🚀 go-pugleaf

"zeptepe" <zeptepe@neap.net> wrote in message news:<_JJK9.226388$C8.631533@nnrp1.uunet.ca>...
> While i haven't experienced one of these new "super" police roadblocks, i
> have a big, big problem with them. Is anyone else a little bit troubled by
> them?  Has anyone gone through one yet and can fill me in on what they're
> like?  Now some people might say that we need for these in the "War against
> Terrorism" (ya right) or the other standard "If you're not doing anything
> wrong, then don't worry".    The only thing i see is random searches of the
> general public.   Gives me the feeling of being in some country that's ruled
> by the military.  What next, checkpoints at Pizza Corner?  Travel papers
> needed to get to Truro?  Probably a bit extreme i realize but it feels like
> Canadian's rights are really going downhill lately.  Do we really want to
> pay taxes for the luxury of someday being randomly searched just because
> you're going to visit family in another city?   Personally, i'd rather my
> tax dollars go to things that really matter to me, like the health care
> system.

If a cop pulls you over...which they can do without needing any
reason...they can demand to see your liscense, registration, insurance
and they can check for your safety sticker (assuming you have NS
plates). If your car is in an obvious state of disrepair the cops
could conduct an isnpection beleiving that the safety sticker is a
fraud and remove your car. They can check all of these in their
computer and validate all of these documents. They cannot unreasonably
search you or your belongings without a warrant. If you happen to fit
a description of a bank robber than they will likely arrest you first
then search you. If a dog was sniffing your car and they suspected
drugs and searched your car any law school student could get you off.
A drug sniffing dog is tantamount to an illegal search. One could
argue either way but I doubt that it would hold up in court.

Most of these roadblocks are to check safety stickers which gives them
an excuse to smell inside your car...if they suspect you have been
drinking they can ask you for an ALERT test...you can refuse. If they
strongly suspect they can issue a breathalyzer demand, you can refuse
this but it carries the same penalty as impaired driving. If you know
you haven't been drinking take the test, when it comes back with a big
fat zero, get the badge number and see a lawyer. An unsubstantiated
breathalyzer demand is equivalent to false arrest.