WARNING to anyone who travels on Rt 28: the police were running a sobriety checkpoint last night. It was located about 1/2 mile north of where the highway crosses the Suncook River, at the curve of the road. They were already set up before 10 PM and they quit around 2:30 AM. I didn't get stopped headed southbound and I took the back roads to avoid it heading home.
I'm hopping mad about this and I'm ready to write complaint letters to the town. I'm not sure if it was the Pembroke police or the state that was running it. Does anyone have any further ideas about how to combat this menace?
Copwatch: show up on the scene with video cameras 8)
I called some department of safety folks and complained about this over the last couple months...colonel booth, head of the state police...and another guy over who's name I forgot. I can't remember where i posted the details. oh i also called the rockingham county attorney Reams and left him a voice mail. always ready to do more but it is going to be hard to get any number of people in place at one of these, since they don't tell you exacly where they are , and then they are over. they are supposed to tell you which town, I belive. The trick is probably to have a sign ready to go in your car and just hop out, and stand their next to them when you drive up to one. maybe call porcupine 911 before you "go into action:"
Or
271 1490
357 2049
According to the NHTSA website, listing the states that allow and don't allow sobriety checkpoints:
"N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. 265:1-a. Though originally held to be unconstitutional, the Justices subsequently issued an opinion endorsing checkpoints. They are valid under the state constitution only with superior court order."
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/SobrietyCheck/caselaw.html
I wonder if these guys had a superior court order to do this? And this could be a new project -- lobby for a law outlawing sobriety checkpoints.
If only NH, like one of those states, Nevada or Arizona, had this legal doctrine that your car is an extension of your home, so you are granted basic rights within it, including privacy and self defense, that are not as legally strong outside of your "domain"
Would someone like to write a letter to the paper about how awful these checkpoints are?
I am old enough to remember when there actualy was a debate about if this was legal or not.
This act was not called by it's nice sounding word checkpoint then, it was called a road block and thats what it is.
They are blocking the road and our right to travel freely.
Quote from: Pat K on August 27, 2006, 04:13 PM NHFT
They are blocking the road and our right to travel freely.
BUT DRIVING IS A PRIVELEGE
Mary in Unity was telling me that tollbooths are a risk to drivers because they force people to slow down and switch lanes and fumble for their wallet. Same story would apply to these roadblocks, I assume.
Who are the key perps in the roadbocks around the state, and where are their offices?
Quote from: DadaOrwell on September 01, 2006, 09:33 AM NHFT
Mary in Unity was telling me that tollbooths are a risk to drivers because they force people to slow down and switch lanes and fumble for their wallet. Same story would apply to these roadblocks, I assume.
Tolls are better handled when you take a ticket at the onramp and pay at the exit, but for instance, on 93 this is impractical as there is only one toll.
http://roadblock.org
A site run by the phenomenal group: The National Motorists Association. I've been a member for years, and I implore everyone to join.
http://www.motorists.org
Ah, how refreshing. Never heard of The National Motorists Association, but it looks another group I'll have to join.
http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070726/REPOSITORY/707260340
July 26. 2007 12:27AM
The police will conduct a sobriety checkpoint this weekend in Pembroke, although the exact time and location hasn't been disclosed.
The Pembroke Police Department will be assisted by the Merrimack County Sheriff's Office, according to a statement from Pembroke Police Chief Scott Lane.
Maddie Hanna
Quote from: Insurgent on September 10, 2006, 08:38 PM NHFT
http://roadblock.org
A site run by the phenomenal group: The National Motorists Association. I've been a member for years, and I implore everyone to join.
http://www.motorists.org
;D
Was just about to post one of their URLs:
http://www.roadblock.org/roadblocks/nh.htm. It's their roadblock registry. They only have
one listed for New Hampshire, from 2002. Everyone who sees one of these things,
update that site!
Quote from: RattyDog on July 27, 2007, 09:09 AM NHFT
When we find out when and where this will be, could someone please call it in to porc411 so people can flock in that direction!
Thank you...I hate these checkpoints so much...what I hate more is when I try to talk to people about them and how we have to stop them they get this shrieking tone in their voice and say "WHAT, you don't want to stop drunk drivers!!!??". Ugh.
Good talking points on roadblocks at the National Motorists Association site http://www.motorists.org/roadblocks
and dui laws http://www.motorists.org/dui
Anyone out and about this weekend run in to this checkpoint?
I just went past the Pembroke sobriety check about an hour ago (I did not know about it). There were 5 or so cops on each side of the road where drivers had been pulled over and were being interrogated. The vehicle in front of me was pulled over by the last cop in the queue, and I continued through without being pulled over.
I had not had anything to drink tonight. Nonetheless, I did not intend to submit to their tests if pulled over, but am glad I wasn't as I realize I was not prepared. I don't want to get arrested for nothing. I know that sobriety checks have yet to be challenged before the NH Supreme Court, and I'm willing to be "that guy" if I need to be. Of course, I wouldn't be arrested for DUI, but probably for "disorderly conduct" due to my non-cooperation. Has there been any discussion on what people should be doing at the checkpoint if they're interested in challenging the law in court? I expect of course that once they realize I was "uppity" they'd drop the disorderly conduct charge. And does being charged with disorderly conduct even give me standing to challenge the sobriety checks? Come to think of it, how does one even get standing? Need to research this.
- Ruger