![[Spencer Daily Reporter nameplate]](http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/images/nameplate.png)
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (30)
Share link
Facebook
Twitter
del.icio.us
Digg
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Newsvine
Reddit
Google
 |
| (Photo by Russ Mitchell) Sheriff Randy Krukow and Clay County deputies were hosts for a safety check point Thursday night along Highway 71 south of Spencer. [Order this photo] |
Travelers heading north to Spencer or the Iowa Great Lakes may have experienced a moderate delay Thursday night.
The Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force and Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Program organized a safety check on U.S. Highway 71 south of Spencer.
From 4-9 p.m. Thursday, more than 30 officers from 13 law enforcement agencies and five counties planned to stop every tenth vehicle for a safety check. They also stopped cars cracked windshield and tinted windows. Drivers who had a beer in their hand, or didn't use their seat belt also were stopped more frequently.
The Clay County Emergency Response trailer was set up at the check point, so officers could book people in following an arrest. The Clay County Jail van was on standby to transport suspects after an arrest.
"In any exercise or any program we do, we'll obviously find people with license suspended, no driver's license, no insurance, warrants, drugs OWI," said Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow. "Especially with the weekend being the Fourth, we thought this would be a good project."
Future safety checks are planned in the other four participating counties of Dickinson, Emmet, O'Brien and Osceola.
"The goal of this is primarily to make the motoring public basically safer out there," Krukow said. "We're making sure people have insurance, that we're slowing people down. We're making sure that they wear their safety belt. We're trying to keep the drunk drivers off the road."
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please ![[Order this photo]](http://spencerdailyreporter.mycapture.com/mycapture/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return%20to%20site&backurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spencerdailyreporter.com%2Fstory%2F1552141.html&thumbpath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spencerdailyreporter.com%2Fphotos%2F12%2F43%2F78%2F1243785-S.jpg&previewpath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spencerdailyreporter.com%2Fphotos%2F12%2F43%2F78%2F1243785-L.jpg&pricingsheetid=1493){kind=link}
Yeah, right. This is just a way for them to make money by harrassing the citizenry.
Instead of wasting your time pulling over people with cracked windshields, why don't you have a pancake feed or something? Everybody loves pancakes.
This is some Nazi activity if I've ever seen it.
If our boys in blue are that hard up for work - lets send them to a border where this sort of thing is OK.
yes i beleave we should have the money to not drive around with a crack windows and wear your yellow star wear you like. Thank god we are free! sera
I must agree with the pancake feed, although might I suggest we add a little bacon????
I was told by someone who was stopped that they had the drug dogs and were searching cars and personal items such as purses???MMM don't they need a search warrant or have just cause to do a search???
Oh yes our tax $$$ hard at work!!! If the sheriffs dept has that much time on their hands maybe they need to downsize staff like other agencies, oh never mind, I forgot WE pay their wages.. Silly me.
oh how I wish people knew how much time and effort, and committment these men make to keeping our county and other counties safe. Instead it is so easy to sit back and make ignorant assumptions. I think the safety check point was a great thing, and I think people need to think about how it may have saved the lives of yours and other families traveling on that road that day. The men and women in clay county and other counties need to be given more credit and respect. There are the ones out there all hours of the nights, making sure that you are safe and protected. Nazi activity is what goes on by drunk drivers, or people hauling in drugs to our counties where our children deserve to grow up in a safe place. We need to really look at the big pcture here, and realize that we are very fortunate to have such great men and women devoting their time and efforts to keeping us safe. Stop and think about it. Others have told me that the check point was done with great organization and professionalism. Check your sources!
They did this for the safety and concern of their community....wow I can't believe some people are so ignorant to think these guys aren't busy and were doing this for something to do. I am glad they do this type of thing, and I hope they come to O'Brien County soon....you are very welcome.....
I welcome any traffic officer to do their job. It is very simple, DON'T break the law, you WON'T be ticketed. What is so hard about that? Don't start complaining about "rights". How about the rights of people who are killed and maimed by drunk and or drugged out drivers? Hopw about speeders who kill? Let the officers do their job. God bless all of them.
