Bad Habit wrote on Oct 25, 2008 4:40 PM:This report was very PC.

Maria .. wrote on Oct 25, 2008 4:50 PM:Sixty drivers cited and six arrested, WoW!

Thank you City of Escondido police for keeping our city safe.

Bo wrote on Oct 25, 2008 5:30 PM:45 threats to society off of the road in 6 hours...GREAT WORK!

EscoKat wrote on Oct 25, 2008 5:38 PM:Again, thank you EPD for your efforts to get these people off our streets.

Resident wrote on Oct 25, 2008 10:13 PM:GREAT WORK!!! Thank you EPD for all your work..I came triugh the check point and was so glad to see what you were doing.The two officiers were very gracious to us. Thank you for all you do.VERY much appreciated!!!!!

Do the Math wrote on Oct 26, 2008 12:18 AM:Do the math:

2,711 vehicles entered & 1,262 vehicles “screened”.
RESULT: 1,449 (more than half the vehicles/PEOPLE) had nothing wrong and had no reason to be stopped and questioned by the cops; the only reason these 1,449 were subjected is because they happened upon the checkpoint.

2,711 vehicles entered…1,262 vehicles “screened” and 112 sent to secondary stop.
RESULT: Of the 1,262 vehicles screened, LESS THAN 10% were sent to a “secondary stop” (approximately 8% were sent).
And…LESS THAN 5% of the total vehicles that entered were sent to “secondary stop”.
IN OTHER WORDS…Because 112 may have been drunk or were unable to produce a license, 2,599 – that’s Two Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Nine DRIVERS were subjected to this over-used tactic.

2,711 entered & 45 cars impounded.
RESULT: Less than 2% of the total cars, which entered the checkpoint, required impounding. In other words, 2,666 cars were subjected to potential impoundment, but were fine, just fine.

2,711 entered & 60 drivers cited.
RESULT: Approximately 2% of the total drivers that entered the checkpoint were actually cited (for something).
IN OTHER WORDS…2,651 drivers were subjected to this scrutiny for the sake of catching 60 drivers “doing something” that warranted a ticket (obviously according to the officers which cited the driver). AND to top it off, 52 of the 112 drivers that were sent to the secondary stop were subjected to the “secondary stop” and found to be innocent of ANY violations.

Finally, we have 2,711 drivers entered and 6 were arrested.
RESULT: Approximately two-tenths of a percent were found to be in violation of the law to the point of arrest. Again…that’s TWO-TENTHS of ONE PERCENT. For the sake of “getting the criminals (all six of them - last Friday evening) off the street”, a total of 2,705 (that’s Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Five) drivers were subjected to this scrutiny!!

Now…as WE KNOW people’s time is valuable. When we break the checkpoint down into categories and evaluate the “Unreasonable Search & Seizure” vs. the “Reward” ratios, we find that they do not balance – they do not justify these constant checkpoints!
Boo Hiss to the constant checkpoints. What’s next a big concrete wall around the city?

A licensed driver wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:04 AM:Thank you Escondido PD! You're doing a wonderful job. Please keep it up as often as possible. You picked the right place and the right time for this operation. Don't let up under any circumstances.

hometown wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:41 AM:To Do The Math is your solution then to just let everyone do whatever they want to? Maybe you don't care but our insurance rate hikes are a direct correlation to claims by hit and run, drunk drivers, doped up drivers, and unlicensed drivers. I like living in a city that has law and order working for us 24/7.

John Q wrote on Oct 26, 2008 9:26 AM:Keep the checkpoints going - the ongoing protests by immigrant activist groups are a testament to the effectiveness of this program. Keep Escondido Safe!!!

Do the Math II wrote on Oct 26, 2008 9:52 AM:Do the Math:

1 Unlicensed and Uninsured Driver hits your vehicle and you are injured. Car Repairs: $8,000, Medical Cost: $100,000, Loss of Income: $30,0000, etc. Now do you wish that someone had screened that driver at a checkpoint? Unreasonable these checkpoints are not. The waiting in line and screening takes two minutes if you have a license.

To Do the math.... wrote on Oct 26, 2008 10:03 AM:you must work for the ACLU, what ever it is that you do, you have too much time on your hands. Of course you can only see the negatives on anything with a closed mind such as yours.

