North Texas Drivers Stopped at Roadblock Asked for Saliva, Blood
Fort Worth police apologize for its role in federal survey
By Scott Gordon | Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013*all emphasis added
Fort Worth police initially said they could not immediately find any record of their officers being involved in the roadblock, but on Tuesday police spokesman Sgt. Kelly Peel said 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.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/loc…
Blood, spit and cops: Nationwide drug roadblocks raise eyebrows
By Matt Smith, CNN
updated 12:10 PM EDT, Wed June 19, 2013(CNN) — The roadblocks went up on a Friday at several points in two Alabama towns, about 40 miles on either side of Birmingham.
For the next two days, off-duty sheriff’s deputies in St. Clair County[..]flagged down motorists and steered them toward federal highway safety researchers. The researchers[..]asked them for breath, saliva and blood samples — offering them $10 for saliva and $50 to give blood.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/19/…
Yes, I know, it’s Texas – the most recent offender – and we do things differently here. But wait – surprise! Alabama is in on it also & yes we do things differently than them too. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not Texas or Alabama — its the Feds.
This is a shocker — however I was surprised to learn:
It’s not just in Alabama. The roadblocks are part of a national study led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is trying to determine how many drivers are on the road with drugs or alcohol in their systems. Similar roadblocks will be erected in dozens of communities across the nation this year, according to the agency.
It’s been going on for decades. Previous surveys date to the 1970s. The last one was run in 2007, and it included the collection of blood and saliva samples without apparent controversy, sheriff’s spokesmen in both Alabama counties said.
But this time, it’s happening as the Obama administration struggles to explain revelations that U.S. spy organizations have been tracking phone and Internet traffic. Against that backdrop, the NHTSA-backed roadblocks have led to complaints in Alabama about an intrusive federal government.
Personally I do not think what is taking place in the here & now has been going on for decades or we would have known about it. What I believe has been going on is the instituion of the random stopping of motorists at “roadblocks” & “checkpoints”. Nonetheless, it is clearly unconstitutional to stop or detain anyone without probable cause. I have heard even the so-called roadblocks & checkpoints are also, however the police are likely to stay under the radar of public outcry by doing it around holidays under the guise of “safety” which is still unnecessary as anyone showing signs of impairment can be stopped which is clearly probable cause.
Although I see this as a vast overreach of the federal government in particular as well as police in general, apparently because it’s supposedly “voluntary” they are able to sidestep this issue. And in the stories used for this diary some reported feeling that it wasn’t voluntary & also feeling coerced:
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.
Looks like we are being conditioned to accept a police state where the question for questioning is “what do you have to hide”, rather than the real issue here: “what & why do you need to know”.
This represents nothing more than tyranny & is clear evidence of fascism.
“There are many ways that aspects of authoritarianism can creep into everyday society. Like the anecdote of the frog in the pot of boiling water; At first the small changes in water temperature seem moderate, and hardly noticeable. The danger is realized only after the frog experiences the heat that wasn’t apparent at the beginning – and by then it’s often too late, and it’s been boiled to death.”
Good one! Yes, the Rich and Powerful need INFORMATION! IN-FOR-MA-TION! “Where am I?” You’re in the VILLAGE.” “Who’s side are you on?” “That would be telling.”
Easier to control an entire populace if you have all the ‘data’ on everyone. Who to go after first, etc. Also keeps the people on edge and in fear of everyday life–less inclined to come out and do political action.
Ya know, stardust (and Sue) WalMarts during Xmas shopping would be the perfect venue for ‘collecting data’:
“Before I give you your change, can you go to the Courtesy Counter and fill out our questionnaire. In blood, please. You’ll get a coupon on our new Travel-Size DNA Swab & Blood Sample Kit, and when you show the Police you have one, they’ll give you a coupon for a camping trip at Lake Fema.”
“Oh boy, cool. If I come back with more shit I want to buy, can I get two coupons?”
You will love this one- the perception of intimidation taken to the next level:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…
Used military stuff formerly sat in front of the VFW, but now these 36,000 pound 5 miles per gallon, armored with machine gun turrets and anti landmine/IED resistant, fully equipped crowd pleasers will be joining the battering ram equipped trucks that were just “gifted” to the State Police. Civilian conversion is NOT free.
Do we really want to go there, or are already there? Who decides?