DUI Checkpoints in New England?
[views:25995][posts:85]_______________________________
[Nov 12,2009 2:04pm - aril ""]
I've been reading that more and more states are setting up DUI checkpoints on major highways at night, mostly on weekends.
Anyone see or hear of them around here yet?
[Nov 12,2009 2:18pm - arktouros ""]
Passed one a year ago on Rt. 20 in Oxford, the cop sticks his head in, asks you a few questions and sniffs your breath.
I constantly drive around at night and that's the only time I've seen one.
[Nov 12,2009 2:21pm - GUY ""]
passed one on memorial drive about a year and half ago, fe questions and right on our way
[Nov 12,2009 2:28pm - FuckIsMySignature ""]
arktouros said:Passed one a year ago on Rt. 20 in Oxford, the cop sticks his head in, asks you a few questions and sniffs your breath.
I constantly drive around at night and that's the only time I've seen one.
confirmed.. avoid that area like the plague come night time.
[Nov 12,2009 2:30pm - BrianDBB ""]
Occur pretty regularly near the entrance of the Lowell Connector... AVOID!
[Nov 12,2009 2:47pm - aril ""]
I haven't seen any down where I live. 24 south, 495 south
[Nov 12,2009 2:47pm - largefreakatzero ""]
Been hearing about more in NH. Stimulus money at work, gee thanks.
[Nov 12,2009 2:59pm - thetruthaboutmuffdivers ""]
Live drunk or die!
[Nov 12,2009 3:10pm - porphyria ""]
sounds good to me, too many drunk drivers are killing people while they get to live on.
in mexico there are road checkpoints and speed bumps all over the place, while it was annoying at first I actually think it's a good idea when it comes down to safety.
[Nov 12,2009 3:12pm - brodown ""]
BrianDBB said:Occur pretty regularly near the entrance of the Lowell Connector... AVOID!
As soo as I saw this post I was thinking the same thing. I don't get them at the entrance though, I get them at the faaar end as you turn onto Thorndike St, exit 5B. I avoid that shit like the plague at night. There's also speed traps ALL over that road.
[Nov 12,2009 3:17pm - Yeti ""]
granted drunk driving is stupid, but this is stupid too. so out of the 10000 people they badger and treat as though guilty, what's the success rate? yeah yeah yeah, "you wouldn't say the same thing if your mother was killed by a drunk driver". no, i would. am i saying drunk driving shouldn't be pursued? no, but this is just one more thing to push us towards the police state.
[Nov 12,2009 3:21pm - arktouros ""]
A first time drunk-driving offense in El Salvador leads to execution by firing squad, while a second offense in Bulgaria also leads to execution.
In France, drinking and driving is punishable by the equivalent of a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for one year, and loss of license for three years. Finland and Sweden automatically sentence drunk drivers to one-year jail sentences including hard labor. In Norway, a drunk driver is jailed for three weeks with hard labor and loses their license for a year. If they do it again, they lose their license forever. In South Africa, drinking and driving results in a ten-year prison sentence or the equivalent of a $10,000 fine and, in some cases, both.
[Nov 12,2009 3:23pm - Yeti ""]
any man willing to sacrifice a small amount of liberty for a small amount of security deserves neither.
[Nov 12,2009 3:23pm - Yeti ""]
arktouros said:A first time drunk-driving offense in El Salvador leads to execution by firing squad, while a second offense in Bulgaria also leads to execution.
In France, drinking and driving is punishable by the equivalent of a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for one year, and loss of license for three years. Finland and Sweden automatically sentence drunk drivers to one-year jail sentences including hard labor. In Norway, a drunk driver is jailed for three weeks with hard labor and loses their license for a year. If they do it again, they lose their license forever. In South Africa, drinking and driving results in a ten-year prison sentence or the equivalent of a $10,000 fine and, in some cases, both.
awesome.
[Nov 12,2009 3:25pm - arktouros ""]
we've all driven a little drunk before. just don't get caught and don't hit anybody.
these checkpoints don't lean toward a police state - i don't trust the general population with alcohol and keys and i don't trust them sober with a flying car either.