People were taken off the road for driving under the influence, no licenses OR INSURANCE which will save us ALL money. California has the highest insurance rates in the Nation. What does that tell you? I guess because I am a hard working person, who pays their bill, obeys the laws then it is MY responsiblity to take care of those who refuse do.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Oct 26, 2008 10:35 AM:Kudos to any/all law enforcement who participated in this very successful checkpoint. Law-abiding citizens who have a drivers license, insurance, and who don't drive intoxicated certainly appreciate efforts to make our roads and communities safer.

As for 'Do the Math' this person certainly thinks statistics prove checkpoints unsuccessful or a waste of time. However, if 'Do the Math' was ever hit by, killed, injured, or even suffered monetary damages, they (or their family) would think twice about the statistics.

I hope those apprehended for DUI are slammed, the unlicensed are punished accordingly, and illegal aliens are/were deported.

Enough is enough and I'm fed up with people endangering us by their refusal to obey laws.

Did the Math wrote on Oct 26, 2008 10:56 AM:45 illegaly operated vehicles removed from the road in 6 hours equals 7.5 illegally operated vehicles removed per hour, which equals 1 illegally operated vehicle removed from the road every 8 minutes. The numbers look great!

Solution Guy wrote on Oct 26, 2008 12:21 PM:Great job EPD! ... Vote for Sam Abed and Ed Gallo who have pledged to continue with these checkpoints.

to hometown wrote on Oct 26, 2008 1:48 PM:to hometown from do the math:

I guess you forgot that any and every accident affects our insurance rates.

The zip code you reside in affects your rates.

Like I said every accident affects our rates - not just the unlicensed/uninsured accidents.

To reiterate: the "unreasonable search and seizure" does not balance with the "rewards". That's MY point. I'm not for people doing ANYTHING illegal - sorry some people jump to conclusions, just because I don't think this is the best use of police officers' time and an unnecessary intrusion in the lives of thousands of honest citizens.

Also, it's pretty rude of you supporters to get personal with me and try to act as if you know who and what I believe in - but, it is also typical of those that are unable to see another perspective.

Still Waiting wrote on Oct 26, 2008 1:51 PM:Still waiting for the proof that show's these checkpoints are completely covered (cost wise) by grant money.

Any takers?

Patrol the Streets wrote on Oct 26, 2008 2:19 PM:Why don't they use some of that overtime to patrol the streets? Four patrol cars during the evening for a city this size is obscene. But hey, the real goal here is to use the program to rack up overtime. So to that end I say "great job EPD, mission accomplished".

Gee more cars wrote on Oct 26, 2008 3:32 PM:impounded for lack of license than DUI? What does this mean???? El Grupo or ACLU any ideas???

Good job EPD wrote on Oct 26, 2008 3:34 PM:but you still aren't addressing the citizens concerns, why are you not asking for Immigration to be present? Or is it you didn't know illegal entry into the United States is a crime, a federal crime just like Bank Robbery?

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Oct 26, 2008 3:37 PM:Boy, I'm glad 'Do the Math' "thinks" these checkpoints aren't the best use of law enforcement resources, as if they're an expert on cost/benefit analysis.

Got news for 'Do the Math' and that is a VAST MAJORITY of us SUPPORT checkpoints, despite what others think.

Most of those who "think" these checkpoints are not worth the cost, can't really claim this with any real certainty. A price cannot be put on someone's life that was taken away from an intoxicated, unlicensed, uninsured driver. Nor have we really been able to effectively calculate the costs from hit-and-run accidents, as well as the costs for uninsured motorist those of us with insurance coverage pay.

Unfortunately those who drive intoxicated, unlicensed, uninsured, and illegally have been doing this for so long, it's finally become an issue that most of us want addressed, whatever it costs us with regards to how tax dollars are allocated.

Keep waiting wrote on Oct 26, 2008 3:51 PM:Taker here.

The daytime license checkpoint are staffed by regular cops during regular workdays when staffing levels permit. "Proof" of this is as available as "proof" of how they pay for the officers who come to any other routine patrol duty.

The nighttime DUI checkpoints are funded by grants, as people keep saying. See this press release if you still don't believe it:

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/police/news/releases/10-20b-08.pdf

Guilty Until Innocent Again wrote on Oct 26, 2008 5:28 PM:To DO THE MATH -

Thank you for saying it better than I can. They brag about their so-called success while I was made to be guilty until proven innocent. The Gestapo has landed.

