Checkpoint News You Can Use (in Fort Lauderdale)

Katherine Mangu-Ward | September 28, 2009

The Sun-Sentinel reports:

FORT LAUDERDALE - Police will conduct a commercial vehicle checkpoint Tuesday. The checkpoint will be from 7 to 11 a.m. on the 900 block of West State Road 84. Vehicles will be randomly chosen and drivers will be asked for valid paperwork and driver's licenses.

And here's the kicker:

No delays are expected.

Tipster Andrew Mayne says it best: "Now that's what I call optimistic.  Will they be doing these checks while driving alongside cars and having paperwork handed to them through open windows?"

More on checkpoints here and here.

Comments

|9.28.09 @ 3:17PM|#

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

RIP Fourth.

John Tagliaferro|9.28.09 @ 3:19PM|#

If the cops just had magic unicorns to ride it would have worked without causing delays. Someone in congress submit a bill!

|9.28.09 @ 3:19PM|#

What are they checking for? Nukes?

Naga Sadow|9.28.09 @ 3:22PM|#

Pro Lib,

Brown people.

|9.28.09 @ 3:23PM|#

Oh, right. My mistake.

John Tagliaferro|9.28.09 @ 3:26PM|#

NS,

That was racist.

Naga Sadow|9.28.09 @ 3:40PM|#

John T.

A bit. It was an observation on police definition of "randomly chosen" not a statement on brown people.

|9.28.09 @ 3:41PM|#

The checkpoint will be from 7 to 11 a.m. on the 900 block of West State Road 84.

Anyone want to bet there is some kind of donut outlet on that block?

|9.28.09 @ 3:49PM|#

The photo above brings back memories of th "freedom" I had to travel inside my country, Mexico, with a roadblock almost every 100 miles on the busiest interstate in Mexico, with oh-so amicable and peaceful looking government thugs we called (with a weird sense of humor) "police officers."

People here in the States also have a weird sense of humor about THEIR tax-fed thugs.

|9.28.09 @ 4:01PM|#

Anyone want to bet there is some kind of donut outlet on that block?

RC Dean, I kid you not:

Dunkin' Donuts
901 W State Rd 84
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33315

|9.28.09 @ 4:21PM|#

[East German accent] Your papers, please, via Bluetooth.

|9.28.09 @ 4:25PM|#

Dunkin' Donuts
901 W State Rd 84

I knew it!

Well, at least now we know what the cops were talking about when they said there wouldn't be any delays.

|9.28.09 @ 4:39PM|#

Somehow, I doubt the photo was taken in Ft. Lauderdale... Mainly because there are no hills in FL, and that is CLEARLY a hill in the background. Additionally, that block of W State Rd 84 in Ft. Lauderdale is populated with buildings (including the Dunkin Donuts). The picture was, however, quite humorous. :)

|9.28.09 @ 4:44PM|#

RC, that's funny. We'll soon find out that they were really looking for the guy who took the last jelly-filled.

They called it a commerical check point, don't that mean non-commercial traffic can say no thanks.

|9.28.09 @ 4:44PM|#

There is at least one hill outside of Ft. Lauderdale. I saw it when I went there on the turnpike. It smelled like freedom.

Jeff P|9.28.09 @ 4:58PM|#

It's gotten to the point when traffic backs up I actually think "I hope this is a rights-violating checkpoint, cuz if it's a fireman asking me to fill the boot someone's getting hurt."

Paul|9.28.09 @ 5:16PM|#

RIP Fourth.

Exhumed, shot, and reburied.

Rich|9.28.09 @ 5:17PM|#

I wonder whether homeless people will also be cleaning windshields during this. Prob'ly not.

Ewww that smell|9.28.09 @ 5:19PM|#

Lamar | September 28, 2009, 4:44pm | #

There is at least one hill outside of Ft. Lauderdale. I saw it when I went there on the turnpike. It smelled like freedom.

That would be Garbage Mountain, our prized landfill. Highest point in South Florida.

Paul|9.28.09 @ 5:19PM|#

Somehow, I doubt the photo was taken in Ft. Lauderdale... Mainly because there are no hills in FL, and that is CLEARLY a hill in the background.

Given the terrain, it looks like it could be New Mexico, possibly Arizona. Plus, note the lack of front license plate. Not sure about AZ, but NM requires no front license plate.

Paul|9.28.09 @ 5:20PM|#

I wonder whether homeless people will also be cleaning windshields during this. Prob'ly not.

The cops should fucking be doing it. Papers please? Fuck you, bitch, you missed a spot!

Paul|9.28.09 @ 5:23PM|#

That would be Garbage Mountain, our prized landfill.

A.K.A. Tampa.

I'm here all week.

phil the boot|9.28.09 @ 5:47PM|#

if it's a fireman asking me to fill the boot someone's getting hurt

God I hate those things; like highwaymen shaking you down. I swear next time I get stuck in a fill-the-boot backup I'm going to fill it with all the garbage collecting on the floor of the backseat.

