The Antelope Valley Times

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DUI Checkpoint this Friday in Palmdale

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(Image courtesy LASD.)

PALMDALE – The Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Traffic Unit will conducting a DUI Checkpoint from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday, August 10, at an undisclosed location within the city limits.

Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough, according to a news release by the Palmdale Station.

Deputies will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Deputies will also check for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed seven lives and resulted in 88 injury crashes, harming 121 of our friends and neighbors,” said Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Sergeant M. Johnston.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent.

Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

“Deaths from drunk and drug-impaired driving are going down in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). “But that still means that hundreds of our friends, family and co-workers are killed each year, along with tens of thousands who are seriously injured. We must all continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies. If you see a Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.”

Funding for the checkpoint is provided to the City of Palmdale by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For statewide and local Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign Enforcement Schedules for the county and Daily DUI Arrest/Fatal Stats for the county and region, visit www.californiaavoid.org.

(Information via press release from the Palmdale Station.)

Filed Under: Palmdale

49 comments

49 comments for "DUI Checkpoint this Friday in Palmdale"

  1. They are always on the east side, funny because my friend was killed by a drunk driver on the west side of Lancaster. Go Figure!!!

    • I know what you mean the stupid sheriff broke up a party when i was 19 and all my friends jumped in there cars druck my friend garth woodard was kill after the ran into a poll.

      they dont care about getting a dui driver off the road because every weekend they break up parties and put young adults at risk of driving under the influence.

      • This is a really good point. I would hope that the officer and others would think about this, instead of resorting to name calling without intelligence.

        • ive went over that with lt. ed raulstin for like an hour but he didnt seem to even care. i video taped them bardge into peoples homes without warrents and then kick all the drunk minors out of the house putting the everyone at risk for dui related accidents.

          if they really wanted to stop dui then they need to be out doing what are they called saturation patrols like they do in bad neighborhoods.

          or just watch over a party and make sure people either stay inside or not drive drunk it wouldnt be hard to do and if you observe someone leaving a loud party then do your job and conduct a field sobriety check.

          when they bust in the door and kick everyone out just to excert their athority which also violates the constituion by not having a warrent tit just make the situation worse for everyone including the public.

  2. Case # 1 – “Even the legislature has no power to deny to a citizen the right to travel upon
    the highway and transport his property in the ordinary course of his business or pleasure,
    though this right may be regulated in accordance with the public interest and convenience. –
    Chicago Motor Coach v Chicago, 169 NE 22 (“Regulated” here means traffic safety
    enforcement, stop lights, signs, etc. NOT a privilege that requires permission i.e.- licensing,
    mandatory insurance, vehicle registration, etc.)
    “The right of the citizen to travel upon the public highways and to transport his property
    thereon, either by carriage or by automobile, is not a mere privilege which a city may
    prohibit or permit at will, but a common right which he has under the right to life, liberty,
    and the pursuit of happiness.”- Thompson v Smith, 154 SE 579.
    It could not be stated more conclusively that Citizens of the states have a right to travel,
    without approval or restriction (license), and that this right is protected under the U.S.
    Constitution. Here are other court decisions that expound the same facts:
    “The right to travel is a part of the liberty of which the citizen cannot be deprived without
    due process of law under the 5th Amendment.” – Kent v Dulles, 357 U.S. 116, 125.
    Case # 4 – “Undoubtedly the right of locomotion, the right to remove from one place to
    another according to inclination, is an attribute of personal liberty, and the right, ordinarily,
    of free transit from or through the territory of any State is a right secured by the l4th
    Amendment and by other provisions of the Constitution.” – Schactman v Dulles, 96 App
    D.C. 287, 293.
    FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT As hard as it is for those of us in Law enforcement to believe,
    there is no room for speculation in these court decisions. The American citizen does indeed
    have the inalienable right to use the roadways unrestricted in any manner as long as they are
    not damaging or violating property or rights of another.
    Government, in requiring the people to file for “drivers licenses, vehicle registrations,
    mandatory insurance, and demanding they stop for vehicle inspections, DUI/DWI
    roadblocks etc. without question, are “restricting”, and therefore violating, the Peoples
    common law right to travel.