Total agreement with you.. MSinSpencer!!! My thoughts exactly. For those of us who have lived in a city you would be hard pressed to find a activity such as this, why?? because they are far too busy, they don't need to drum up business like here. Amen...
In April of this year the Supreme Court ruled that the Police need a warrant to search the vehicle of someone they have arrested if the person in locked up in a patrol cruiser and poses no safety threat to officers. This overrules a 28 year old precedent that police officers relied on. The courts ruling puts new limits on the ability of Police to search a vehicle immediately after the arrest of a suspect,particularly when the alleged offense is nothing more than serious than a traffic violation. I hope you know YOUR rights if stopped in one of these so-called helpful to us "checkpoints.
I was privy today to be informed of the final stats for the project. It will be clear to all with an open mind that the object was to bring awareness and safety to those travelling through NW IA, not financial gain to the government. Call the Sheriff's dept if you have any questions, that's what I did. I was also made aware that 75 % of those pulled over had some violation. Seems like it was more needed than some of you brainiac's want to admit. Get a life, apprecicate what you have, go to law school, do something productive with you time. You know they say it's better to keep you mouth shut and have people wonder about your intelligence than to open you mouth and prove you're an idiot.
Wow, now there are some lawyers posting responses. First you should know what you're talking about prior to posting your senseless ramblings.
lili5044, using search incident to arrest case law to argue that the checkpoint violated the people's rights is absolutely ignorant, and has nothing to do with the topic. Sounds like a bunch of people moaning about a checkpoint that they didn't even encounter. It's really easy to cry and whine about injustice sitting behind a screen name and a keyboard, try to go out and MAKE the world a better place like the Officers who are out doing it for you everyday.
SUMMER, you bring up that this was your hard earned tax $$$ at work, which is ridiculous as it seems you would prefer that they were not out being proactive, as if that were a better use of tax payer dollars. When someone is a victim of a crime, they wish something could have been done to prevent it.
MSinSpencer, you also fight against injustice by asking that Officers pick and choose which crimes to enforce, because apparently that would be more fair to you. A cracked windshield is a crime, and those Officers are sworn to uphold the laws, not just the ones that you see fit. An intelligent person would think it more of an injustice if Officers only enforced the laws that they "felt" like enforcing, but of course if they did that you would complain about that as well.
What it comes down to is the fact that those Officers have to do their jobs to protect the citizens, even if those citizens don't appreciate it. If you are breaking the laws then you should worry about such checkpoints, and if not, then you can find comfort in the fact that your tax $$$ are being spent trying to keep the roads safe.
The chickens don't care much for the dogs... until the fox comes into the barnyard!!!!
Go ahead and post some more irrelevant arguments about how law enforcement should not be out enforcing the laws. I will gladly spend my tax dollars on a Officer who is out proactively enforcing our laws, in hopes that it will protect me and my family.
And pray tell, what fear mongering has been going on to ruin this country? Certainly not checkpoints or officer discretion within NW IA. You seem to have bought into some weak minded conspiracy therory you neither understand nor have the intelligence to explain. Remember farmer, the harmful stuff comes out of the gun at the end with the hole in it. And when you soil yourself when provided the chance to use that gun, remember again who you'll call to come save your sorry butt from that fox you say you don't fear.
MSinSpencer, wow you've figured it out, that mushroom your eating must really be magic. What law enforcement offical ever stated that the only purpose for the checkpoint was to check cracked windshields? Keep telling yourself that you can take care of your own law enforcement needs, and make sure you get your attempt at protecting yourself on video so we can all laugh at it on youtube. You have taken the simple concept of a checkpoint and blown it into a government conspiracy. There are plenty other governments to choose from, I suggest you get out a world map and pick your new country where the laws aren't enforced. You won't need the cops I'm sure, because you are a wingnut with a gun, and quite possibly without a spine. Keep ranting about why the government is responsible for all of the bad things you must endure like traffic checkpoints, oh wait... you didn't even drive through it.
