Pubdate: Tue, 05 Dec 2000
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2000 News World Communications, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.washtimes.com/
Author: Stephen Young
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1813/a06.html

AT DRUG CHECKPOINTS, CITIZENS ARE GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT

It is heartening to see the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against random drug 
checkpoints ("Court strikes down drug checkpoints," Nov. 29). For years the 
drug war has been used to invade the privacy of all citizens. For example, 
if you want a job, you must prove yourself innocent of drug crimes by 
submitting bodily fluids for analysis. The same is true if you are a 
student hoping to join in an extracurricular activity. And all students are 
subject to random searches by dogs trained to detect drugs, while anyone 
who travels by bus may find themselves face to face with a law enforcement 
officer who "requests" to search their personal belongings.

Since many illegal drug users look and act just like people who don't use 
illegal drugs, those would protect us from ourselves surveil everyone. In 
making people prove their innocence, some drug users may be caught. 
However, such procedures also allow authorities to scrutinize citizens 
without cause. The war on drugs is also a war on personal privacy.

Stephen Young
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