Thread: ESCONDIDO, CA : Checkpoint Protestors Endanger the Public

ESCONDIDO, CA:
Checkpoint protestors endanger the public, Maher says

Police say drivers attempt to avoid checkpoints after seeing demonstrators' signs

By EDWARD SIFUENTES - esifuentes@nctimes.com
North County Times - Californian | Posted: Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:38 pm

Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher says protesters who have been holding signs alerting drivers to his department's checkpoints are endangering the community ---- by warning off potentially drunken drivers and prompting others to drive recklessly to avoid the stops.

In recent weeks, a group of protesters have held signs that read: "Checkpoint," "White Collar Crime Ahead" and "Car Thieves Ahead."

The demonstrators say they are exercising their First Amendment right to protest.

But Maher says they are putting people at risk.

"I think it's dangerous that they are trying to help drunk drivers avoid the checkpoints," Maher said. He said the protesters should find another way to express their opposition to the checkpoints.

The protests are the latest development in a long-running dispute between some residents and police over the use of the checkpoints, which the department ramped up in recent years to curb hit-and-run crashes.

Critics say they disproportionately affect illegal immigrants, most of whom are Latino and barred by state law from applying for driver's licenses.

The demonstrators, including Escondido City Council candidate Carmen Miranda and anti-checkpoint activist Jenifer Leiendecker, held a protest Saturday evening at the intersection of North Broadway and El Norte Parkway.

At the same time, police were holding a sobriety checkpoint a few blocks east on El Norte Parkway and North Ash Street.

Police said drivers were making unsafe turns to avoid the checkpoint after they saw the protesters.

One driver suddenly veered into a driveway after passing the protesters' signs, said Lt. Tom Albergo, who heads the department's traffic division. The driver was stopped by officers for not having a front license plate.

Albergo said the driver was later arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Another driver who made an illegal U-turn also was arrested for driving under the influence, Albergo said.

In the area between the protesters and the checkpoint location, eight other drivers were cited Saturday night on a variety of violations, including illegal tinted windows, no license plate lights, turning violations and driving on a suspended driver's license, Albergo said.

Leidendecker sent an e-mail to Maher on Monday asking the department to remove a news release on its website that implied the protesters were to blame for the reckless drivers.

"Protesters waved signs at motorists and attempted to divert them from the checkpoint ahead," the news release said.

Maher said he would not remove the news release.

"Sorry, but the info was accurate, and our job is to make the streets safer for everyone, not worry about a politically correct response or staying on the sidelines," Maher wrote in an e-mail reply to Leidendecker. "Drunk drivers kill people, and those who try to help them avoid arrest are putting all of us in danger."

Leiendecker blamed police for the reckless drivers.

"They were parked along the streets, parked in the middle of the road with their lights flashing and sitting on the side streets intimidating drivers who may have wanted to turn," she said. "Escape routes are supposed to be readily available for drivers."

Under state regulations, police are required to give drivers "an escape route," or a way to turn away from the checkpoint, said Chris Cochran, a spokesman for the state's Office of Traffic Safety. However, officers can stop drivers suspected of some violation or who make illegal turns in an attempt to avoid the checkpoint, he said.

During the six-hour checkpoint, 1,450 vehicles were screened, police said. Forty-seven vehicles were sent to secondary inspections, including those belonging to drivers who could not produce a driver's license or who were suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Five people were arrested for DUI, including the two drivers who tried to avoid the checkpoint. One other person was cited for possession of marijuana.

Police impounded 15 vehicles; 12 because the drivers were unlicensed.

Leidendecker says the checkpoints are being used primarily as a way to generate revenue for the city and the towing companies. She says the city is illegally profiting from the checkpoints through processing fees that drivers pay to recover their vehicles and $100,000-a-year contracts the city has with four local towing companies.

Cochran said there is no evidence the city has done anything wrong.

The department receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants each year from the federal government through the state Office of Traffic Safety to fund its sobriety checkpoint program. On Monday, the department announced it received another $268,000 grant from the Office of Traffic Safety for its efforts.

Call staff writer Edward Sifuentes at 760-740-3511.


NORTH COUNTY TIMES

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lt. T. Albergo
DATE: 10/25/2010 PHONE: (760) 839-4901

ESCONDIDO POLICE TO COMBAT DUI DEATHS AND INJURIES
THROUGH TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAM

Escondido Police Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long anti-DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways. Additional enforcement measures in place to combat impaired driving are coming as a result of a recent $268,000 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to Escondido. The Escondido Police Department is dedicated to keeping our streets safe through both enforcement and education.
Our message is simple. No matter what you drive—a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle—if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses,â€

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lt. T. Albergo

DATE: 10/24/2010 PHONE: (760) 839-4901

On October 23, 2010, the Escondido Police Department conducted a DUI Sobriety / Drivers License Checkpoint at El Norte Parkway and Ash Street, from 6:00 PM until 12:00 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 and distracted driving.

Protesters waived signs at motorists and attempted to divert them from the checkpoint ahead.

One driver suddenly veered into a driveway after passing the protesters’ signage, but was stopped for not displaying a front license plate. He admitted he did not know anyone at the house and was trying to avoid going into the checkpoint. That driver was arrested for DUI.

Another driver made an illegal U turn across the cone pattern and was later arrested for DUI.

Eight other drivers were cited for a variety of violations that occurred between the demonstrators and the entry to the checkpoint.

The violations included tinted windows, no license plate lights,
and turning violations. Two of those individuals were also cited for driving with suspended licenses.

