Thread: DUI checkpoints generate millions for police

Feb 15, 2010

Report: Calif. DUI checkpoints generate millions for police

06:08 PM

A California investigation has found that sobriety checkpoints have caught more unlicensed motorists than drunks, creating a cash cow for local police departments that impound vehicles — mostly from minority drivers and often from illegal immigrants. But the 30-day seizures may be illegal.

In mounting such operations, police officers also racked up tens of millions of dollars in overtime pay.

The investigation, by California Watch and the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California-Berkeley, says that last year, local police earned about $40 million from fines and towing fees, which cities split with tow companies. And cops collected $30 million in overtime -- paid for by the federal government -- for staffing the DUI checkpoints.

Other findings:

• Sobriety checkpoints frequently screen traffic in or near Latino neighborhoods. In cities with majority Latino populations, police are seizing cars at three times the rate of cities with small minority populations.

• Impounds appear to defy a 2005 federal appellate court ruling that police cannot seize vehicles just because the driver is unlicensed. More than 24,000 cars and trucks were impounded at checkpoints last year, even though only 3,200 motorists were arrested for drunken driving.

• Police departments frequently overstaff checkpoints with officers, all of whom earn overtime.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... r-police/1

Car seizures at DUI checkpoints prove profitable for cities, raise legal questions

February 13, 2010
Ryan Gabrielson

Sobriety checkpoints in California are increasingly turning into profitable operations for local police departments that are far more likely to seize cars from unlicensed motorists than catch drunken drivers.

An investigation by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley with California Watch has found that impounds at checkpoints in 2009 generated an estimated $40 million in towing fees and police fines – revenue that cities divide with towing firms.

Additionally, police officers received about $30 million in overtime pay for the DUI crackdowns, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

In dozens of interviews over the past three months, law enforcement officials and tow truck operators say that vehicles are predominantly taken from minority motorists – often illegal immigrants.

In the course of its examination, the Investigative Reporting Program reviewed hundreds of pages of city financial records and police reports, and analyzed data documenting the results from every checkpoint that received state funding during the past two years. Among the findings:

•Sobriety checkpoints frequently screen traffic within, or near, Hispanic neighborhoods. Cities where Hispanics represent a majority of the population are seizing cars at three times the rate of cities with small minority populations. In South Gate, a Los Angeles County city where Hispanics make up 92 percent of the population, police confiscated an average of 86 vehicles per operation last fiscal year.
•The seizures appear to defy a 2005 federal appellate court ruling that determined police cannot impound cars solely because the driver is unlicensed. In fact, police across the state have ratcheted up vehicle seizures. Last year, officers impounded more than 24,000 cars and trucks at checkpoints. That total is roughly seven times higher than the 3,200 drunken driving arrests at roadway operations. The percentage of vehicle seizures has increased 53 percent statewide compared to 2007.
•Departments frequently overstaff checkpoints with officers, all earning overtime. The Moreno Valley Police Department in Riverside County averaged 38 officers at each operation last year, six times more than federal guidelines say is required. Nearly 50 other local police and sheriff’s departments averaged 20 or more officers per checkpoint – operations that averaged three DUI arrests a night.
Law enforcement officials say demographics play no role in determining where police establish checkpoints.

Indeed, the Investigative Reporting Program’s analysis did not find evidence that police departments set up checkpoints to specifically target Hispanic neighborhoods. The operations typically take place on major thoroughfares near highways, and minority motorists are often caught in the checkpoints’ net.

“All we’re looking for is to screen for sobriety and if you have a licensed driver,â€

I don't see a problem with this, if you don't have a valid license you should not be driving a car, end of story! If you an illegal alien, you not even be here, much less driving a car, get out.


Getting a license is neither expensive or hard, IF you can pass the test and establish valid legal residency. Anyone else can shut up and get out.

Don't see any problem with this either. We have numerous intersections with cameras also that catch people running lights, that has been a huge money maker for cities. Just follow the law....duh!

Police: Deployments this week targeting unrestrained, drunk drivers

Brian J. Pedersen Arizona Daily Star
February 15, 2010

Local police are implementing several special enforcement programs aimed at curbing drunk driving and enforcing seat belt and child safety seat use.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department will have two special sobriety checkpoints this week, while at the same time enhanced DUI and liquor license compliance patrols will be conducted.

The Tucson Police Department began a safety restraint enforcement program on Sunday, focusing on the area around South 12th Avenue between West Ajo Way and West Valencia Road. The program will run throughout the week, TPD said.

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/southsi ... 002e0.html

NEWS FLASH !

red light cameras prove profitable for cities ...........

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lt. Chris Wynn
DATE: 01/31/2010 PHONE: (760) 839-4901

DUI / DRIVERS LICENSE CHECKPOINT: January 30, 2010

On January 30, 2010, the Escondido Police Department conducted a DUI Sobriety / Drivers
License Checkpoint at the intersection of East El Norte Parkway and Ash Street from 6:00 PM
until 1:00 AM. The emphasis of this checkpoint was to detect intoxicated and unlicensed drivers
as well as to provide a highly visible operation to deter driving under the influence.

The following activity resulted from this checkpoint:
 2,132 vehicles entered the checkpoint
 1,057 vehicles were screened in primary
 71 vehicles sent to secondary (drivers who could not produce a drivers license or who were
suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
 6 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
 1 subject was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle and a parole violation
 1 subject was arrested for being drunk in public
 1 subject was arrested for possession of false documents
 7 field sobriety tests were administered
 42 vehicles were impounded at this checkpoint, 8 drivers did not have auto insurance, 5
drivers had a suspended drivers license and 34 drivers did not have a drivers license
 42 citations were issued at this checkpoint

This checkpoint was operated in conjunction with the San Diego County DUI Probation Team,
Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the North County Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Council.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety,
through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Drunk Driving; Over the Limit, Under Arrest. Report Drunk Drivers, Call 911

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/police/ne ... -31-10.pdf