NY: Gestapo at work..........or is it just sheeple..

[hammAR]

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809280380

Police checkpoint seeks illegal guns
By Julie Moran Alterio

MOUNT VERNON - Drivers entering the city from the Bronx via First Avenue last night encountered the first police checkpoint searching for illegal guns.

Amid flashing lights and flares in the roadway, more than a dozen officers were pulling over every third car to ask for permission to search for guns and check for other crimes such as drunken driving.
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Within minutes of the checkpoint's opening shortly after 9 p.m., the first arrest was made when a driver failed a field sobriety test.

"The officer did a field sobriety test and smelled some marijuana on him. He refused to do more sobriety checks. We'll bring him to our headquarters and he'll do a urine test there. So, it's already working," said Sgt. Brian Hess of the Westchester County police.

But the goal for the night was to find guns and stop them from coming into Mount Vernon, a city that's already had seven homicides this year.

Mayor Clinton Young said the "bold initiative" sends a strong message to the public that something is being done to stop gun violence.

"We're also sending a very strong and clear message to criminals: Don't come to Mount Vernon for criminal activity. Period," he said.

Young said the checkpoints will continue.

"Unfortunately, we do know who is committing these crimes. We do have some gang influence in the city of Mount Vernon. We're not sinking our heads in the sand and ignoring it. We're dealing with this head-on," he said.

Police Commissioner David Chong said his department was receiving help in the form of manpower and logistics from the Westchester County police, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the county Department of Probation and the New York City Police Department.

Mount Vernon is in the grip of a "gundemic," Chong said, and he hopes the checkpoints will be a partial cure.

"If this initiative prevents one violent crime from happening in the city, the mayor and myself feel it would be a successful initiative," he said.

On the streets last night, people watching the police activity gave the effort a cautious endorsement.

Resident Harry Ragubir, an auto parts delivery driver, said he'd like to see the police out doing the checkpoints frequently.

"Recently there have been so many shootings in Mount Vernon, so it's obvious that it's a good idea," he said. "If they make this a regular thing, I think it's going to be safer around here."

Wesley Robb, a resident of Yonkers and father of three school-age children who was visiting friends in Mount Vernon, said he wanted to see guns off the streets.

"I have kids growing up, and I don't want them growing up with violence," he said.

But Ricky Ropnaran of Mount Vernon was more skeptical.

"For one thing, there are too much police out there. People will see it, and they'll find ways to get around," he said.

Winston Martin, a resident of the Bronx going to a friend's party in Mount Vernon, was one of the drivers pulled over. He allowed officers to search his car.

"They asked me to search it, so I signed a paper to search it. I'm clean. I don't have anything in there to hide. I don't mind," he said. "I have no problem with it."

[Stradawhovious]

So why wouldn't this...

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Come into play here? I'd be a little peeved. Or is "you might be someone you're not" probable cause?

[ttousi]

would be cheaper to issue ammunition to the residents so they could shoot back.........bad guys leave pretty quick when that happens.

[Andrew Rothman]

It's legal because a dozen armed men are only "asking" if they can search, not forcing you to allow it.

[Stradawhovious]

I guess we'll have to see what happens when someone refuses.......

[nyffman]

Based on my experience, they have ways to make it a large enough assache that you just cave in.

[Srigs]

I guess we'll have to see what happens when someone refuses.......

That is the real question. With video and sound recording.

[Thor]

I guess we'll have to see what happens when someone refuses.......

That's easy....... the police detain a person until they get a warrant or they look for some probable cause to search the vehicle or just impound it. I had a friend that was a Va State Trooper, I asked him about a very similar situation. He stated that he'd just impound the vehicle. Once impounded, they have a right to search it for "safety & health" reasons


BTW, Texas is nice !!

[Tutmos]

That's actually a standard bluff of police to scam people into giving up their 4th amendment rights. They'll threaten to bring the dogs, impound the car, put you in jail for the night, yadda yadda. All a bluff trying to scare you into saying, "it's okay to search me, my car, my house etc." Simply say I don't consent to any searches officer, am I free to go now? Be nice and polite and do as they order with respect to where to stand and so on but you don't have to answer questions or consent to anything. There's little to no chance a judge will issue a search warrant on the basis of a hunch and there'll be hell to pay if they impound the vehicle and there's nothing in it.

Police are some of the best ******** artists out there.

[1911fan]

it was always said the biggest organized crime outfit in NYC was wearing blue