cannabisnews.com: Weekend Checkpoint Snares 80 





Weekend Checkpoint Snares 80 
Posted by FoM on March 06, 2000 at 09:04:27 PT
By Eddie Daniels, Staff Writer
Source: Ledger-Enquirer
Motorists traveling south on Interstate 185 got an unpleasant surprise Friday and Saturday, when they found traffic narrowed into a single lane between the exits of Smith and Williams roads for a drug checkpoint.The checkpoint, which began at 9 a.m. and ended at 7 p.m., was conducted by the Metro Narcotics Task Force of the Columbus Police Department. 
The task force arrested 80 individuals, most of whom were headed to Florida for spring break, for possession of illegal drugs. Twenty-two arrests were made on Friday, while Saturday netted 58 arrests. The majority of the drug arrests was for possession of marijuana, but two arrests for possession of the drug "ecstasy" were also recorded. Capt. J.D. Hawk, who heads the Metro Narcotics Task Force, said drivers were also cited for reckless driving, seat belt violations and expired licenses."It's about what we expected," Hawk said. "The first day was kind of slow and the second day picked up."A total of six cars were seized at the checkpoint -- two Friday and four Saturday. State law allows for the seizure of vehicles used by suspects involved in the illegal drug trade or where illegal drugs are found. After a car has been seized, the chances of getting the car back is slim.Once task force seizes a car, it files "condemnation" papers on it and the court decides where the car will go. The task force even has the option to buy the car for the amount left to pay on it, Hawk said."We get most of the cars we seize," Hawk said. "Metro does not have an actual budget that comes out of any of the agencies," he said. "We work strictly off the forfeitures and seizures." The property seized by Metro can be auctioned off. During a February auction, Metro earned more than $40,000 for operating funds, Hawk said.The motorists charged with felony drug possession this weekend will have their cases bound over to Superior Court. The street value for the drugs seized will be known later in the week, Hawk said.The task force is comprised of officers from the Bibb City, Columbus and Phenix City police departments, the Russell and Muscogee County sheriff's departments. Canine units and a drug suppression team from Fort Benning were also used.   Published: March 6, 2000All content © 2000 Ledger-Enquirer Ledger-Enquirer P.O. Box 711Columbus, Ga. 31902-0711 (800) 282-7859 Related Articles:Spring Break or Bust http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4962.shtmlGeorgia DUI Law Found Unconstitutionalhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread1611.shtmlDUI Ruling Jeopardizes Drug Arrestshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread1526.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on March 06, 2000 at 11:04:39 PT:
It's right there, out of the horse's mouth
Metro does not have an actual budget that comes out of any of the agencies," he said. "We work strictly off the forfeitures and seizures." The property seized by Metro can be auctioned off. During a February auction, Metro earned more than $40,000 for operating funds, Hawk said.Now, why is that, do you suppose? Why do they lack for funds? Why no community support?But there's something even more important, and it proves what many articles printed here have been saying all along. That these police forces are engaging in literal highway robbery. That they are *counting* on stealing a certain amount in order to meet their operational costs. And therfore are planning their operations *solely* to fill their own coffers. And thus have more of an incentive to conduct these operations.We have already, each one of us, paid our taxes to maintain the Interstate Highway System; this DrugCheckpoint businesss is tantamount to a new form of taxation-without-representation applied to motorists, willy-nilly. As I said in a previous post, I hope the ACLU is monitoring this situation; you can't get a more transparent violation of the 4th Ammendment than this.You should consider going to the web site of the ACLU and download their BustCard. It gives some good advice on how to handle yourself in traffic stops where the police try to trick you into giving up your 4th Ammendment rights against warrantless searches.
Home page of the ACLU
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