FORUM: Escondido checkpoints abusive, dividing city

By BILL FLORES -- Escondido
Posted: April 4, 2010 12:01 am

Escondido has suffered through more than three years of abusive driver's license checkpoints, the hallmark of Police Chief Jim Maher's administration.

The policy has resulted in the stopping of tens of thousands of cars, impounding thousands of vehicles, issuing hundreds of citations and generating millions of dollars for the city and the tow companies, all apparently in violation of California law.

The relevant laws are clear and unambiguous: stopping a vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether the driver is properly licensed is illegal. While the chief of police still claims his program of checkpoints is for "safety," he has yet to produce any evidence that checkpoints are responsible for any reduction in traffic accidents or hit-and-run accidents.

There is, however, plenty of evidence that his program has contributed to further dividing this city.

Truth be told, traffic accidents have been falling in many cities, even those where there are no checkpoints. The suspected reason: the economy. We know people are driving less because many are out of work, or are working fewer hours. People are driving fewer discretionary miles because they want to reduce their spending on gas.

With fewer cars on the road, the likelihood of having an accident is similarly reduced. Fewer accidents mean fewer hit-and-runs. In the city of Escondido, the slowed economy has hit hard, which is a more plausible explanation for any reduction in traffic accidents.

What is most surprising is that Maher's supervisor, City Manager Clay Phillips, has allowed the chief to be viewed as the new face of the anti-immigrant, anti-Latino sentiment in this city. Phillips has allowed the police department to be perceived as a political force, not unlike the Sheriff's Department of Maricopa County, Ariz., under Joe Arapio.

There are many ways to achieve legitimate law enforcement goals without the perception of being divisive, cruel, and distracted from real crime.

There is significant damage to the community that needs attention. Maher's tendency of blaming those who point out wrong-headed policies does nothing to assist in the rebuilding of confidence in this city.

BILL FLORES lives in Escondido.

NORTH COUNTY TIMES