[Nov 12,2009 3:27pm - arktouros ""]
Yeti said:any man willing to sacrifice a small amount of liberty for a small amount of security deserves neither.
good point. damn. i guess drunk driving is the american way.
[Nov 12,2009 3:29pm - aril ""]
Drunkis indeed dumb, but the have 2 beers the drivng puts you over the limit. I don't know about you but 2 beers don't really impair my judgement to the point where I can't drive. I usually put the foot down if I feel a little too buzzed. I've never driven absolutely shitfaced. Driving drunk is too ididotic
[Nov 12,2009 3:30pm - aril ""]
Not sure what my phone did there
[Nov 12,2009 3:33pm - porphyria ""]
arktouros said:we've all driven a little drunk before. just don't get caught and don't hit anybody.
I'm sure that's what is running through every drunk drivers mind before they get in the car and kill someone else either in their car or someone else's.
[Nov 12,2009 3:36pm - porphyria ""]
aril said:Drunkis indeed dumb, but the have 2 beers the drivng puts you over the limit. I don't know about you but 2 beers don't really impair my judgement to the point where I can't drive. I usually put the foot down if I feel a little too buzzed. I've never driven absolutely shitfaced. Driving drunk is too ididotic
So are they suppose to have a different law for each individual driver? The point is to reduce the chances regardless of lightweight/heavyweight drinkers.
[Nov 12,2009 3:36pm - carina working from home ""]
+1 for porphyria
~~~
seriously people...drunk driving is stupid...and some people on here have had people killed due to drunk drivers..
[Nov 12,2009 3:39pm - aril ""]
No, I just think they should raise the legal limit a little bit. 2 beers in under an hour does not constitute being drunk IMO. I'm not pro drunk driving but I think a better enforced, yet a little raise in the limit would work better.
[Nov 12,2009 3:41pm - porphyria ""]
arktouros said:i don't trust the general population with alcohol and keys and i don't trust them sober with a flying car either.
+1, seriously, people either suck at driving to begin with or think they own the road and no rules apply...add alcohol into the mix = FAIL, but usually for someone else not involved. Douchetards.
[Nov 12,2009 3:41pm - aril ""]
Nothing worse than seeing a person swerve.
[Nov 12,2009 3:42pm - Pires ""]
the RI supreme court has deemed it unconstitutional. So they won't be in RI anytime soon.
[Nov 12,2009 3:43pm - arktouros ""]
porphyria said:
I'm sure that's what is running through every drunk drivers mind before they get in the car and kill someone else either in their car or someone else's.
that's why i said it. i think the laws and checkpoints are there because they work well.
i'm not sure if there are ways to find out where/when these checkpoints are - i have heard people talking about avoiding certain places because there will be DUI checkpoints. occasionally on the road me or someone i'm with will get a text from someone that sees one.
[Nov 12,2009 3:45pm - aril ""]
If I'm with someone that didn't drink and I had 3+ beers, I'd ask them to drive. It's common sense
[Nov 12,2009 3:46pm - porphyria ""]
aril said:No, I just think they should raise the legal limit a little bit. 2 beers in under an hour does not constitute being drunk IMO. I'm not pro drunk driving but I think a better enforced, yet a little raise in the limit would work better.
Is it really worth the risk regardless? drink at home or have someone else drive your ass that is sober.
[Nov 12,2009 3:49pm - aril ""]
80% of people that leave metal shows are legally drunk.
[Nov 12,2009 3:52pm - porphyria ""]
you may be right and that's scary shit imo.
[Nov 12,2009 3:53pm - Da Flipside ""]
porphyria said: drink at home.
But now you're just promoting anti-social behavior.
[Nov 12,2009 3:54pm - Da Flipside ""]
LOL @ "may be right".
[Nov 12,2009 3:56pm - aril ""]
porphyria said:you may be right and that's scary shit imo.
96.4% of people leaving patriots games are drunk.
In all seriousness, I remember hearing some stat that past 11pm on weekends almost 1 out of every 10 cars you see are "legally" drunk.
[Nov 12,2009 4:01pm - Conservationist ""]
Legalize drunk driving.
Yes, I'm serious.
[Nov 12,2009 4:09pm - arktouros ""]
to weed out the people stupid enough to get hit by a drunk driver.
