http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Nor...232438621.htmlSome drivers along a busy Fort Worth street on Friday were stopped at a police roadblock and directed into a parking lot, where they were asked by federal contractors for samples of their breath, saliva and even blood.
It was part of a government research study aimed at determining the number of drunken or drug-impaired drivers.
"It just doesn't seem right that you can be forced off the road when you're not doing anything wrong," said Kim Cope, who said she was on her lunch break when she was forced to pull over at the roadblock on Beach Street in North Fort Worth.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is spending $7.9 million on the survey over three years, said participation was "100 percent voluntary" and anonymous.
But Cope said it didn't feel voluntary to her -- despite signs saying it was.
"I gestured to the guy in front that I just wanted to go straight, but he wouldn't let me and forced me into a parking spot," she said.
Once parked, she couldn't believe what she was asked next.
"They were asking for cheek swabs," she said. "They would give $10 for that. Also, if you let them take your blood, they would pay you $50 for that."
At the very least, she said, they wanted to test her breath for alcohol.
She said she felt trapped.
"I finally did the Breathalyzer test just because I thought that would be the easiest way to leave," she said, adding she received no money.
Fort Worth police earlier said they could not immediately find any record of officer involvement but police spokesman Sgt. Kelly Peel said Tuesday that the department's Traffic Division coordinated with the NHTSA on the use of off-duty officers after the agency asked for help with the survey.
So even though they were offering to pay, it didn't feel voluntary?
were any arrests made?
"I gestured to the guy in front that I just wanted to go straight, but he wouldn't let me and forced me into a parking spot," she said.
Once parked, she couldn't believe what she was asked next.
Does that sound very voluntary?
doesn't matter. the roadblock was inappropriate, even more so if drivers were subsequently targeted for enforcement.
did anybody see what would have happened if a forcibly pulled over driver refused to participate?
btw, I'm pretty sure the cops had a license plate camera running all the time.
there are routine breathalyzer checkpoints in Australia where they wave every vehicle off the road. granted there are far less vehicles, but i've grown used to it.
sucks that they do it on sunday mornings to catch people who are hungover. that's pretty stupid.
I was just curious.
Here's an update:
yeah, it sounds more like a few off duty dumbass cops instead of a slick police department trap.Fort Worth police earlier said they could not immediately find any record of officer involvement but police spokesman Sgt. Kelly Peel said Tuesday that the department's Traffic Division coordinated with the NHTSA on the use of off-duty officers after the agency asked for help with the survey."We are reviewing the actions of all police personnel involved to ensure that FWPD policies and procedures were followed," he said. "We apologize if any of our drivers and citizens were offended or inconvenienced by the NHTSA National Roadside Survey."NBC DFW confirmed that the survey was done by a government contractor, the Pacific Ins ute for Research and Evaluation, which is based in Calverton, Md.A company spokeswoman referred questions to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.An agency spokeswoman sent an email confirming the government is conducting the surveys in 30 cities across the country in an effort to reduce impaired-driving accidents.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Nor...232438621.html
That chick still might have grounds for a lawsuit.
They do it in San Antonio too.
The test was voluntary, stupid.
Getting pulled over is a different matter.
It's an unlawful stop, they need probable cause to do that, that's all that matters.
I'm sure the govt would say it was just consensual and that the people could leave at any time. But all you got to do is look at New Mexico shooting to know what will happen if you try that when the police pull you over.
Pulled over on what legal grounds?
Huh? Never heard of a Sobriety Checkpoint in San Antonio, and my understanding is that Texas' interpretation of the US Cons ution makes these checkpoints illegal.
Ah yeah, you're right.
SAPD Deputy chief recently went to state legislature asking for permanent dwi checkpoints.
that's the question
ing commies
Drug tests by the state, a big no-no.
But if employers demand that you piss in a cup, is this also a baddie in libertarian-land?
Just wondering, for it seems that libertarians concern for freedom and personal liberty typically don't extend to the workplace.
the idea is that you choose to work for that employer, if you don't want to be drug tested you don't have to work there. it's not a cons utionally enumerated right to work at a particular employer, the right to travel without restriction however is.
Ahh yes, the idea of bourgeois "freedom."
i'm not debating one side or the other i'm explaining the idea to you since you asked the question
Where are Obama loving liberal koolaid drinkers on this ? This is happening under Barry's watch.
NSA reading your E-Mails and listing to your phone calls.
EPA wanting catalytic converters on your B-B-Q pits.
NHTSA road blocks to collect DNA samples for a data base for future fishing trips.
What is next, cholesterol roadblocks to see if you had a bacon cheeseburger for lunch.
Yup! this is the transparency they talked about ......
I feel safe now.....Nanny is in the house
move on nothing to see here....move on...move on
Last edited by Biernutz; 11-21-2013 at 01:34 AM.
Actually, its happening under Governor Goodhairs watch...but that doesn't make the punditry...
Is the NHTSA run by the state of Texas? Last time I look it
was the Feds. It was a DWI survey on Friday at lunch time?
By a NHTSA contractor with Police departments not knowing
anything about this?
http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/...-DNA/232447441
Last edited by Biernutz; 11-21-2013 at 02:08 AM.
Obama is the president. It's his fault. Blame him now.
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