Sobriety checkpoint....and shakedown....

[gonefishin]

I am not for police harassment but parties on the rivers and in the party coves have been asking for it for years.

[Ham]

Basically, if you don't police your own actions, someone else eventually will. A LOT of bad behavior has gone on for a LONG time on the Spring river and the Niangua river.

I's rather not have checkpoints to deal with either. I thought by having a checkpoint that alieviated the need for a probable cause.

I like the Niangua. I've even caught a fish or two there. I'd like to see it without a thousand cans on the bottom one day.

[oneshot]

I know before the season started they said they was going to step up River and Highway Check Points this year compared to last year.

I will say that between Gas prices,river being up,and now this it is hurting Tourist Trade in the area.Which most people count on.

oneshot

[fishinwrench]

I dunno Oneshot, just try to find a campsite, or a motel room on Friday evening. Seems to be a good season for the tourist trade, far as I can tell.

[Terry Beeson]

If you ever (most of us have) see the flashing lights in your mirrors the following are a few things that will go a long, long, long way in your favor when you have the distinctly unpleasurable conversation with Johhny Law.

HHC,

Good advice! From personal experience, let me relate. I was on my way home on a business trip a few years back. I topped a hill going about 10 mph over the limit and met a highway patrol car. He turned and came after me, but the area we were in (at 11pm or so) was pretty remote and not very "shoulder friendly" so I gave him a wave and drove about a mile and a half or more to a parking lot of a restaurant and motel.

When he approached me, he asked if I did not see him and I explained I did not want to pull off "back there" and wanted to find a better spot so we would not be too close to the road and traffic. He looked up the highway and said, "Oh, well, I... uh... yeah... I appreciate that, sir."

He DID give me a ticket, though...

[jcoberley]

I agree with GF on this subject.

I also want to add people like myself call in about wild reckless people out in a boats being fools trying to act cute. Just because they’re in a boat and I am in my canoe or fishing from shore. Trying to swamp and or throwing their trash overboard running over other boaters and skiers, running full out through a no wake zones. You know just stupid stuff like that. So people like me call in and complain and well it has taken years but guess what! They’re starting to patrol the waters and I for one am glad. If people want to act like that then they need to stay inside their own house and destroy it. If they were respectful on the water there would not be a need for water patrol. So I for one want to shake the patrols hand and also say its about time we have needed you for years. JMO

One more thing! Should we overlook it just to put a few dollors in a few people pocket. Or should we stand up for whats right! I for on will stand up for whats right and think about our tomarrows and our childrens tomorrows. Should we turn our backs to the costs of out nature resources just to put a little gingle in a pocket. Maybe we would look the other way if they would happen to murder one of our children just to put a dollor in our pocket. Lets stand like a man for whats right and forget the greed. JMO

[hornyheadchub]

I thought by having a checkpoint that alieviated the need for a probable cause.

You thought wrong. What we had there was not a checkpoint where every boat was being searched or even stopped, perhaps that is what they do now, but not in my experiece. Checkpoints don't negate Probable Cause but if you leave a open beer can in your car in plain sight and pass through a checkpoint you'll go down hard. Further, only a small percent of the people that pass through a checkpoint are searched, and only if they have given the law Probable Cause such as no insurance, a smell of herb in the car, warrants, etc. Also, true checkpoints must be posted/advertised in advance in the public arena such as a newspaper; KSMU in Springfield does this as a public service (thanks to DJ Thom Hutchison) nearly everyday for speed traps and sobriety checkpoints. Probable Cause is constitutionally protected and certainly was req'd in this situation. The Deputy's admission of having none verified my suspicion that he was trying to take advantage of us.

ALWAYS stand up for your rights when confronted by the law, ALWAYS, because if you don't they will exploit your ignorance and weakness to their gain every time.

He looked up the highway and said, "Oh, well, I... uh... yeah... I appreciate that, sir."

He DID give me a ticket, though...

Well Terry, some cops are just that way; maybe he was behind on his quota. I guess it's true that you can't polish a turd

[Gavin]

I'd agree. Law enforcement officers can make your life miserable if you give them a reason to (and some dont need a reason). Be polite and comply with reasonable requests but dont let them walk all over your rights.

My Uncle who served in law enforcement always told me to remain calm, give them my identification, ask for cause if they want to search, keep my mouth shut, and ears open. Law enforcement officers are trained to respond to your actions with violence, and some like it...Dont give them an excuse to arrest you, beat you up, or worse. Cheers.

[oneshot]

Ok explain this.Go to a Managed Deer Hunt,only one way in and out,drinking done in Camp,not in hunting area.

Just before Lunch time Law sets up a Safty Check Point catching Guys coming in for Lunch.Most tickets are for no Seatbelts.Now this is on a basically one lane gravel road.

oneshot

[brownieman]

Ok explain this.Go to a Managed Deer Hunt,only one way in and out,drinking done in Camp,not in hunting area.

Just before Lunch time Law sets up a Safty Check Point catching Guys coming in for Lunch.Most tickets are for no Seatbelts.Now this is on a basically one lane gravel road.

oneshot

looks like easy pickins to me...only one way out...them wascals are very,very, shweud, lol