[Nov 12,2009 4:09pm - aril ""]
Good ol' Texas.
[Nov 12,2009 4:36pm - Afterbirth ""]
I love drunk drivers. They killed my best friend Katie Dubouis.
[Nov 12,2009 5:13pm - RustyPS ""]
I saw one months ago on the loop connector between the Tobin Bridge and I-93/Storrow Drive going into town (I was heading out of town) on a Saturday night...but I haven't seen any since
[Nov 12,2009 6:40pm - eric ""]
In no way do i advocate drunk driving and i think checkpoints are a good thing and they should be implemented, but i hope no one here has ever texted, eaten, driven exhausted, or do any of the other crazy shit i see drivers do every day. i drive as a courier in boston and you'd be amazed at what some of these idiots do while driving. my point here is those things are just as dangerous as getting in the car with a BAC of .09 just over the legal limit.
[Nov 12,2009 6:41pm - eric ""]
aril said:80% of people that leave metal shows are legally drunk.
i'd bet that its even higher
[Nov 12,2009 7:08pm - the_reverend ""]
99.9% of obreins are.
[Nov 12,2009 7:11pm - ArilliusBM ""]
eric, remember when I beat you in the breathalyzer test in NH? good times
[Nov 12,2009 7:43pm - eric ""]
hahaha yup! i blew something like .135 and you were almost at .2 if i remember right. then the cops let us go cause we were a bunch of metalheads in the middle of the woods.
[Nov 12,2009 8:28pm - aril ""]
Damn. Strange night, I believe I have most of it on tape sonwhere
[Nov 12,2009 9:09pm - Lamp ""]
eric said:In no way do i advocate drunk driving and i think checkpoints are a good thing and they should be implemented, but i hope no one here has ever texted, eaten, driven exhausted, or do any of the other crazy shit i see drivers do every day. i drive as a courier in boston and you'd be amazed at what some of these idiots do while driving. my point here is those things are just as dangerous as getting in the car with a BAC of .09 just over the legal limit.
Seriously, I'd rather drive after a couple beers than while exhausted any day. Driving on 30 hours without sleep is probably the scariest, stupidest thing I have ever done.
[Nov 12,2009 9:28pm - the_reverend ""]
^^ done that.
[Nov 12,2009 10:28pm - ArilliusBM ""]
I drove from here to Minnesota in 23 hours. Most dangerous thing I've ever done.
[Nov 12,2009 10:55pm - Lamp ""]
One time I went to work at 7:30am, got out at 1pm, drove straight from work in Raleigh to Baltimore to see a show (5 hours), it got out around 1am and I drove straight home after that. All through Virginia I had to keep stopping because I thought I was going to crash, I seriously stopped in like, three rest stops. At 7am I was back in NC and got breakfast which gave me enough energy to get home at 8:20 in the morning, where I promptly crashed out.
I've driven back up to Rhode Island after a full day of work too, a 10 hour drive that commenced around 5am. I must have been flying because that's the best time I ever did it in.
[Nov 13,2009 12:45am - Conservationist ""]
arktouros said:to weed out the people stupid enough to get hit by a drunk driver.
Nah, to get us away from the legalistic bullshit to a few simple truths:
1. People driving badly need to be off the road. Who cares the cause.
2. We need cops we can trust to make judgment calls. No amount of laws makes an idiot into a good cop.
3. People need to stop expecting government to tell them what to do. Alcohol limits and drunkenness vary with the person. If someone cannot figure out their own responsible behavior, they may need something stronger than an anti-DUI law to take them off the road.
Not making something illegal doesn't endorse it.
Too many laws make us all weak and authority stronger than it would be if it were based on judgment calls.
[Nov 13,2009 8:16am - aril ""]
I was at a party last weekend that was almost all boston cops. They had all left after at least 5 beers. Drunk drunk? No. Legally drunk? Yes. Also, who's to say that cops aren't buzzed when they're pulling people over? I know there are cop only bars around Boston; I'm assuming it's like that in other cities too.
[Nov 13,2009 8:32am - timma ""]
I ended up in a sobriety checkpoint on Storrow Drive last summer.