And speaking of shakedowns I despise, that damn Safeway "round it up to the nearest dollar for charity" makes me avoid them whenever possible. They ask if you want to round up the price of whatever you're buying to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to charity. I always say, "how about instead of that we round the price down to the nearest dollar and you donate the difference to charity?" After all, Safeway's pockets are a lot deeper than mine and if they can't be bothered to part with that 50 cents, what makes them think I should do it?

|9.28.09 @ 5:50PM|#

commercial vehicle checkpoint

KMW, did you read the emboldened word? Do you understand what it means? I suppose you oppose weigh stations for heavy trucks on the highway, too, on the basis of the 4th.

Now that's what I call optimistic. Will they be doing these checks while driving alongside cars and having paperwork handed to them through open windows?

They mean the people who are not selected to be checked won't experience delays, silly. And yes, this is possible, as happens at interstate highway weigh stations every day. If the road is more than one lane in each direction, it's pretty easy to do actually.

Of course, the average H&R reader is already so wedded to the idea that the government is coming for their guns/ferrets/dildos that they don't even think critically about what's being posted.

|9.28.09 @ 5:52PM|#

ah, yes, there are hills in Florida. Ever take a ride through the horse country?

|9.28.09 @ 5:57PM|#

I always say, "how about instead of that we round the price down to the nearest dollar and you donate the difference to charity?" After all, Safeway's pockets are a lot deeper than mine and if they can't be bothered to part with that 50 cents, what makes them think I should do it?

If they round the price down, they're losing both the money they're not charging you and the money they're donating. Also, if they part with that 50c (which would actually be $1) for you, they'll have to part with it for the other thousand people who walk in the door that day too...

|9.28.09 @ 5:58PM|#

Paul,

Are you serious? Tampa's eighty times better than the parking lot that is Southeastern Florida.

|9.28.09 @ 6:02PM|#

Tulpa-

Please. Commercial, sclommercial. I hope you have not bought the false dichotomy of rights propaganda.

Oh, it would be so horrible if we didn't let our brave peace officers do their jobs. If they couldn't stop those big, bad, awful 18 wheelers, our national highway system would fall apart. Horrors of horrors.

|9.28.09 @ 6:04PM|#

Tulpa-

Its called liberty of travel. It is not subject to state regultations, "reasonable" or otherwise.

phil the boot|9.28.09 @ 6:11PM|#

If they round the price down, they're losing both the money they're not charging you and the money they're donating. Also, if they part with that 50c (which would actually be $1)

Huh? What are you talking about? Let's say the price is $10.50. They want to charge me $11 and give $0.50 to charity. I say, round the price down to $10 (from Safeway's perspective), charge me $10.50, and give that same $0.50 to charity. It's the same 50 cents - just in one case it comes out of my pocket and in the other it comes of of Safeway's.

Also, if they part with that 50c (which would actually be $1) for you, they'll have to part with it for the other thousand people who walk in the door that day too...

Yes, and Safeway is far more than 1000 times richer than myself and most of the other people that come through the door too.

And at any rate, my point stands on its own - they ask you in front of everyone to pressure you (they could just put up a sign with the offer and let you volunteer) to part with a few cents in change yet they will not do the same when you ask them. I don't like the conceit that somehow that change is less valuable to me than it is to them, when in fact the exact opposite is true.

And just for the record, I donated plenty to the charity of my choice so this isn't about being generous or stingy.

Marc|9.28.09 @ 6:16PM|#

did you read the emboldened word? Do you understand what it means?

Is "driving while commercial" an offense?

anarch|9.28.09 @ 6:20PM|#

There will be no delays in immanentizing the eschaton, that is.

slutmonkey|9.28.09 @ 6:39PM|#

There will be no delays because if all the cops are buys at the check point, you can feel safe breaking all the speed laws as soon as you're through.

Colonel_Angus|9.28.09 @ 6:48PM|#

What if Safeway matches customer donations? Nah, probably not.

Also the employees get bitched at if they get caught not asking dumb shit like that. Safeway has enough money to hire fake shoppers to evaluate employees.

|9.28.09 @ 6:50PM|#

phil the boot-

At the Regal Cinemas in Kingston, Mass, the cashiers periodically will ask patrons if they would like to contribute to the Jimmy Fund. I will invariably ask if the Jimmy Fund would like to make a contribution to me-if I am the only one in line. If not, I will turn around and ask "does anybody want to wait longer in line so that the cashier here can solicit you for a donation to the Jimmy Fund."

After the movie, I will approach the most "senior" employee available and let them have it for such awful customer service.

Dunkin Donuts franchises also are guilty of this customer service mortal sin.

General rule of thumb: Never, ever give to a large charity.

thoreau|9.28.09 @ 7:08PM|#

According to Google Maps this looks like it will be easy to navigate around, but I don't know the locale very well. Giving advance notice on a checkpoint that you can navigate around seems sort of pointless, no?

IceTrey|9.28.09 @ 7:29PM|#

That's how they get around the unreasonable part in J sub D's post. If anyone has a Constitutional problem with the stop the cops can just say "Hey we posted a notification in the paper".

|9.28.09 @ 7:33PM|#

Giving advance notice on a checkpoint that you can navigate around seems sort of pointless, no?