Ok. I've read all the comments so far and both sides have some very valid points. The last thing I want to do here is stir up anymore bad blood. All I have is this: What did this checkpoint really accomplish? They wanted to raise awareness. That's not going to happen, it just isn't. The article says "cracked winshields, tinted windows were cases for a car to be stopped more frequently. Since when has tinted windows been probable cause for stop and search? I'm sorry they can't regulate and see everything I do at any given moment.....I guess you are going to have to trust I am a law abiding citizen.....absurd, I guess. My only point is that this entire exersise did nothing....absolutly nothing but cause a number of good citizens to argue on the internet.
As I read these comments I have really come to appreciate my lack of education! Because if an education makes you behave as these posters are I want no part of it. I say this because some of the comments posted by the way left and right "wingnuts" on here are really off the charts. Are some valid points made? Yes, points for both sides are made but they are so offset by the crazy ramblings of the posters that the validity of the statements are completely lost. (That is probably enough stiring everyone up for more comments! :)
Now for my opinion (because of course that is why I am here.) Should the police enforce the laws? Yes, of course that is what they are sworn to do but why trample civil liberties to perform this duty? Ok if my windshield is cracked pull me over and ticket me for it. If my eyes are wide open and I am twitching like a jumping bean search my car. But if I am driving down the road and have done nothing wrong DO NOT pull me over to try to "drum up" some business.
I have been in alot of trouble in my life and have never complained once about taking my lumps for the wrongs I have done but I have also served in the military and do believe that people have fought and died so that I do not have to be stopped for no reason. Nazi was mentioned in another comment... Was this right? No.... but the Nazi Gestapo did have the right to stop anyone at anytime just because the felt a whim and wanted to search people.
I as a tax payer do not feel that this check point was a prudent use of funds. First of all I am sure we were probably paying overtime to many of the officers performing this "selfless" duty. At this time of down turn economics I do not think the money was best spent on a busy holiday weekend sitting in on place. Also within minutes of the check point starting the text messages had already blanketed the area. If the officers were out effectively doing their jobs around the county they would have probably been much more useful. After all that is why they drive around all the time. It is not to burn up gas but to patrol for offenders. If they do not have the ability to do this and have to pull me over then they need more training or replaced.
There are many more topics brought up in this thread that I would love to comment on, and I could keep going on for pages and pages about this subject but I rest my case. I thank everyone that was able to make it all the way through my long winded opinion and look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts) even the wingnuts! LOL
Dewey
I think the whole "Awareness" thing is a bunch of crap! If they want to raise awareness go have a convention or a public meeting some place... OR the pancake & bacon feed sounds good too!!!!
Anyone who think that this kind of thing is okay needs their heads checked. They'd change their minds if they were going along minding their own buisness doing nothing wrong & then get stopped at "random" have have their car searched and have a K9 go through their car.
Maybe the checkpoint should have worked like this......officers see a broken windshield or tinted windows, no seatbelt or similar problem, make the stop. If there was drinking or OBVIOUS drug use, then get the search warrant the proper way. If they can get away with a consentual check point, your house or apartment will be the next thing that will be violated. I am a voting citizen, a proud gun owner, a military veteran, and a very proud American who believes in free speech. I also agree with the pancake breakfast as long as there is bacon, eggs, and OJ. Why not have the officers do the cooking and hosting of the breakfast so everyone can meet them and socialize like years ago. A little friendly chat does more to get respect than a show of force and inhuman treatment.
I see a whole lot of whinning here! If todays society were not so free to take off down the road under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, or have it in the vehicle with them, thought of maintaining their mode of transportation for their own personal safety,or were law abiding safe drivers on the roads, this whole thing would not of needed to happen. The worst part of the stupidity is its normally the innocent that suffer.
This issue obviously bothers alot of people. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer my constitutional rights.
The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution is to not be subjected to unreasonable searches and seizures.
Here's a couple links, food for thought on the issue.
http://www.writsandappeals.org/news/rele...
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn...
Hey MKD if you would like to see some whining you should check this out.