      • Good cut and paste job dumbass. Don’t worry….some day kid, you’ll have a driver’s education course in which you’ll learn that driving is a privilege. When you get your license, if you’re able to pass the course, you’ll see that it can quickly and summarily be suspended or revoked….then try driving through a checkpoint and see what your rights are. Do your parents know that you were up at 1:01 AM?

      • Good god, someone tell me david g isn’t on the “sovereign citizen” bandwagon! “The government can’t make me get a license…blahblahblah….” David, last we heard, your license was suspended. Has that changed? Is that the source of your anger? I know it’s hot right now, and riding your bike to your dish washing job at the mall must suck right now, but come on! You DO still have that job, don’t you? They didn’t fire you for trying to fight your baby’s mama’s new boyfriend, then him tazing you, did they? Anyway, save up your money, pay off all your probation stuff, and maybe you’ll have the $30 you need for a license.

    • David G, you add new meaning to the word ignorance. In your last attempt at a paragraph you mention “….common law…”. True, the U.S. Constitution, laws and statutes are based on English common law, but there is no common law in the U.S. All of our 50 states are codified states (as in every thing is written down…STATUTES). Common law husband/wife? No such thing. Driving in California is still a privilege, and you give up certain rights for that privilege. This is probably clear as mud to a dunce like you.

      • I actually have a class A and i probably make more moeny a year then everyone writing a comment about actuall supreme court ruling. funny how when the suprememe court decides prop 8 isnt defined as a right it becomes voided then when they decide driving is a right no one seems to care.

        weither way you can still fight it in court is people were not scared to take it to trial there is no bandwagon when it comes to rights you either fight for them ot you lose them.

        it is that simple we are all created equal if someone has more privilage then anohter we are not equal.

        we have rights not privilages in this country the only ones with a privilages are those who are elected to serve us and up hold the constituion.

        • divers brain washing course! is more like it there is a better way then to say we the state allow you to drive next thing you know it the state is going to say we allow you to have a house, oh ya thats right we have codes to living on our own private property.

          thats right go ahead and see what happens when you realise you dont even own your house anymore its a privilage.

          • You are a dumb arse! In America everything is a right so to speak, that doesnt preclude states from passing laws to regulate things. Food is the basis of life, but try robbing a meat market for a steak and see what happens.Education is a right but you can be suspended from school.We have the right to bear arms but we can regulate that….

          • The question is whether or not something is reasonable regulation and whether people will stand against unreasonable regulations. For instance, banning guns is an issue today. If everyone had a gun in the theater where the recent shooting took place, I am sure a lot less people would have been harmed. If everyone had a gun on a plane, it would be a lot harder for a terrorist to inflict harm. Studies show that areas where more people have guns, there is way less crime. (And don’t make foolish cracks at me about guns, because I don’t own one). It is amazing to me that people in U.S. nowadays just allow any authority, whether doing right or wrong, to do anything they want, or to impose any law, even if it is clearly an abusive law. There are an exceedingly great number of injustices by the TSA now and yet people just take it. Continuous brutality, molestation, thievery, etc. etc. are done by them, (I wish you would actually look at the facts, instead of going by your own thinking). No it is not right to steal, but it certainly isn’t right for someone to put their hands in someones underwear, before boarding a plane, take their camera equipment, jewelry etc. (because they can say anything is dangerous), which is what the TSA does consistently now. Read the numerous articles by news sources. Why would you criticize someone who is trying to prevent this from happening locally? Please educate yourself instead of name calling!

          • You may be suprised to hear that I agree with most of what you said. That being said, Davids ideology is not about that he believes the extreme side of what you speak of. What is a right and what isnt? is flying a right? is driving a right? If they are rights then how can you impound a car for no drivers license? Its hard to define. I think a good government can impose safety restrictions for the good of the people. The problem is when the govt oversteps the boundaries. I dont think its unreasonable to do dui checkpoints… I also dont think its the most effective way to catch drunk drivers. I think having airport security is good and reasonable. But I think the boundaries of reasonableness have been overstepped. Also you cant have guns on an airplane…. You need special rounds that wont go through the airplane… And although david makes some valid points if you watch him long enough you will see why he is a dumb arse

          • we also have a right to form A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

            so we can shoot over zealous cops who think they can violate the constitution in the face that day is coming when people realise they are taking your rights away little by little each day it will hit a breaking point you better wish you have your 2nd amendment because law and order will be out the window.

            all because you think that rights can be striped away or redefined. you dont even own the house you live in or the money in your bank account.

