Pubdate: Fri, 08 Dec 2000
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2000 The Denver Post
Contact:  1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Fax: (303) 820.1502
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htm
Author: Matthew S. Connell

NO REASONABLE BASIS FOR POLICE ROADBLOCKS

Re: "New rule in drug wars," Dec. 1.

I am disappointed in your editorial supporting the use of police roadblocks
"at the nation's borders." I drove through these roadblocks, quite
routinely, when I lived in southern California. I wasn't stopped, of course,
because I am a white guy. But anyone with dark hair and dark skin was pulled
over and required to produce identification.

Kind of like a World War II era movie in which the uniformed German officer
would say, "Vere are your papers?" If the car's occupants didn't speak
English, they would be detained until they could prove they were in the
country legally.

These roadblocks were north of San Diego and south of Los Angeles, and have
been approved by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of U.S. vs.
Martinez-Fuerte.

I had similar experiences with roadblocks while I was a public defender in
Adams County. Whose cars do you think get singled out for intrusive
searches: those of middle-aged white women or young black men? Roadblocks
are searches and seizures that the police conduct without any reasonable
basis to believe that the occupants of the cars have committed any sort of
crime.

All roadblocks should be unconstitutional.

MATTHEW S. CONNELL Boulder
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