Checkpoints - Constitutional or Not?

I am a Law and Order guy. Most people reading this site are Law and Order people. In fact, I love Law and Order the television series, ha ha. But one thing I have a problem accepting are law enforcement checkpoints. I have seen these checkpoints set up to stop motorists and ask to see driver's license, insurance and vehicle registration and truth be told these checkpoints net many drunk driver's which of course is in the public's best safety interest,...but is it in the best interests of Constitutional rights?.

I have been taught and I also believe that law enforcement has to have a reason to make a stop, temporary and non-invasive as it may be. The reason for a stop can be "reasonable suspicion" the lowest standard possible where an law enforcement officer believes that the person he is stopping is engaged in or has just completed a criminal act. The officer's beliefs must be based on articulate facts not just "mere suspicion".

"Probable Cause" is a reason for a stop when the officer has seen a crime or violation being committed. This is the reason you are stopped when speeding,...the officer using a Doppler or Lidar radar gun clocks you at over the posted speed limit - hence the probable cause that a violation is or has been committed. Same thing when your tail or brake lights are out,...proof or probable cause that a violation has been committed.

I just think that vehicle checkpoints are unconstitutional, before there is no reason that you are being stopped, except to go fishing for a violation or for someone who is hot on warrants. I beliefs been "over ruled" of course by the courts who think that for the public good, a short non-invasive stop is in the public's best interests,.....all while Mexican trucks come through the ports of entry as a safety hazard with driver's and vehicles who do not get the regulated training and standards over sight.

While the below video is a set up for law enforcement, but I cannot help but think the Officer is thinking "Give me your DL or ID, I want to run you and see if you come up hot for warrants."

A local lawyer told me that lawyers who argue the constitutionality of a vehicle checkpoint stop resulting in an arrest, more often than not, get the charge reduced or dismissed. Perhaps there are some Constitutional loving judges out there?

From YouTube: In the video below, Teacher Abbie Newman was arrested for not submitting to an unconstitutional, random checkpoint. Narration by Alex Jones. This is of course a planned setup on law enforcement.

Spring Reading List 2012

I am urging everyone to become educated about the U.S. Constitution and the electoral process. Vote! Get someone else interested as well. In fact, get a dozen. In my mind an individual loses the "right" or at least the credibility to complain when they do not do anything to fix the problem. And as we as well know, the problem is Obama, his Administration, his leftist-socialist views, and his path to destruction of the American Way of Life which is grounded in individual rights and responsibilities, freedom to pursue happiness and a capitalist economic system based on the fundamentals of supply-demand-innovation-and initiative as opposed to an Federal Government run entitlement system which seeks to enslave people by making them dependent upon government handouts.

This is my Spring Reading List leading up to the Republican Convention and to be honest I'm sure it'll take me way past Spring to read that......... 

King Obama

During a televised meet with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, on Monday 26 March, President Obama said that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with controversial issues such as missile defense, but incoming Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to give him “space.” What Obama didn't realize was that his microphone was on, transmitting and recorded by the media.


The Conversation:

President Obama: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it’s important for him to give me space."

President Medvedev: "Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you."

Obama: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."

Medvedev: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir."

Deputy National Security Adviser for strategic communications, Ben Rhodes, explained in circles trying to negate the damage down by Obbama exposing his arrogance, saying words to the effect that "there is room for the U.S. and Russia to reach an accommodation, but there is a lot of rhetoric around this issue in both countries."

Another idiot from the Administration was reported by ABC news as saying "This is a political year in which the Russians just had an election, we’re about to have a presidential and congressional elections — this is not the kind of year in which we’re going to resolve incredibly complicated issue like this. So there’s an advantage to pulling back and letting the technical experts work on this as the president has been saying.”

Maybe Obama did know the microphone was on,...maybe he just can't help boast about his belief that he will be elected again. Maybe there is another plan all together. And all this from a President who believes he can act without Congress.