Another Tool of Big Brother?
by Joseph C. Hinson
(relying heavily on an article by Lora Hines
from the weekend edition of The
State)
Thursday August 17, 2000
It was reported recently that an extra 15 state
Highway Patrol troopers are working in the
Midlands section of South Carolina to
help cut down on violations that may lead to crossover median wrecks.
So far, so good. Right? Wrong. Read on.
Driving unmarked cars, such as Chevrolet Camaros, the additional troopers have stopped drivers for violations including speeding and tailgating to stop crashes, said Sherry Iacobelli, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety. The Highway Patrol is part of DPS. Now what could I possibly have against that? you may ask. It is the first three words of this paragraph, "driving unmarked cars. I recently began thinking about this. Why do we as tax payers allow the police of this country to drive unmarked cars? Is it to catch speeders and drivers making other offenses? That's what they say it is about. But would it not be a better idea to have high profile cars out there patrolling instead of unmarked cars? This way, a speeder or a tailgater would see the cop, know to slow down and think twice about doing again. He or she would be on the lookout for the black and whites. The only reason I can see for the police using their stealth techniques is money. The more tickets they dish out, the more money they bring in. The more money they bring in, the more cops they can put on the street "under cover" to write more tickets and bring in more money.
Other cars, such as taxis, are used to spot violators, Iacobelli said. Spotters contact other troopers to make stops, she said. Wonderful. So now we're keeping an eye out for each other. Do the cab drivers get a kick back? Hey, if you see Idiot Dan doing 100 in a 50, call the police for crying out loud. But I worry when the government implores us to watch out for each other. It reminds me Ed Meese when, as Attorney General for Ronald Reagan in the 80s, suggested Americans spy on one another at the work place for suspect drug use, etc.
The extra troopers will work the intestates as long as the crash rate remains high, Iacobelli said. Cha-ching! See my retort a few paragraphs above.
Although statistics weren't immediately available, Iacobelli said, troopers have written more tickets. Motorists will modify their driving habits as they see more troopers, she said. It would be easier to see the extra troopers if they were not hidden behind the unmarked cars.
"When you see an unmarked Camaro on the side of the road with someone pulled over, that sends a strong message," Iacobelli said. "On my way to work, I saw two or three cars pulled over with two troopers." That's nice, Ms. Reno. You should feel proud.
Am I the only one that sees a problem with more unmarked cars out there? An, in case you're wondering, I personally have never been pulled by an unmarked car. I have, however, been pulled many, many times by a black and white. Apparently, I have something of a lead foot.
As a related note, last night I was listening to talk radio show host Lionel who was telling us that police have another weapon in their war? When you pull up to a license check, they can shine a flash light in your face. Located on the bulb of this light is a device that will give them a somewhat accurate reading of the alcohol level on your breath.
Now here I go in what seems like a rant for the rights of drunk drivers. That's not what I'm doing. But I do feel this brings up serious questions. for starters, where does the right to police invade the individuals right for expectation of privacy? Imagine that in a few years, the police have a device that would sniff out traces of marijuana in the air through brick and wood. Just say for hypothetical purposes that a police man or woman could drive slowly down a street with this device hanging out the window and sniff out the vague scent of marijuana coming from house? Would this give them the right to break down your door and search the house?
Now don't give me that old tired argument that we must do all we can to eradicate drugs and drunk driving. Have we not learned yet that we will never do away with drugs? At what point does the American public realize that we lost the War on Drugs a long time ago?
There is an old quote by someone whose name I cannot recall that says we get the government we deserve. With more and more people willingly throwing away their rights to catch a loser puffing on some weed, I think the quote is correct.
We are living in an age where man is inventing technology he may not be prepared to use wisely. At what point will we realize we have gone too far? Are we already there?
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