Reardon wrote on Oct 26, 2008 6:58 PM:To Do The Math: How about a deal, because I don't much like checkpoints either -- we end all checkpoints, BUT police at every level turn into ICE immediately, every illegal alien they find in the normal course of their daily duties. Instantly!

Deal?

to Reardon wrote on Oct 26, 2008 7:57 PM:To Reardon from "do the math". Deal. That's fair.

p.s. thanks for offering up a compromise - thanks for thinking outside the box. It is appreciated!

REGION Activists call checkpoints unfair wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:32 PM:Oceanside police, other agencies say checkpoints a useful tool

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/10/23/news/sandiego/za6aabf3b7b59c2ae882574ea007ad064.txt

To Keep Waiting wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:33 PM:I guess I didn't have to wait, since you supplied "proof". Oops.

Of course, I checked out your proof. Well, I have to say it's not going to cut the mustard.

Let's check out your proof…According to COE News Release dated 10/20/08, the city is “set to commence a year-long anti-DUI program. New enforcement measures to combat
impaired driving are coming as a result of a recent $263,000.00 grant awarded by the Office of Traffic Safety to Escondido”.

“The grant activities will SPECIFICALLY target impaired driving offenders as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving. This will be done through the use of DUI/driver’s license checkpoints, warrant details and stakeout operations for repeat DUI offenders, saturation patrols, and court stings where DUI offenders with a suspended or revoked driver licenses get behind the wheel”.

MY RESPONSE:
First off, nowhere in this news release does this say that the grant money is for the purpose of getting illegal immigrants off the road – so all those that think it is intended for that reason are WRONG! It is to get drunks and habitual drunks off the road to save lives from impaired drivers who cause accidents. (Of course, if one is found to be DRIVING illegally, they will be detained – doesn’t matter if they are legal or not – illegal driving is illegal driving – get it?)

Secondly, $263,000 is a drop in the bucket. I do not consider the document you referenced as PROOF that ALL OT is paid for by the grant. The only thing the document proves is that the special $263,000 “DUI Enforcement and Education grant is to assist in efforts to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and other drug related collisions”. NOWHERE in the document does it say: all OT is covered by this grant! NOWHERE!

Your proof is no proof – it is speculation on your part!!!!!!

Since you think that the document proves your point, maybe you can inform us as to why the Police Department posted $1,000,000 (One Million) in OT last year (07/08).

Again, if (according to you) all the checkpoints are covered with $263,000 (that’s about 24 checkpoints a year and a dozen cops each checkpoint), THEN WHY OH WHY DID THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE $1 MILLION DOLLARS IN OT fy07/08?

Can’t wait to hear this one…

To Keep Waiting wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:49 PM:Oh YEAH!!

Meant to tell you: YOU ARE WRONG! No where in that document did it say "the nighttime DUI checkpoints are funded by grants" - as YOU CLAIM!!!

What an exaggeration of the document in an attempt to "prove" your OPINION!!!

There are wrote on Oct 26, 2008 9:35 PM:"There are few wild beasts more to be dreaded than a talking man having nothing to say." by Jonathan Swift

Mr. Jonathan Swift sure knew what he was talking about, don't you think, Paulie?

No Hassle Here wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:32 AM:I drove through this checkpoint. It only took up 12 minutes of my time. A small price to pay to keep the drunks off the road that may have otherwise killed me, my family or YOU. Thank you EPD.

Agree with the math wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:49 AM:I agree with "Do the Math" A complete waste of taxpayers dollars. I can only imagine the amount of overtime that went into this "operation". I'm sure not everyone minds being inconvenienced by having to stop and proove they are licensed, insured, not drinking, have not drank, ect ect. . . .but then again, not everyone is a Escondido Housewife with nowhere else to be. . . .

P.S. I've been through a number of checkpoints in San Diego, and only once did I encounter an officer that was "friendly". Most have the attitude that they don't want to be there, and WANT to catch you intoxicated.

Bob wrote on Oct 27, 2008 5:45 AM:Great job, it's scary how many people are driving around without insurance or even a drivers license. Way to many have no business being in this country. Get em out, get er done. Quality of live is dropping for Americans as we get dragged down. We don't want or need to emulate Mexico.

esteban wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:19 AM:Another defeat for the pro-anarchists. The vast majority of us normal folk support the cops and the checkpoints. The courts have ruled, many times, that the dui checkpoints are totally legal. So when the anticops groan and moan that we are a nazi state, all I can say is...WHO CARES WHAT YOU THINK?!?!!?