"If todays society were not so free to take off down the road under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, or have it in the vehicle with them, thought of maintaining their mode of transportation for their own personal safety,or were law abiding safe drivers on the roads, this whole thing would not of needed to happen. The worst part of the stupidity is its normally the innocent that suffer."
Or... those of you speeding with cracked windshields, tinted windows, and no seatbelts need to either stop or get ticketed. What's so hard to understand about that? Jeez, get some priorities and complain about something that actually matters to the rest of the world. N Korea, anyone? Darfur? Instead, Spencer (or at least its representatives on this site) are content to kick back and debate whether or not the local police have the right to ticket them for doing something illegal and look for loopholes.
notinia... we could have gone without your two cents. I could care less about people getting tickets or being arrested for cracked windsheids, seatbelts... ect. It's a bunch of BS to harass people who have done nothing wrong to give a few tickets and or arrests. Do you understand now... or do you not still get it???? Maybe this will help...
W-H-A-T...T-H-E-Y...D-I-D...W-A-S...W-R-O-N-G...
D-O...Y-O-U...U-N-D-E-R-S-T-A-N-D...N-O-W?????
bsc349, my 2 cents is worth just as much as yours- and that is exactly... 2 cents. And I maintain that it is not harassment to set up police checkpoints. Obviously, some were caught with offenses that wouldn't have been picked up otherwise. I would much rather lose 10 minutes of my afternoon on a holiday weekend than let a driver with an open container in the next car pulled over slip through the cracks, continue to drink and drive, and kill someone. Same goes for drugs.
Just an FYI... typing your opinion repeatedly, in caps, and with extraneous punctuation doesn't make it any more than just that- an opinion.
Or... those of you speeding with cracked windshields, tinted windows, and no seatbelts need to either stop or get ticketed. What's so hard to understand about that? Jeez, get some priorities and complain about something that actually matters to the rest of the world. N Korea, anyone? Darfur? Instead, Spencer (or at least its representatives on this site) are content to kick back and debate whether or not the local police have the right to ticket them for doing something illegal and look for loopholes.
-- Posted by notinia on Fri, Jul 10, 2009, at 11:02 AM
@notina.....Just to point out something small, but will actually make a diffrence.....the article said nothing about people that were speeding on top of any of the other criteria. They stopped every tenth car(as said the article)and stopped you if you were speeding,OR, having tinted windows,OR, a cracked windshield. What everyone is so upset about is the general public is victimized in the name of awareness. I personally don't think you should get stopped because you have tinted windows. Last time I checked the color of your windows wasn't a gateway to probable cause. The police are doing their job...yes...but, to an extent such as searching and stoping people without any indication of guilt is wrong. People are also innocent until proven guilty....unfortunately, the police just decided to tell us "we presume you are guilty and we will stop you for what we tell you and try to find anything else we can get you for". I don't think stopping every 10th car and having critera such as "tinted windows" makes for vaild reasoning. If you do....great...I personally don't like being assumed guilty when I'm not.
I wonder how notinia will like it when they come around and search his/her house because it is the tenth one on the street? And do not even try to convince anybody on this thread that it would be in any way different. Hey notinia just a stretch but do you live in California?
Nope, try again. Although I am currently IN Iowa, just not living here permanently. And please note that I, too have an opinion on this subject. However, I do think that, for the most part, the residents of NW Iowa allow themselves to get completely absorbed by the day-to-day BS of small-town Iowa. I'm just pointing out that there are many, many other things going on in the world, and many people I have known here choose to focus on the minutae instead of the big picture.
Notinia I feel very bad for you if you think infringement of personal rights is "day-to-day BS of small-town Iowa". As far as I am concerned it is a national issue! Who knows who is listening to your phone calls?!?!
No need to feel bad for me, dewey. As far as I'm concerned, the safety checkpoint IS day-to-day BS. Blowing this issue up an "infringement of personal rights" crusade is exactly what I was referring to. By the way, exactly when was wiretapping mentioned, because I never said I didn't have a problem with that. Lumping others' views into YOUR personal categories is what causes a lot of misunderstandings in the world today. Wiretapping is a whole seperate debate.
wiretapping is no longer an issue now that the Bush administration is out of office