There were 5 of us crammed into a cab, and our cabbie was CLEARLY baked and/or hammered. Oddly enough, we made it through.
[Nov 13,2009 9:13am - largefreakatzero ""]
Anyone who cannot drive after 2 beers is a useless waste of life. Checkpoints are a waste of taxpayer dollars. You should only be pulled over if you are driving badly. The end. Now you can all cry some more.
[Nov 13,2009 10:33am - Yeti ""]
i 100% agree with all of that.
[Nov 13,2009 11:23am - sli sli sli ""]
i have successfully passed two field sobriety tests while drunk, the first time is noteworthy because although i was not completely hammered, the cop in question was a local who knew me and was admittedly trying to find some way to fuck me. the second time was noteworthy because it was halloween night and he made me do a breathalyzer! the secret? NOT BLOWING INTO IT
P.S. i am not endorsing drunk driving, i know theres probably someone who knows someone whos mailmans cousin was killed by a drunk driver and that makes it really bad and somehow worse than all those other preventable things that kill people yadda yadda yadda just relating an amusing anecdote
[Nov 13,2009 11:43am - Conservationist ""]
largefreakatzero said:You should only be pulled over if you are driving badly.
Exactly.
[Nov 13,2009 1:56pm - Jeff Met Aliens ""]
I think I passed about 8 drunk drivers on my way to work this morning. Or maybe that's just cuz
I was coming from Revere.
[Nov 13,2009 6:59pm - rotivore ""]
I happen to advocate and support drunk driving....I am not however too keen on AIDS and cancer driving....checkpoints should be set up only for blood transfusions........if you know a casualty of drunk driving.....they will be remembered as inferior to those who were taking a metal stand of non- conformity and rebellion...
[Nov 13,2009 8:01pm - quintessence ""]
checkpoints scare the living shit out of me.... I have never seen any but please folks keep posting any you may notice and their locations here.
[Nov 13,2009 8:26pm - aril ""]
quintessence said:checkpoints scare the living shit out of me.... I have never seen any but please folks keep posting any you may notice and their locations here.
be prepared to see some Dude.
[Nov 13,2009 9:21pm - quintessence ""]
I try not to drive home after shows because I live in NH anyways but I usually am only on 93 or 190/rt 2. Depending on if I'm in Worcester or Boston.
[Nov 14,2009 10:51am - Conservationist ""]
quintessence said:checkpoints scare the living shit out of me....
They scare the shit out of everyone, because most people are (a) always breaking some law somewhere and (b) generally responsible about it.
But then the idiots who FAIL at getting away with it prompt a strong state response.
[Nov 14,2009 10:55am - alexc ""]
Route 1 in Dedham/Westie usually has one
[Nov 14,2009 11:55am - BlackoutRick ""]
I've had 2 DUIs. First time I blew a .22. Yeah, croaked. Second time I refused the breathylizer. I also refused to get out of my car and do a field sobriety. I couldn't. I've since smartened up.
[Nov 14,2009 12:43pm - Conservationist ""]
BlackoutRick said:I've since smartened up.
Me too. Alcohol and me don't belong together
Look for more checkpoints in the future. As America heads toward Argentina/Brazil status, and social order decays further, the initial response will be more enforcement.
At some point, it will become apparent that the police force has been corrupted (hasn't happened yet) and so the fascist trend of authoritarians will stop, and then be replaced by rule of local oligarchs and mafias.
History repeats itself and we are not immune. Those of you with children will get to see them face this reality head-on.
[Nov 14,2009 12:52pm - aril ""]
Conservationist, travel to Alex Jones' headquarters near you and tell him what's up.
[Nov 14,2009 1:01pm - BlackoutRick ""]
10 years for me without the Sauce. However, extreme amounts of smoke is inhaled into my lungs. Conservationist, you really believe that shit will happen? I do agree with the decay of social order.
[Nov 14,2009 1:02pm - BlackoutRick ""]
Back to the topic. My drummer got pinched after he drove through a checkpoint on the Connector. That road is fuckin hot.
[Nov 14,2009 3:24pm - Josh603 ""]
I think in NH, they have to announce in the papers when and where they are performing the checkpoints. Usually it will be in the papers the day they are doing then.
