I've done a fair bit of driving (mostly in California) and never been through a roadblock. I've also never seen any booze busses or similar.
I've seen those videos too - are you saying it's unconstitutional to stop drivers to do a breathalyser?
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I'm not saying it is or isn't, I'm saying it's argued that it is.
It's my personal belief that it's a rights violation to stop anyone without a reason if you intend to arrest them if they meet some criteria.
In particular, I believe it would be a major rights violation to force everyone to do a breathalyzer at a dui checkpoint. Fortunately, they're not that extreme yet--the have to smell alcohol or suspect impairment afaik.
I've been stopped in approximately 8 DUI checkpoints in my ~15 years of driving. I drive significantly less miles per year than the national average here in America, if that counts for anything.
Cool, thanks for clarifying.
I'm a foreigner so take this for what it's worth but my view is that if it provides significant public benefit (in reducing drink driving / dope driving accidents) that stops for the specific purpose of breath testing at DUI checkpoints then it should be something the community would support.
How that plays out is another matter.
FWIW I chose not to say whether it's unconstitutional or not because it takes the supreme court to decide that. I'm entirely unqualified.
I lean the other way, and this being one of my favorite quotes probably makes me decidedly American:
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin
That said, I do entirely disagree with drunk driving and I want it to end. I'm just not willing to further trade my personal freedoms to accomplish it.
I like that quote too.
The supreme court actually decided that it's not unconstitutional but leaves it to the states to handle enforcement.
Interesting to note that in Australia the percentage of fatal accidents involving alcohol are 12% versus 22% in California. Especially because we have a younger official drinking age of 18 and a generally higher alcohol consumption rate...