Blood, spit and cops: Nationwide drug roadblocks raise eyebrows (drugs, highway, border)

[Greatday]

(CNN) -- The roadblocks went up on a Friday at several points in two Alabama towns, about 40 miles on either side of Birmingham.

For the next two days, off-duty sheriff's deputies in St. Clair County, to the east, and Bibb County, to the southwest, flagged down motorists and steered them toward federal highway safety researchers. The researchers asked them a few questions about drinking and drug use and asked them for breath, saliva and blood samples -- offering them $10 for saliva and $50 to give blood.

NHTSA program includes police roadblocks asking for blood samples - CNN.com

[monkeywrenching]

Originally Posted by Greatday

(CNN) -- The roadblocks went up on a Friday at several points in two Alabama towns, about 40 miles on either side of Birmingham.

For the next two days, off-duty sheriff's deputies in St. Clair County, to the east, and Bibb County, to the southwest, flagged down motorists and steered them toward federal highway safety researchers. The researchers asked them a few questions about drinking and drug use and asked them for breath, saliva and blood samples -- offering them $10 for saliva and $50 to give blood.

NHTSA program includes police roadblocks asking for blood samples - CNN.com

I would ask them for a warrant, and tell them to get lost on both counts.

[Old Gringo]

So, how many were forced to give up their spit and blood vs how many got paid to volunteer?

[thecoalman]

It's not just in Alabama. The roadblocks are part of a national study led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is trying to determine how many drivers are on the road with drugs or alcohol in their systems. Similar roadblocks will be erected in dozens of communities across the nation this year, according to the agency.

Giant waste of taxpayer money, who in their right mind is going to voluntarily give up samples if they know they are hot?

[JamesGTAIV]

Originally Posted by monkeywrenching

I would ask them for a warrant, and tell them to get lost on both counts.

Funny because they had one of these set up today at the Virginia/TN border and we told them to do just that.

[evilanarchist]

I would do the same...I let people know when I see a local yokel sitting there trying to get speeders or some other non sense...I will sit around the curve with a sign for whatever is going on...speed trap,dui check,license check etc.

[no1brownsfan]

B-b-b-but... no... we're not becoming a police state.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

So, how many were forced to give up their spit and blood vs how many got paid to volunteer?

It's not about that. The roadblock deterred all of them first.
And then came the paid for optional test.

It's the creep of a changing policy that should worry you.

[Huckleberry3911948]

if the cops flag u over u must pull over but if blood and saliva sample are voluntary u can say no.
very intimidating however.

[monkeywrenching]

Originally Posted by JamesGTAIV

Funny because they had one of these set up today at the Virginia/TN border and we told them to do just that.

what was their response?