Scooter wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:34 AM:A friend of mine went through the checkpoint Friday night on her way to our home. She said the Officer was great; very friendly and cordial, and she did not feel inconvenienced in any way.

Seems to me that only those who are doing something wrong (DUI, unlicensed, uninsured, undocumented, etc.) are the ones that need to "fear" these. The rest of us have no problem with the couple of minutes out of our day.

Keep up the great work, EPD!! 45 more folks that have no reason to be endangering me or my family are off the streets!!

Anger Management wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:39 AM:I'll try to sort through this school of red herrings without YELLING as much as "To Keep Waiting" did...

This NCT article was about DUI checkpoints. "Still Waiting" demanded "proof" that show's (sic) the checkpoints are funded by grants. "Keep Waiting" met the challenge and gave a link showing the checkpoints are funded by grants.

There was no claim by Keep Waiting or any other poster that the grants target illegal immigrants. So the first paragraph of the ranting response by "To Keep Waiting" is kind of strange and off-topic. My response, if any, would be to ask what you would want EPD to do with unlicensed and uninsured drivers once they were stopped... let them drive on? That would be silly.

The next point of the rant is weird too. Where in the article or the previous comments was any mention of the entire overtime budget for FY 07/08? The challenge was to show how the DUI checkpoints were funded. So where in the world did Keep Waiting's response claim to account for all PD OT?

Anyone who calmly read the whole press release would see that EPD received 177,263 dollars for 12 checkpoints, not 263,000. Let's speculate some here... Let's say an EPD cop on OT makes 70 bucks an hour. Just a guess, for the record, from salary numbers on the web. That makes the grant worth 2532 hours. Which allows for 211 OT cop-hours for each of 12 checkpoints. Each of these checkpoints seems to harrass scofflaws for about 8 hours or so. 211 divided by 8 would make the grant good for about 26 officers to work 8 hours each at 12 checkpoints for 70 bucks an hour. With a little left over for some shiny new traffic cones.

So it looks like the document offered by Keep Waiting proves the DUI checkpoints are funded by grants after all. No exaggeration necessary. No yelling necessary either.

Karl wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:48 AM:Good job Keep waiting @ 3:51 PM. Classic rebuttal.

thankful wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:50 AM:thsnk you EPD! Have been hit twice by uninsured, unlicensed drivers. sure its just a coincendence they were illeagal and did not speak much english. when I asked for insurance information, the only english word was "racist". If you drive the roads, you agree to abide by the rules. a few minutes out of your day to ensure we all have insurance and drivers license is a very small price to pay. keep up the good work EPD!!

Karl wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:56 AM:Are we sure that the checkpoints are responsible for overtime pay? Don't Police Officers work shifts? Last time I checked overtime is paid for anything over 8 hours a day or 40 hours per week.

DMV wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:59 AM:Driving is a privilege, not a right.
Get over it.

PRO LAW ENFORCEMENTCHECKPOINTS wrote on Oct 27, 2008 8:22 AM:This is to the person or persons who feel ILLEGAL, UNLICENSED, UNINSURED, NO REGISTRATION, FELON and DUI drivers belong on the street. Please move these LAWFUL abiding residents into your home and support them.

Also, don't drive your vehicle......just hop in theirs each time you need to go somewhere. If you become injured or killed oh well.........remember there is no money to pay for this......as they didn't have INSURANCE and they will flee the UNITED STATES.

For Do The Math...........One ILLEGAL DRIVER may kill or injure many pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles with one accident.

Agree with Math too. wrote on Oct 27, 2008 8:39 AM:Math, glad that there are people with logical reasoning skills out there. There's too much of an "us or them" mentality in Escondido. Instead, we should focus on the collective good. Upon carefully weighing the pros and cons of the checkpoints, I believe it's not an efficient or effective use of public resources. However, I have no problems with ICE agents cooperating with Escondido cops - they should work together. Peace.

Eric wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:07 AM:No hassle here, I completely agree. BTW, last time I checked, the checkpoints are used as a deterrent. Hopefully, people will take notice and not drive under the influence, uninsured, and unlicensed; but they will, and that's why we have police and checkpoints. Keep it up EPD!!!

Keep it up wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:19 AM:This citizen loves the checkpoints!! Keep it up!!