          • Hey moron- You better stick with completing junior high school before taking on such weighty issues. See ya in about 10 years kid.

          • Shoot a cop in the face? You are an idiot!!! First off even buying your premise, if a cop tried to unconstitutinally arrest you, you still dont have the right to take their life. Find a court case where the suspect was exonerated from using force on a peace officer due to the fact that the officer was violating someones rights. Plus thats bold talk from someone who is cowardly in his interactions with police. I tell you what David put your money where your mouth is, form your militia and get after it. You clearly think you have that right and clearly you think the government has become tyranical. So form your militia and get to work! Oh wait you wont because your a coward…. You run your mouth and then run from conflict. Keep on truckin, Mother Trucker!!!

          • okay lets see the branch davidians were all aquited from the charges they went to court for when the atf raided there compound.

            and ya 4 atf agents were shot and killed .

            second you dont know how i interact with the sheriff dpt i have never coward away from being arrested nor have i been scared of being in custody.

            when the day comes when americans pick up arms my day will come.

            i also have a family to live for and living in custody isnt were i need to be i have had very big ups and downs dealing with how everything can be turned around on me even though i have done nothing wrong.

            what you fail to realise the day is coming and people will not stand for there rights to be taken away but then again hilter did it so whos to say it wont happen again.

            you sit and act like you care about our civil liberties but have you even been arested for excirizing them i have mulitple times my time will come again.

            maybe you should start preparing for civil unrest because nothing last forever not even the american dream.

          • or maybe it wont which i will be thankful for because i want to have a good life with my family like anyone else.

            but the writing is on the wall and for those who ignore the signs will suffer the most.

            id rather be talking out of my ass and nothing happen to be honest.

            either way i play my little part for now which is probably a lot more then you.

        • You have a class A what?? Obviously not a class A education. You just ramble on and on; blah, blah, blah.

          • Just so you know also that the psycholoical profile they have you take is just so they get the same type of personality to work for the dpt.

            people who take orders who have a very small IQ who dont question if what they are doing is wrong or violates the constituion.

  3. What cracks me up is all the outrage when a drunk driver kills innocent yet when the police announce check points its a huge violation of our rights.

    Announcing them is a good thing and on the flip side, a bad thing. The drunks know where to stay away from when they are announced but due to social media and cell phones even when they arent announced, people still know where they are at.

  4. Ace, are you by any chance a transexual? We notice you enjoy pretending to be a woman quite often.

  5. You people are all ridiculous. You gripe and complain that the cops are the ones taking away our freedoms. The cops only enforce the laws the government put into effect. DUI checkpoints are good. It lets people know that the cops are looking for the drunks. How quickly you all have forgotten about the innocent people that have lost their lives as a result of drunk drivers. It is not the drunk drivers that get hurt, it is the innocent. If you are not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about. It is funny how most people hate the cops until they actually need them because they are being victimized. Try doing a ride along with a cop and see what they have to go through everyday. You might get a new found respect for them like I have.

    • First of all, just because I disagree with certain things that the cops do, doesn’t mean I disrespect the good they do. Cops are public employees. The good they do should be commended, but what is wrong should be spoken of, by a free society that has first amendment rights, and it should be changed. I do not think anyone should drive drunk, but I am sure the cops would catch more drunks coming out of bars and strip joints, than by harassing people who don’t drink.

  6. Just another “show uz de paperzzz” “we need do seezzz yours paperzzz”. And 1,000+ sheep will all get in line to do just that. Your police state, stopping US in the street. They MIGHT get one or 2 drunks, which is the norm. This used to be unconstitutional. But then Amerika at one time was CONSTITUTIONAL! WAKE UP YOU SLUGS.

    • So go get your papers Sammy, and stop mooching off our system!
      Bettter yet…go through the checkpoint and REFUSE! Let me know how it works out for you. Rob, if you can’t afford $30 to get a license, then you have no insurance either, which means you have no right being on the road with me. If you “can’t afford documentation”, then head on over to INS with sammy and get on the bus back to the homeland!

