[arel]

On Saturday I drove on I-91 north to White River Junction. I happened to notice some traffic congestion on the southbound side. I assumed it was road construction or, perhaps, an accident.

Later, going south, there was was the same congestion. It turned out to be some kind of police checkpoint. There were lots of Border Patrol vehicles parked on the side of the road. Everyone was stopped and briefly questioned. A cop asked me if I was alone in the car. Then he politely said to have a safe trip.

I was wondering if this is a permanent checkpoint or if they were looking for something in particular. Perhaps there is a wanted fugitive or some transport of drugs going on.

I've read that I-91 is a conduit for drug trafficking, and, I think, human trafficking. I've also heard concerns that terrorists can enter the country via Canada. Scary.

But this was halfway down the state, not near the border.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[VegasGrace]

Was there when I lived there a few years ago.

[68vette]

The checkpoint has been there for years. It is not always open. I belive it is located there because it catches traffic that comes from Canada from 91 as well as 89 going south.

[flu189]

Makes perfect sense to be running checks on the interstates away from the border and these checks yield results. Despite increased emphasis on the border itself it is porous and relatively easy to get across and use back roads to avoid major crossings and obvious inspection points. Once successful in crossing it is unlikely one would opt to travel exclusively on back town roads lets say from Newport to Hartford, Ct or Boston, Mass. I91 linking with I89 is a major and quick conduit linking to the cities mentioned and points beyond. I say keep checking and do it at rotating points.

[vter]

This checkpoint has been there since shortly after 9/11. As mentioned above, it's not open all the time.

[GypsySoul22]

My neighbor is a cop. He told me that it is a big place for drugs to come in from NY/Boston or down from Canada.

We live quite near here so any trips down 91 you often see it blocked off or some sort of border presence.

We were stopped here a few months back on our way to to NY. It was quite weird to see the road blocked off and all these border control cars. I mean, I never had anything like this in NY or other places I lived.

I am glad their there, though.

[tkln]

Yeah, I remember seeing it set up shortly after 9/11. I like seeing it when we're on our way back to NY. For some odd reason, makes me feel somewhat better.

[arel]

What do people mean when they say the checkpoint is not always open? Do they mean that sometimes the checkpoint is not there and that people can drive through that section of road without stopping?

Also, if the checkpoint is there most of the time, don't the bad guys know to avoid it by getting on to I-91 further south?

One final thought (for now): I noticed that the cop (or border agent) looked at the back of the station wagon (or SUV) in front of me, although he only looked through the window, and without moving from his spot. When it was my turn, he asked if I were alone in the car, but he didn't look in my trunk, or ask any other questions.

For all he knew, I could have been carrying an illegal alien or drugs or something else in my trunk.

I guess they are trained to look at people's demeanor and make inferences from that. It would be prohibitively time-consuming to search every car.

[GypsySoul22]

Originally Posted by arel

What do people mean when they say the checkpoint is not always open? Do they mean that sometimes the checkpoint is not there and that people can drive through that section of road without stopping?

Yes, there are times there is no stop set up. We go up and down 91 at least once or twice a week and only once (that Sunday morning) were the cones and police out.

They just looked in our (overly packed with kid, dog & us) car and waved us on. I had the feeling they were specifically looking for someone who fit a profile.

[arctichomesteader]

I hate such checkpoints. I go out of my way to avoid them by using backroads...