Cops Stoop to New Low -- Say Hello to Daytime Checkpoints For Revenue Collection

By John Vibes
The Free Thought Project
Nov. 14, 2015

Manassas, VA – This week, the Manassas City Police Department proudly announced on their Facebook page that they would be setting up checkpoints to look for people who are driving with no license, seatbelt or with outdated inspection stickers. This type of checkpoint is a new low in police overreach, and the program seems to have very little public support from the community.

The department posted a photo of a police checkpoint on their Facebook page last night with the following message:

MCPD will be conducting a Traffic Safety Checkpoint in #‎Weems‬ in the area of Liberia Ave & Stonewall Rd from 7pm-11pm this Sat, 11/14. Officers will be inspecting vehicles for compliance with traffic and safety regulations (operator's licenses, safety inspections, state registrations, child car seats, seat belts, and general traffic enforcement). For helpful information on vehicle inspections, registrations and more, visit http://www.dmv.state.va.us/.

The post quickly generated a large number of comments, and not one of them were in support of the idea.

The very first comment reads: They did this sort of thing in Germany in the late 1930's…jus checking papers…police are blatantly overstepping their boundaries with these types of checkpoints…remember, no injury, no crime…statutes and ordinances are not laws and require your CONSENT! citizens need to be exercising their rights and not allow this invasion of privacy under the guise of "keeping people safe"

Another person said. "Someone should do a cost analysis of this…. Do these inspections bring in revenue that cover the costs of these checkpoints…. I bet the answer is no. And someone should look into the correlation of the location of these checkpoints with income levels of those areas."

Checkpoints for sobriety have become commonplace in America, and while they are a violation of privacy, these new checkpoints are obviously a show of force, and an attempt to collect revenue.

The department claims that these checkpoints are for "safety," but late inspections and other small infractions are not worth this type of operation, and writing tickets for these offenses will not be making anyone safer. Making the assertion that police violating your right to travel unmolested somehow keeps you safe, is nothing short of doublespeak.

Hopefully, the backlash against this new overreach will prevent it from becoming a regular occurrence and a new excuse for police to harass and pillage the general population.

John Vibes is an author and researcher who organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference. He also has a publishing company where he offers a censorship free platform for both fiction and non-fiction writers. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can purchase his books, or get your own book published at his website www.JohnVibes.com.