Random Saliva Tests in DFW (This Has me FUMING)

[Kennydale]

North Texas Drivers Stopped at Roadblock Asked for Saliva, Blood | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

 

[Rhino]

...the survey was done by a government contractor, the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, which is based in Calverton, Md.

Does that sound strange to anyone else? The tests were voluntary. The problem was the way they harassed these people in an attempt to get them to participate.

 

[telpinaro]

Passive collection prior to consent? Are they insane? That kind of erases the voluntary aspect when they were forced to pull over.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I thought Texas was always held up as some bastion of freedom? Sounds like they are becoming just as much bastards of freedom as most of the rest of the US is. No state should allow the Federal government to do this. No state should allow the Federal government to harass the citizens for doing nothing more than living peaceful, law abiding lives.

 

[Peggy Reist]

I never really understood, did they take down all the people's information? For a DNA database? And how exactly is it going to reduce impaired driving accidents?

 

[wolf_fire]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, if anyone is actually serious about ending drinking and driving, it's incredibly simple to do and it doesn't involve stopping innocent citizens and randomly testing them like this story and like DUI checkpoints.

Here it goes: Get the county sheriff to train and deputize about 200 persons for a weekend sting. Have them patrol the bars in the county in civvies around closing time. If they see a drunk person get in a car, radio it in and inform them the license plate and a description of the driver. Pull that person over and deal with only the drunk. You do this 2 or 3 times people will start bringing designated drivers with them.

 

[BC1]

No habla.

 

[telpinaro]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, if anyone is actually serious about ending drinking and driving, it's incredibly simple to do and it doesn't involve stopping innocent citizens and randomly testing them like this story and like DUI checkpoints.

Here it goes: Get the county sheriff to train and deputize about 200 persons for a weekend sting. Have them patrol the bars in the county in civvies around closing time. If they see a drunk person get in a car, radio it in and inform them the license plate and a description of the driver. Pull that person over and deal with only the drunk. You do this 2 or 3 times people will start bringing designated drivers with them.

And that designated driver will probably be me... How do you shake that job?? It's not that I want to drink... I just get tired of babysitting drunk people!

 

[dogshawred]

If this being done with the cooperation of FWPD they can take your information with a breathalyzer test and add that to all the other data taken at that time. I just can't see how DNA samples will deter impaired drivers from driving. DNA is their goal everything else is just window dressing to accomplish their goal. Keep asking if you are being detained and demanding the presence of a warrant before a search.

 

[Johnny Dollar]

I'd sit in that parking lot all day long before I'd consent to that

 

[Rhino]

I never really understood, did they take down all the people's information? For a DNA database? And how exactly is it going to reduce impaired driving accidents?

No, they weren't taking names. I'm not sure how this was going to be used, but there was a much easier way to do this without bothering people. All they had to do was put up a sign that said "WE'RE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. PLEASE SPIT AT US AS YOU DRIVE BY". I'm certain they would have had no problem whatsoever getting enough saliva samples, in Texas or in any other state.

 

[mappow]

As abuses of the 2nd Amendment has prevailed so does the 4th. The rapping of the COTUS continues. All in the name of "For the greater good of all". Screw the individual that the Bill of Rights protects.

 

[Kennydale]

I never really understood, did they take down all the people's information? For a DNA database? And how exactly is it going to reduce impaired driving accidents?

It's all about control not safety. Take red light Cameras, it's all bout the money it generates not safety.

 

[Nightmare45]

Block traffic, they are, and do not submit.

 

[XD40scinNC]

Two statements:

Am I being detained?

Am I free to leave?

Say nothing else, repeat for every question, statement or demand they make.

 

[buckey01]

At one time most people trusted and respected police. Now most are just afraid and intimidated by them. The local police involved in this incident, although off duty, were in uniform. Even if people were told that the tests were voluntary, the intimidation factor worked to get people to provide samples. If martial law was ever declared this incident gives you a hint of how easily people willh abdicate their rights. New Orleans and Boston were also dry runs for the comming tyranny.

We not only are losing more individual liberty with every incident like this; we are being trained to submit to authority. With most of our population becoming sheep, we are getting very close to tyranny. I would never submit to this type of violation without a warrant or arrest, but I think that we all know that a large majority will. I don't drink or use any illegal substances, but I will not give up my rights. If forced I will not passively accept it, and I certainly would take legal action.

 

[Gallstones]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, if anyone is actually serious about ending drinking and driving, it's incredibly simple to do and it doesn't involve stopping innocent citizens and randomly testing them like this story and like DUI checkpoints.

Here it goes: Get the county sheriff to train and deputize about 200 persons for a weekend sting. Have them patrol the bars in the county in civvies around closing time. If they see a drunk person get in a car, radio it in and inform them the license plate and a description of the driver. Pull that person over and deal with only the drunk. You do this 2 or 3 times people will start bringing designated drivers with them.

I've entertained this idea for several years.
What I am unsure of is whether it would provide probable cause for pulling them over.

It would have near zero affect on alcoholics though.

 

[wolf_fire]

I've entertained this idea for several years.
What I am unsure of is whether it would provide probable cause for pulling them over.

It would have near zero affect on alcoholics though.

You have to be kidding me right? You wonder if a sworn deputy witnessing a stumbling drunk get into a car and drive off would be probably cause for another deputy in a car to pull that drunk over?

Yet with our current system, we herd everyone, regardless of probable cause, and funnel them into a DUI checkpoint to stop them all and the courts have no problem with this.

And it would have an effect on alcoholics. If those who chose to drink in a bar, rather than at home started getting more and more DUI's they would be off the street. You won't cure alcoholism, but you may cure them driving while high.

 

[Nightmare45]

So you have no problem with me pointing you out in a crowd to a police office, boy I sure do, none of your or their business. I have no problem with stopping weaving drivers and verifying their condition to drive, but everyone, is a different ball game, maybe they should stop you and your family going to the movie (just in case).

 

[wolf_fire]

So you have no problem with me pointing you out in a crowd to a police office, boy I sure do, none of your or their business. I have no problem with stopping weaving drivers and verifying their condition to drive, but everyone, is a different ball game, maybe they should stop you and your family going to the movie (just in case).

If you were directing that question to me, then you have taken me out of context. Refer back to my original post (#6) where I mentioned deputizing about 200 deputies and have them stand around bars at closing time. If they witness a stumbling drunk get into the driver's seat of a car, then radio them in with their license plate to a deputy in a squad car. This was my idea to stop drunk driving if anyone was ever interested in doing so. It's obvious no one is interested in doing it, but they'd rather stop ALL people on a certain street or thoroughfare at a DUI checkpoint and violate everyone's rights.

If a deputy stationed at a bar around closing time sees an obvious drunk get into a car, I have no problem with that person pointing them out. I'd rather stop them sooner than later while drunk driving. Once they are already on the road weaving, then it would take someone to report that person and a squad car to get them off the street. If you have a deputy report them when they leave the bar, they won't be on the street long.