Other results from this checkpoint included:
 1,593 vehicles entered the checkpoint
 1,450 vehicles were screened in primary
 47 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)
 9 field sobriety tests were administered
 5 drivers were arrested for DUI, including the two mentioned earlier. One of those was also
charged with possession of fraudulent documents.
 1 person was cited and released for possession of marijuana. 1 person was arrested for being
drunk in public.
 15 vehicles were impounded at this checkpoint, 6 drivers did not have auto insurance, 3
drivers had a suspended drivers license and 12 drivers did not have a drivers license
 21 citations were issued at this checkpoint
 2 Child Restraint Seat were correctly reinstalled for parents free of charge

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/police/ne ... -24-10.pdf

RELATED STORY

ESCONDIDO: Protestors say police harassed, videotaped them
Demonstrators were picketing sobriety checkpoint


NORTH COUNTY TIMES

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1126491-.html#1126491

Carmen Miranda for Escondido City Council



A voice for your neighborhood


Carmen Miranda listens to you

"All of us want Escondido to prosper. We all want to have productive work and feel secure from graffiti, gangs and crime.

"To move our community in a positive direction, I am listening to — and working with — individuals and groups across the economic, political, and social spectrum.

"Let's take your concerns to City Hall!"

Issues
Starting at the grassroots of our neighborhoods and working together, we can build a community that sets the standard for all cities in San Diego County. The key issues I want to address include:
•Jobs, jobs, jobs — Attracting new businesses is key to creating jobs. Escondido must establish policies that make our business parks competitive with those in other communities. City Council members should be active ambassadors by marketing our community's merits at trade shows and other events held throughout San Diego County and elsewhere.
•City budget — Balance it! Use taxpayer dollars only to support taxpayer needs. Stop pouring our money into the pockets of developers.
•Ballpark — Think seriously about cost versus benefits! I have two concerns regarding a ballpark in Escondido:
◦Location — It must not displace the Boys and Girls Club, which is an incredible asset for Escondido's families. Plenty of parking must be available, and it must not disrupt traffic flow through downtown.
◦Financing — The entire cost must be covered by the developer. As an article in the NY Times soberingly states, too many ballparks cost taxpayers much more than they deliver. If we're going to build a ballpark at taxpayer expense, it must benefit all the taxpayers, and not just downtown businesses.
•Libraries — Increase hours, and expand or rebuild our main public library.
•Quality of life — Improve our parks, roads, lighting, and other infrastructure to enhance "liveability." The long-term benefit will be a stronger sense of community and reduced crime.
•Crime — Shift police focus from checkpoints and immigrant issues to seriously addressing our increase in real crime. Work with neighborhoods to find grass-roots solutions to gang activity and other crime.
•Family health — Coordinate with nonprofit organizations and volunteers in reaching out to our neighborhoods to encourage greater awareness of healthy choices.
•Sustainable energy programs — Actively seek grants for sustainability programs such as covering roofs with heat-reflecting material.
•Assistance programs — Support programs and activities for seniors and children.
Please VOTE — for honesty, for integrity, and for
the future of our families in Escondido.

http://www.carmenmirandanow.com/

Crime — Shift police focus from checkpoints and immigrant issues to seriously addressing our increase in real crime. Work with neighborhoods to find grass-roots solutions to gang activity and other crime.

The illegal Alien smuggling and fraudulent activities and papers :

IS CRIME OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

After only 8 comments the nespaper shut down all discussion .........

8 Comments



Ace Reporter said on: October 11, 2010, 10:53 pm
Commenting for this story is now closed.

Comments

ESCONDIDO CA : Back in Illegal Immigration Spotlight


By Morgan Lee
Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 9:41 a.m.

A special arrangement between federal agents and Escondido law enforcement has thrust the increasingly Latino city back into the illegal-immigration spotlight.

Police Chief Jim Maher calls the full-time placement of three Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at police headquarters an important crime-fighting tool. He said the goal is to make Escondido as unfriendly as possible to illegal border crossers who have criminal records, including previous deportations.

Maher’s critics said the chief’s hard line has sent a chilling message to the entire Latino community, which is dominated by Mexicans and is now the largest ethnic group in Escondido. Many contend that the city’s sobriety checkpoints are a guise for intimidating the undocumented, who are barred from getting a driver’s license in California. They also worry that Escondido’s close cooperation with ICE, a pilot project that’s the first of its kind in the state and perhaps the country, could become permanent and expand.

Implicit in these complaints is the belief that illegal immigrants should be able to live peacefully, find employment and eventually gain permanent residency in the United States.

The Escondido controversy reflects some of the thorniest issues in the national debate about immigration reform. Certain organizations push for tougher measures against illegal immigrants, while others want Congress to grant them a path to citizenship. In various speeches and its immigration lawsuit against Arizona, the Obama administration has aimed for a balancing act — upholding laws against the undocumented while trying to be humane and to not antagonize key nations such as Mexico.

Escondido attracted national attention in 2006 with its failed attempt to punish landlords who rent to illegal immigrants. The city has a policy against giving sanctuary to illegal immigrants or leaving immigration matters to federal authorities alone.

The street demonstrations that greeted the rental ordinance are back, this time near the police sobriety checkpoints. On Oct. 23, for example, about 30 people gathered a few blocks ahead of one checkpoint to warn motorists, who detoured onto alternate streets or parked their vehicles to wait out the screening.

Maher condemned such protests as irresponsible. He said they undermine his department’s moderate and pragmatic campaign to keep the city safe.

“There are folks in this community that feel that if we know someone is in the country illegally, just in the country illegally, we should take action,â€

ESCONDIDO POLICE MOST WANTED

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/police/ne ... index.html





























http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/police/ne ... index.html

Jobs, jobs, jobs —

Not Related, but have you noticed that the politicians when referring to job growth always say "Jobs, jobs, jobs ". Like it is supposed to mean something.

Arnold said it.

meg said it

Jobs, jobs, jobs —