      • knee is a good name for you. Spend a lot of time on them, to the government? “Yes sir, no sir”? And your racist implications amuse but I won’t correct you. Pretend I’m some dark skin immigrant like they are to blame for Americans giving up on the constitution!
        It’s “weak kneed” so called Amerikans like you that take real Americans rights away. Always looking for the government boys in uniforms to take care of you. “Wahhhh make the scary guys go away wahhhhh” less amusing knowing it’s my rights you’re throwing away

      • I would love for you to go through a TSA checkpoint and REFUSE! Then maybe you would get some common sense and stop posting foolish comments that encourage harm for those of us who still believe in the constitution. But wait…you will be going through TSA checkpoints when the VIPERS are put on the street in the A.V. like they already are in other states. Maybe after being molested by one of the officers, you’ll change your mind on “safety” checkpoints.

    • As usual, the police state in the name of “safety” making us less safe by taking away our freedoms.

      • Another member of the Flat Earth Society heard from. Driving in California is a privilege, not a right or freedom. Law enforcement has the right and duty to to check your registration, driver’s license, vehicle equipment and sobriety whether on patrol or DUI check points. Good law abiding citizens should not complain. What do you have to hide, Debra?

        • Actually nothing!!! I don’t drink or take drugs ever or do other illegal things. This is not about hiding something. It is about harassment and loss of constitutional rights. Someone shouldn’t be pulled over unless there is a valid reason. You as an officer should be protecting us not harassing those of us who are INNOCENT.

          • Debra… here’s an idea. You don’t like these checkpoints? Then don’t drive thru it! Entering one is voluntary.

        • This type of behavior trains people to accept the coming TSA type abuses in the streets like the molestation, porno pictures, theft and continual abuses shown in the media by the TSA officers. As an officer you should be against this unlawful type of behavior and protect us from it coming here. Not do something to prepare people, as these checkpoints do, to submit to routine interrogation and harassment upon the innocent, which can turn into what the TSA does around the country in the streets now.

          • Debra, Theador, etc. Wow. I’ve been through these checkpoints about 5 times. The cop asks to see my license, and if I’ve been drinking. The whole process took an unreasonable, unfair, unconstitutional….wait for it…..5 minutes!!!! Each time, the cops were decent guys, making small talk with me till the line moved!! I guess I missed the “harassment, TSA strip searches, waterboarding and interrogations” you speak of. You folks need to get back on your meds if this has you so hyped up! Ofcr Carlos, keep up your good work.

          • You need to study the history of the holocaust, before you talk of me on meds. What is happening in our country are the same things that led up to the holocaust. It is obvious you have not done any research. Do you even know what the viper units are? Yes, they are real and already in use in many state, or all the things the TSA has done? No, I am not accusing the A.V. cops of this at all. What I am saying is that it deadens people to resisting group harassment and interogation, which then makes things like VIPERS possible, because no one stands up for their constitutional rights. I would hope that Ofcr Carlos would do the right thing when that time comes, seeing as our state senators think that having TSA style security is a good idea everywhere. It is not okay to do wrong under “it’s my job”.

        • Hey Officer- Personally, I have no problem with checkpoints, and it’s kind of fun going through them sober. What I really like about them is that they result in the impounding of freeloaders’ vehicles….people who don’t pay their registration fees like I do. Also, the impounding of vehicles of those drivers without proper licensure. Keep ’em going!!!

          • To Knee Gus and Hector. Thanks guys, Your support is appreciated and I speak for my brothers in law enforcement too. The Debras in society, who don’t have a clue, just make our job that much tougher. We need more citizens like you.

          • you are an ignorant person and should start reading up on the rights in this country before you start talking. and for the sheriff who thinks he is doing a justice your not.

        • driving is a right okay mr officer you should do a little reseach into supreme court ruling before you start spouting off at the mouth with your brain washed opinion.

        • take that what do you have to hide comment and shove it up your ass,,, how about its none of your [removed] business!!

    • Complete waste of time. They always seem to be in low income areas also. Looking for people that can’t afford license, insurance or documentation.