NH Checkpoint Activism

June 18, 2010 by Brad
Filed under: Copwatch, Issues, Personal Freedom, Police

I just spoke to a very friendly Tilton, NH police officer to find out where their suspicion-less roadblock will be tonight. It will be on Laconia Road within their jurisdiction and will be run by several surrounding agencies.

I am going to attend the gathering and get some video footage of the ever increasing police state. I may even hold a sign reminding people that they have no obligation to do field sobriety tests or blow into a PBT… unless they want to voluntarily give the government evidence which it can use to attack them in court.

I’ll probably be going up there around 6:00P or 7:00P. Anyone want to join me?

Comments

11 Comments on NH Checkpoint Activism

Sam Dodson on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 2:54 pm

Ya, lets all make sure the drunks don’t get caught so they can kill someone. Great Idea Brad.

Bradley Jardis on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 3:04 pm

Make believe Sam Dodson,

Do you really think that I condone drunk driving?

Do you think similarly that I condone hard drug use?

Advocating that people know their rights and assert them is NOT the same as believing that people should be out driving around drunk.

Opposing a roadside suspicion-less checkpoint because I believe that in the land of the “free” these things should not be happening… is NOT the same as believing that people should be out driving around drunk.

Oh, and did you see the article I posted about a checkpoint in Holderness, NH where 3 of the 6 arrests they made were for possession of marijuana?

Paul on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 3:09 pm

“Sam”, please stop impersonating others.

If a person is observed driving erratically and recklessly, by all means, stop them. Invading innocent people’s privacy and harassing them at suspicionless checkpoints is wrong, no matter what your supposed motivation for doing so is. I’m sure the East Germans had good excuses too.

Neither you, nor the cops, have a right to infringe on people’s liberty in order to go on a fishing expedition.

Tyranny doesn’t magically become ok, nor do your rights disappear, because the tyrant claims it’s “for your own good”, or invents some other convenient excuse.

B on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 4:00 pm

Brad,
If I were confronted at one of these “checkpoints” what would you advise I do to keep my rights and keep the thugs away from me?

Bradley Jardis on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 4:29 pm

My advice would be to give the officer your papers if asked and otherwise remain silent.

Roll your window back up. Keep your doors locked. Keep track of the time that the detention began.

If the detention becomes increasingly long asking if you are being detained and if you’re free to go is always a good thing.

I don’t think that they’re (you’re) all thugs. I think that at lot of them (you) are people doing their (your) job and believing they (you) are doing the right thing. Less dangerous drivers on the roadways is a good thing after all. I don’t want people to be hurt by dangerous drivers. Dangerous drivers should be dealt with accordingly and made to answer for their dangerousness.

I just wish they would realize that they (you) are a cog in the wheel of stripping freedom from the “land of the free.” There are other ways to make the roadways safe rather than resorting to using Soviet-era police tactics.

What do you think the founding fathers of the United States would say about this type of stuff? How much freedom are you willing to give up to be “safe?”

Checkpoint response on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 5:05 pm

Brad, we always advise our volunteers not to do checkpoint response/documentation alone. There have been incidents where volunteers have been brutalized and then arrested. Please try to take at least one person with you if you go. Also, try to see if they engage in racial or class profiling and if they are following the guidelines your state has set for the execution of checkpoints.

thinkliberty on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 5:34 pm

Another example of control freaks forcing people to pay them money, then hassling them on the road after they have the cash.

These cops wouldn’t do this for free. They are doing it for money. That is what they care about.

Take away the paycheck and early retirement and these public parasites would have to make an honest living.

Gabe on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 9:16 pm

I was not aware that we “have no obligation to do field sobriety tests or blow into a PBT”. So what do I say if a cop asks me to perform a field sobriety test? Can’t he then arrest me anyway?

Bradley Jardis on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 9:20 pm

Sure, but not for DWI. Where’s the evidence? Unless you were swerving ridiculously and reek of booze, there is no evidence you were drunk.

When you roll the window down the smallest smidgen to give your license and registration you are keeping the officer from smelling your breath.

Pre-arrest field sobriety tests are COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. Post-arrest ones are not… from an administrative license suspension standpoint. You should refuse those too.

B on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 9:46 pm

Thank you Brad. I realize the danger that intoxicated drivers pose, but am tired of being a whipping boy to unauthorized “authority”. You are doing a great deal of service on this site.

Bradley Jardis on Fri, 18th Jun 2010 9:50 pm

Thank you for your kind words man.