds of years. Third, if mass transit makes sense then a private business should do it, not have our tax dollars go to waste funding it.

We own the roads, we are the sovereigns of this state. And how exactly are our driving laws way too lenient? Any simpleton can be taught how to drive, the VAST majority of the people on this forum received little or no professional training when learning how to drive a car, and probably spent less than 10 minutes in a vehicle with a state examiner when getting their license. Yet we drive everyday without killing anybody, I don't see how unsafe the current system is.

Finally, I was born a free man, my own sovereign, with free will from my creator. I have the God given right to do what ever when ever I want as long as I do not cause physical damage to you, our family, or your property, and do not steal or commit fraud against you. Everything else is a violation on me as a free human.

BTW, this was the vision our 3rd President saw for this country, not what we have today.

As said before, driving is a privilege - not a right. My step mom was widowed before she married my father, they were our neighbors and friends of my father from high school. Her husband was killed in a head on collision. In my opinion driving laws are too lenient, there are many people that should not be allowed on the road but are. In order to drive, we have to obey the rules of the road. We don't own the roads, the state does. Yes we pay for them in the form of taxes (because we use them), but that doesn't mean we get to decide what we can and can't do on them. Now if at the roadblock, everyone is asked to exit their vehicle for a pat down & vehicle search - I would have to agree with you, but that is not the case. They are either looking for a wanted felon, or someone driving under the influence. If you don't want to get asked "license please, where you coming from? where you going? have a nice night" then start walking.

Maybe if more licenses were revoked for DUI then public transportation might be more popular and worth investing in by the state and city governments.

I would like to know the list of all the "god given rights" that you are entitled to, because I assure you - driving a car in itself isn't one of them. And don't mistake the "land of the free" for "I get to do whatever the hell I want". It means we are given the opportunity to make the best of our lives, the harder you work the more you can benefit.

Edited November 1, 2011 by JayC

[Guest msparks]

First we do have a God given right to travel freely. Second, driving is a mode of travel, and we've all been tricked into giving them 'Government' the ability to treat it as some privilege instead of the right it was treated as for hundreds of years. Third, if mass transit makes sense then a private business should do it, not have our tax dollars go to waste funding it.

We own the roads, we are the sovereigns of this state. And how exactly are our driving laws way too lenient? Any simpleton can be taught how to drive, the VAST majority of the people on this forum received little or no professional training when learning how to drive a car, and probably spent less than 10 minutes in a vehicle with a state examiner when getting their license. Yet we drive everyday without killing anybody, I don't see how unsafe the current system is.

Finally, I was born a free man, my own sovereign, with free will from my creator. I have the God given right to do what ever when ever I want as long as I do not cause physical damage to you, our family, or your property, and do not steal or commit fraud against you. Everything else is a violation on me as a free human.

BTW, this was the vision our 3rd President saw for this country, not what we have today.

+1

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

Umm the 4th Amendment? The 5th? My God given right to travel between places without being stopped and ask for permission?

Again, God did not write the Constitution. I don't think "the 4th Amendment" or even the "5th" are really relevant to my inquiry.

[Guest kirkosaurus]

Again, God did not write the Constitution. I don't think "the 4th Amendment" or even the "5th" are really relevant to my inquiry.

I'm wondering if you've ever read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution? No, God didn't write the Constitution, the Constitution was written to protect those God given rights that are already there.