DUI Check Points

[STAGE 3 R/T]

Be safe everyone...

HONOLULU -- Impaired driver checkpoints went up this week around Oahu, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

The checkpoints will continue until Jan. 2.

The checkpoints are aimed at deterring alcohol- and/or drug-impaired drivers.
More than 80 people have died on Oahu roads so far this year, compared with 68 deaths for the same period last year.

During the 12-month period that ended on Sept. 30, HPD officers arrested 3,278 impaired drivers, HPD said.

[Duke]

G O O D!

We don't need to lose anymore people that we love!!!

[FactoryD]

Good!

If you feel the need to drive drunk, get a cab, be prepared to get a DUI, or worse...

[STAGE 3 R/T]

it is NOT worth it. Hawaii is a small island. BE SAFE AND BE SMART!

[pir8magnum]

I thought they only pulled over people who star in the TV show 'LOST'?

J/K..but man, those people sure seem to be unable to stay out of trouble with the Hawaii police!

[STAGE 3 R/T]

hawaii police are a bunch of... nevermind they lie and they do bad jobs of it.

[JTSRT6]

crooked cops...

[The Coyote]

Aw, thats too bad that you guys feel that way. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Me, I like cops. Some are idiots that's true though.

[SmoovC]

While I don't condone drunk driving; isn't there a little thing called probable cause??

Seems to me if they are pulling over everyone, they have no probable cause to do so.

Of course, I am sure there is some loophole they use to get around it.

[TATTOOD]

hell... even if it's wrong ... at least they get the person off the road until they sober up before they hurt anyone or themselves...

I'll have the roast duck and the mango salsa

[hawkxp]

While I don't condone drunk driving; isn't there a little thing called probable cause??

Seems to me if they are pulling over everyone, they have no probable cause to do so.

Of course, I am sure there is some loophole they use to get around it.

Its a state level thing... You and I are in states (OR & WA) where probable cause is required, and our state supreme courts have banned blanket stops like this...

Other states still have them, based "driving is a privilege not a right" so if you are driving you have to show your not impaired...

[Jaak]

Too bad being a LEO isn't a privilege. Most of them are fine, but there's a few that need to be pulled over.

[LP81]

You can constrew(?sp) probably cause in any way you want... you could be driving exactly the speed limit and they can just pull you over because they feel the way the sun light is hitting the road at a certain angle makes it unsafe for you to be driving that speed in those conditions...or they think they saw you not signal atleast 100 ft. before a turn. I ran across one that would make up any excuse just to pull someone over...

now don't get me wrong, most cops aren't bad, but there are plenty out there that abuse things and cause more traffic problems b pulling someone over then that person that was going alittle over the limit would have caused already

[midoco]

When I lived in Atlanta they had DUI checkpoints for a while on a very busy interstate. I thought ... how can they stop everyone on the interstate? Then I saw one. They put up a sign that said DUI checkpoint in 2 miles and just checked the people that exited at the next exit.

[The Coyote]

If you are able to take a look at the way a DUI road block is set up (in Hawaii anyway) there are signs posted and flares lit to let you know its there. There also is supposed to be a turn of or turn around area before the road block so that people can turn around instead of going through it. At the road block cars are stopped randomly (unless there is a blatant violation) and a cursory check is made to see if the driver appears to be under the influence. If there is a violation (like no front license plate or expired tax or safety check) then the driver is directed to the side and issued a warning or a citation and the cycle (every 5th car or 8th car or whatever count they were using to count the vehicles) is started over.

Now with the holidays over, the area of focus is pedestrian deaths. Since the start of the new year, several pedestrians have been killed and nearly all of them were not in crosswalks. So now HPD has to issue warnings or citations to get people to cross in safer areas (at lighted intersections when they have the signal etc). As far as what goes on in the mainland... I'm not sure but it could be the same or similar circumstances.

Also, there will of course be roadblocks out this 3 day weekend. So, I hope everyone has a safe one and is careful. Take care.