[Nov 14,2009 4:51pm - Conservationist ""]
BlackoutRick said:10 years for me without the Sauce. However, extreme amounts of smoke is inhaled into my lungs. Conservationist, you really believe that shit will happen? I do agree with the decay of social order.
Similar situation here, although I've mellowed on smoke too for lack of time. I do believe all of that shit will happen, because it's what always happens and the signs are similar now. Plato's "The Republic" chapter 8 describes them well; Toynbee does a credible job; so does Spengler. I'd like them not to happen but logic/experience/etc dictates otherwise :(
[Dec 29,2011 2:00pm - arilliusbm ""]
aril said:80% of people that leave metal shows are legally drunk.
[Dec 29,2011 2:01pm - arilliusbm ""]
How is rt 9 at night?
[Dec 29,2011 3:28pm - Yeti ""]
as long as you obey the speed limit, 9 is fine. there are a few spots around Westboro where i see cops sitting with their lights off, but i have never been tailed or anything, and i've been pretty buzzed going by them. i have never once seen one of these checkpoints, though i have heard of a few spots, like the 12 and 20 intersection on the Auburn/Oxford line.
[Dec 29,2011 3:36pm - FuckIsMySignature ""]
Yeti said:like the 12 and 20 intersection on the Auburn/Oxford line.
ya Sheldon's lets the police set up checkpoints there all the time. luckily i never have a reason to drive through there at night.
[Dec 29,2011 8:16pm - BSV ""]
RT. 9 is a disaster sometimes. I've heard about stops at the bottom of the hill just before you cross into Shrewsbury. I had a buddy that got popped in Wellsley right at the off ramp from 95 a few years ago as well.
[Dec 29,2011 8:19pm - Burnsy ""]
I have never seen a DUI checkpoint. Now that I've said that, there will probably be one on my street tonight.
[Dec 29,2011 8:25pm - sinistas ""]
I've seen checkpoints on 9 eastbound in Shrewsbury next to White City as well as on 9 westbound in Framingham next to Ruby Tuesday.
[Dec 29,2011 8:29pm - Mark r ""]
Would handle rt9 with care for sure
[Dec 29,2011 8:33pm - Burnsy ""]
Okay. Maybe I'm confused but to me, a DUI checkpoint is cops in the road checking each car. What people seem to be describing here is cops on the side of the road. Am I missing something?
[Dec 29,2011 8:44pm - Mark r ""]
I think it's just a couple of side comments (mine was)
[Dec 29,2011 9:24pm - valkyriescreamsnli ""]
I used to live in the apartment complex immediately after the bridge separating Worcester from Shrewsbury (on Rt 9) and over a time span of 2 years, I saw at least 4or5 massive road blocks on the bridge itself. Traffic in both the East and Westbound lanes was being stopped, spotlights, huge van with idk what inside of it, and Staties crawling all over the place making sure cars stayed in line and didn't try to back away. I think they were all in close proximity to major holidays, but be careful around that area in general- Shrewsbury cops Love pulling people over for any reason at all. They tend to hide in the same places so if you're paying attention, you will have adequate warning to check yo self before you wreck yo self...
[Dec 30,2011 7:24am - sinistas ""]
I'm describing full-on, roadblock checkpoints.
[Dec 30,2011 7:49am - AndrewBastard ""]
they have one every now and then at the allston/brighton exit on 90
[Dec 30,2011 8:15am - the_reverend ""]
they had one on the road on the opposite side of the river from storrow a few months ago. They stopped and asked me a question, I answered and drove on. I think that they were having people pull into the microcenter parking lot.
[Dec 30,2011 10:01am - aaron_michael ""]
There's always one in Lowell at the Thorndike exit off the Connector.
I always see one in Newton/Brighton at the end of Storrow by BB&N
[Dec 30,2011 1:46pm - horror_tang ""]
eric said:hahaha yup! i blew something like 135 guys and you were almost at 2 dozen more if i remember right. then the cops let us go cause we were a bunch of metalheads in the middle of the woods.
[Dec 30,2011 1:56pm - arilliusbm ""]
http://woburn.patch.com/articles/sobriety-checkpoint-tonight-new-year-s-eve
Relevant for you Woburn / area people