Three Items That Make Field Sobriety Checkpoints a PITA

[smokinghole]

Three things you should avoid having in your car when driving through a field sobriety checkpoint.
1. Beer, especially in your cup holders even if its not open (where else would I put two single bottles?!)
2. A gun in your car (I carry one for the same reason they do, to protect myself)
3. An automatic opening pocket knife you were issued by the military around 10 years ago (I use it at work)

With out the first one I probably wouldn't have had to get out of the car because I didn't have any beer before driving home from work. With out number two the field test would have been less nerve racking for me because they were freaked out that I had a license to carry a concealed firearm with a firearm in my vehicle. Then number three just had me worried because I know I'm not technically supposed to have it, but the cop didn't look at it closely to realize it was an auto.

Now I'm drinking a beer to calm my nerves a bit. I got all worked up because I know how over blown some cops can make situations especially when someone has a gun.....sheesh what a stupid night. The field sobriety check point is driving me to drink. Couple firsts in my life tonight though. That was my first field sobriety check point. It was my first field sobriety test, on a slanted parking lot no less! First time I got to play the breathalizer game too and I think I won, maybe lost not sure about this breathalizer game. At least I wasn't a contestant in the "lets get this man a blood alcohol test" game. That was the first time cops got all worked up because I had a gun on me. Also the first time a cop thought he smelled beer on my breath when it was in fact a Weaver's beef snack stick with cheddar cheese. I'm not sure what he was smelling but it wasn't beer. :scratchhe I will just assume that having beer in the car made them want to check me out.

 

[Hoshneer]

I hate checkpoints and in my opinion it is not right at all. The shit pisses me off.

 

[smokinghole]

I was pretty pissed and considered turning around but I know they also have chase cars for that very reason. They weren't looking for drunks they were trying to make drunks out of the people driving past.

 

[Hoshneer]

Some of the checkpoint videos on YouTube are interesting. They argue that it is against your rights.

 

[smokinghole]

I feel that it is a violation of rights. I was pulled out of my vehicle, frisked, field tested, and breathalized for eating smoked sausage snack sticks and having beer in my cup holders. I did, however, want to get home and not make a scene. I answered their questions directly in as few words as I could. As I was leaving I had to remind the one officer to return my knife. He says "what knife?". I said "the one you pulled out of my pocket and placed into your pocket when I was patted down".

In the name of public safety the federal, state and local governments have over stepped their bounds in so many ways it's crazy. I get trying to pull over drunk drivers, but a sobriety check point on fairly major highway in that region is a bit much. It sure is easier than being in a patrol car having to guess if a person's drunk when you're behind them in the cruiser.

 

[SmokeAndMirrors]

Have these things all the time around post...apparently kids in the army like to get drunk and drive around

 

[smokinghole]

I could make a fortune on deployment now. I can ferment anything almost. I know what to source yeast from, what is a good sugar source. G.O. #1 I don't need someone to send it, I can make it!

 

[CAJoe]

Those check points are no fun. They infringe on our rights. All it is is an attempt to entrap someone. Sure they may not get you on DUI but it gives the a chance to look inside your car as well. Unless there is an obvious reason to pull someone over they should not bother people with that.

 

[Zen Smoker222]

Those check points are no fun. They infringe on our rights. All it is is an attempt to entrap someone. Sure they may not get you on DUI but it gives the a chance to look inside your car as well. Unless there is an obvious reason to pull someone over they should not bother people with that.

I totally agree but I am just glad they don't do them where I live!

 

[Romulus Cogswell]

I guess I'll be the one to ask. Why would you transport ANY alcohol in your cup holders? That's certainly going to raise a red flag. Put it in the trunk.

 

[cvm4]

I guess I'll be the one to ask. Why would you transport ANY alcohol in your cup holders? That's certainly going to raise a red flag. Put it in the trunk.

If it's a single bottle or two, then a cupholder is the perfect spot for them. Compared to leaning them against the seat/floor and have the risk of them flying over the car incase a defensive maneuver should happen.


I'm not a fan of checkpoints. In our area, it's just a money grab for the local government if they catch a person not having an updated this or doing that wrong.

 

[smokinghole]

I guess I'll be the one to ask. Why would you transport ANY alcohol in your cup holders? That's certainly going to raise a red flag. Put it in the trunk.

It doesn't matter where I put the damn bottles as long as I'm not drunk and they're not open. I could have had it hanging around my neck for all it matters.

On a side note because I am a bit of a civil libertarian I will be contacting the department to find out what they will be doing with information I saw them recording off my drivers license. Considering I did nothing illegal I don't see a need for them to have record with my name, address, license number and so forth because the made me lift my feet and do the eyes closed nose touching thing.

 

[Highlander]

As a person that spent 7 days in intensive care, 3 more weeks in the hospital and 18 months to get fully recovered because a person with a .25 blood alcohol level decided to drive the wrong way on an interstate, I don't think there are enough check points.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mediumrarechicken]

We don't have checkpoints thank god. If I'm suspected of something pull me over. It's too easy for them to say ohhh I smell pot coming from your car even though there is a dead skunk up the road. They reach too far and try to bait you, and treat everyone like a criminal. They can set up a couple of unmarked cars on the side of a road and look at how the car is going down the road pulling over suspected drunk drivers.

 

[smokinghole]

Warning I'm about to sound like a dick. Some might say or think "it's easy to say that unless you walked in those shoes".