C'mon, thoreau, you know better than that. This checkpoint isn't about catching bad guys, it's about appearing to catch bad guys, and a good excuse for some overtime. The convenient location of the doughnut shop is just an added bonus.

As far as the commercial vehicle checkpoint goes, given the Supreme Court's definition of interstate commerce, my guess is any car carrying X legally satisfies the commercial requirement.

X = any product you can imagine, such as gasoline.

anarch celebrating RCz Law|9.28.09 @ 8:21PM|#

all the cops are buys at the check point

Ft. Lauderdale Police|9.28.09 @ 8:47PM|#

Giving advance notice on a checkpoint that you can navigate around seems sort of pointless, no?

And in so doing you will be providing probable cause for me to pull you over, arrest you for resisting arrest, and seize your car that was clearly purchased with profits from drug-running.

Taktix®|9.28.09 @ 10:08PM|#

I walk right by there for work every day.

I guess I'm having bacon for breakfast...

ZING!

|9.28.09 @ 11:48PM|#

As far as the commercial vehicle checkpoint goes, given the Supreme Court's definition of interstate commerce, my guess is any car carrying X legally satisfies the commercial requirement.

Uh, no.

According to Florida Statute 320.01(26), a 'COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE' is a vehicle not owned by the government, with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 26,001 lbs. or more, or has three or more axles regardless of weight, or is used in combination (vehicle plus trailer) when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight.

|9.28.09 @ 11:51PM|#

I hate to go all Lonewackish on you, Katherine, but seriously. Googling "florida commercial vehicle" would have taken roughly three seconds of your journalistic time, and prevented yet another fourth amendment false alarm from the Reason staff.

|9.28.09 @ 11:54PM|#

I'm just sad for all the dead soldiers who went to war against enemies that were portrayed in the propaganda films (military and commerical) of their various war eras as asking for "your papers please." Those images helped to motivate many of our war dead (and many who made it through the wars and still live today). It seems as if our government is spitting on them, or at least laughing at them.

|9.29.09 @ 12:18AM|#

Zombie soldiers asking for papers in propaganda films? Put down the crack pipe or at least send me some.

Paul|9.29.09 @ 3:08AM|#

and prevented yet another fourth amendment false alarm from the Reason staff.

Right, because when you step into your Sparketts Water truck, you have no fourth amendment rights.

And stop it with the fourth amendment 'false alarm' bullshit.

Here's a checkpoint which is way inside the U.S. borders where ALL vehicles are subject to questioning and search:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFS7oZtE8Ks

Here's the kind of comments this video received:

They should of broken the glass, beat the shit out of him, planted some weed and he throw him in a cell with a bunch of horney niggers

You're in good 'fourth amendment false alarm" territory, Tulpa.

You can actually hear one of the border patrol fucking pigs say he's causing a "safety violation" because he won't let them search his car without a warrant.

Then one of the agents tells him that when at the checkpoint, his "rights don't matter here".

"Another fourth amendment false alarm"

Get the fuck out of here with that talking point shit.

|9.29.09 @ 11:35AM|#

Given the terrain, it looks like it could be New Mexico, possibly Arizona. Plus, note the lack of front license plate. Not sure about AZ, but NM requires no front license plate.

This is Arizona. If it isn't, I will kiss Warty while sober.

Paul|9.29.09 @ 6:20PM|#

This is Arizona. If it isn't, I will kiss Warty while sober.

It is. I sourced the pic.

|9.30.09 @ 4:55PM|#

I work as a attorney for a transportation company. The article said commercial vehicles would be stopped. "Commercial vehicle" has a specific statutory definition under Title 49 of the US Code as well as the transportation regs. I don't have my books handy, but it's based on gross vehicle weight rating of the truck (total empty weight and max load of truck) and I think it is 10,000 lbs or above. So, think straight box truck up to 18 wheeler. Apart from suped-up Ford trucks with more than 4 wheels sometimes used in construction, your average driver does not drive a commercial vehicle. Hence they will not be stopped and searched, and as the article said, there won't be any delays (for them).

However, yes the USDOT, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and state DOTs can stop commercial vehicles at any time and inspect paperwork/driver logs as well as the physical status of the vehicle, without any cause or particular complaint leading to the stop. Just a part of being a regulated industry. And in all honesty, yes it may be an administrative hassle, but we're overall in favor of it--this is all done for safety of the transportation public, after all. Driver fatigue (driving over their alloted hours in a day is a leading cause of this) is the number one cause of big rig accidents. And once you've seen the devastation one or two of those can cause (such as plowing through a line of stopped cars on the highway), the industry will follow any measures that can arguably lead to a reduction in accidents. (And as for the argument industry can regulate itself, here, no it can't. The industry is dominated by independent owner operators (ICOO)--ie, tons of independent little companies. It's like herding cats. Without the regulations, we as a transportation company wouldn't have the ability to mandate how the ICOOs structure their daily operations (at least not without turning them into employees)--we could penalize after they'd had accidents or safety failures and eventually terminate their contract with us, but that doesn't help in prevention).