If I was shot by some thug want to be kid I wouldn't be asking all other gun owners have their right to bear arms screwed with in anyway. The person in this unlikely scenario will have been already breaking the law so what will more laws that affect those that already follow the law accomplish? I feel horrible that a drunk driver drove down the wrong side of the highway. Stupid people that aren't drunk do that on occasion as well. Are we going to remove someone's ability to drive based on intelligence? What if they were tired and been driving too long, a sleepy person will pass a field sobriety check point just fine. In fact I bet the sleepy persons wakes right the hell up when they see the checkpoint. However 10 miles down the road the droopy eyes will begin again. So what I'm getting at is accidents happen, sometimes horrible accidents happen. Sometimes its a drunk person, a sleepy person, a dumb person, or it's just purely an accident. Dangers in our life cannot be completely avoided so to what extent do I have to give up civil liberties, and my time so everyone else feels safe? For all I know they went through my whole vehicle (I'm sure they did) which is an unreasonable search in my eyes considering the circumstances. I personally feel this is a tactic for cops to make busts that they can't or wouldn't make otherwise, or even in some cases trying to find something to stick to get their statistics up. For example my father-in-law was at a checkpoint once and when asked for his registration he had to unbuckle to reach the glove box. When a supervising officer saw him without the belt on he started yelling "ticket for no belt" when the officer at the window was indicating otherwise. The supervising officer kept at it trying to get a ticket written for my father-in-law but luckily the young officer stood up to his supervisor.

I do not like being treated like a guilty drunk on the side of the road because I had beer in my car. Do they do the same thing to restaurant employees if pulled over for speeding with cases of liquor all over the car? I also know not officers are dickholes. I know plenty at the B&M and they are awesome guys and pretty awesome officers. It's a select few in law enforcement that make a bad name for others giving people like me extreme anxiety anytime I deal with law enforcement even if I've done nothing. The stigma I get of guilty until innocent and "well get him on something" makes my heart race.

 

[Romulus Cogswell]

You challenged the law and the law showed you who is the authority. Instead of putting beer out of sight in the trunk you decided to put it in a spot that would make someone suspicious at first glance. Yes, you only had 2 unopened beers but you've raised a red flag and now they're going to search for empties. I didn't read your rant and maybe I missed some valid points but people who like to walk the fine line and constantly challenge laws get no sympathy from me.

 

[YodisMatt]

people who like to walk the fine line and constantly challenge laws get no sympathy from me.

I agree with you on this, I shake my head at the people that constantly go out with their go pros attached to themselves and walk the fine line knowing they are going to ruffle the feathers of the policing force. Once they arrive on the scene they start yelling at the cops that their rights are being violated and all the police officer did was ask them a question. I know not every video goes this way but most of those filming don't want to give the chance to the officer to be peaceful and just find out what is going on, they have already per-judged the officer as being an oppressor and they get hostile with him first, which just escalates the situation.

I know its your right to have an non open beer in the open of your car BUT you know a check point is there to find DUI's so why not just put them on the floor board in a bag or back seat or something? You would have scooted right through the checkpoint and never had a bitter taste in your mouth.

Your scenario of restaurant employee speeding with cases of alcohol in their car is a bit out there as a restaurant would have a beer/liquor distributor deliver such goods. They have to go through those means because they pay different taxes on liquor being able to sell it to the public.

Now in your defense the beers were obviously not open and no other containers were in site that were open so I don't know if this gives them the right to search, also did they ask you if they could search your car? You could tell them no I do not give you the permission to search. I also would have handed them the receipt, told them hey just got off work, grab a few brews to have at home because I am out, see here is the purchase time of just a few minutes ago.

 

[jdwaynes1980]

You challenged the law and the law showed you who is the authority. Instead of putting beer out of sight in the trunk you decided to put it in a spot that would make someone suspicious at first glance. Yes, you only had 2 unopened beers but you've raised a red flag and now they're going to search for empties. I didn't read your rant and maybe I missed some valid points but people who like to walk the fine line and constantly challenge laws get no sympathy from me.

x2

Driving under the influence causes over $50 Billion each year in damage, and over 10,000 deaths each year; with at least 200 of which are children.

The minor inconvenience people feel is associated with a checkpoint is quite ridiculous to me.

The majority of these checkpoints are pretty quick, and routine as long as you don't give them a reason to want to take it further.

 

[YodisMatt]

The minor inconvenience people feel is associated with a checkpoint is quite ridiculous to me.

The majority of these checkpoints are pretty quick, and routine as long as you don't give them a reason to want to take it further.

Yeah, I have never been at a check point longer then maybe 2 mins due to getting through the line.

Also I remember a while back they had some checkpoints here that if you were sober and such you got a coupon for a free pizza, you bet I made it a purpose to go through the checkpoint.

 

[Hoshneer]

I can honestly say that I don't believe checkpoints are necessary. Unless a person is suspicious of doing something wrong they should be left alone. It would be easier and tax payers would spend less money if the police would just sit on the road and look for people that are driving erratic.

I was hit by a drunk driver when I was 18 and my car was completely totalled. That driver though would have easily been identified as a drunk if a police officer seen his car.

Its just my opinion but as an American I feel that the police have no business stopping me unless I am under suspicion. I believe this area is a slippery slope of my rights and it just plain shouldn't be happening. Not only this but it gives an officer an excuse to abuse those rights when he wasn't able to be here before.

I can guarantee that if I had my handgun on my seat I would of been asked to step out of my car as well. I know this because this has happened to me. Everyone here does have a valid opinion though and I do understand where they are coming from.