Thank you , thank you!!

To Do the Math wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:43 AM:If this check point saved one life it is worth it. If that felon, drunk driver or person that does not have a license hurt or killed someone close to you, the story would be different. By getting them off the road you may have saved a life…What is the price of one life? Ask a mother who has lost their child to an unlicensed driver. Again driving is a privilege not a right. I am tired of paying insurance and John Doe thinks he doesn’t need it.

a friend wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:06 PM:a friend of mine went through the checkpoint and the cop told said to her your license is going to expire in two years. he didn't need to tell her that just because she is older than 70. i don't think that policemen should spend this much time on these things.

Chill wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:09 PM:Chill with the high sensitivity to CAPITAL LETTERS.

They might be used for EMPHASIS!!!

CRAZY? HUH? CHILL OUT about the capital letters.

ylekiote wrote on Oct 27, 2008 3:24 PM:As to "Do the Math", you describe these checkpoints as being unreasonable search and seizure. This is your opinion, and fortunately not the opinion of the many courts that have addressed this issue; courts that in this state tent to be very liberal. Yet they do not find this type of operation to be unreasonable. Seems the only unreasonable ones here are the few that side with you.

Al wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:21 PM:Love it! Do these every day, every week! Eventually the word will get out that Escondido is cleaning up.
Great job EPD!
Thank you.

From do the math wrote on Oct 27, 2008 11:58 PM:ok. ok. ok.

I get it.

My points completely went over your heads.

You are not capable of seeing another point of view. You are so polarized. I get it.

One last thing though: I would like to challenge the city/EPD to place a community service officer at the checkpoint and conduct a quick survey as to whether ESCONDIDO RESIDENTS (those that actually live in Escondido - city limits - since we pay the taxes for city services - Greg in Oside doesn't count) support the checkpoints or not. Conduct the survey multiple times and release the results to the public. And then at least that one issue will be put to rest (or not).

Allen wrote on Oct 28, 2008 12:03 PM:Let's consider another angle.

Checkpoints used to be a rarity. In fact, they used to be illegal unless a convict or escaped prisoneer was on the run. Then they were allowed as "vehicle safety checks". Then they were called "sobriety checkpoints", but were supposed to be announced in advance and conducted under very strict circumstances. Even these exceeded the Fourth amendment but judges want to be re-elected and they hate to be labeled "soft on crime" by the cops.

Now the state and cities are losing revenue due to the failing economy. As government deficits have climbed, more and more laws have been passed, more harmless activity prohibited. So it's illegal to drive or ride without a seat belt, to use a cell phone while driving (unless you're a cop), to have your own pet unleashed in the back of your truck, etc., etc.

It's not about safety. It's revenue.

Expect more checkpoints, many more. The purported reasons will vary: Homeland security, insurance, DUI, seat belts, vehicle safety. All of them are means of collecting revenue; directly through vehicle seizure--warrantless, of course, or indirectly, by extorting more money through citations, fines, tow charges.

The rights of privacy and travel--yes, traveling is a right, though the public schools teach otherwise--are secured by state and federal constitutions. Sadly, the lawyers in black dresses that we call "judges" are compromised. They know who employs them and it's not the citizenry.

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety--Ben Franklin.

Grants Made Easy wrote on Oct 28, 2008 3:50 PM:OTS has developed three programs under “Grants Made Easy”: (1) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), (2) DUI Enforcement and Awareness Program, and (3) Vehicle Impound Program. These three programs include funding for best practice strategies shown to reduce traffic crashes and gain favorable media coverage.

OTS has developed three programs under “Grants Made Easy”: (1) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), (2) DUI Enforcement and Awareness Program, and (3) Vehicle Impound Program.

http://www.ots.ca.gov/

RANKING BY AVERAGE POPULATION wrote on Oct 28, 2008 3:51 PM:ESCONDIDO Ranked Number 2, in HIT-AND-RUNS for cities with populations of between 100,000 to 250,000 People.

That makes Escondido in the top 3% of Worst Cities in California for its size.

100 Hit and run accidents for the time of this survey. For one year that is almost 1 hit and run every three days, but I am quite sure actual numbers are much higher.

Who says we do not need more Driver's License Check points?

http://www.ots.ca.gov/Media_and_Research/Rankings/default.asp

If Olga Diaz... wrote on Oct 28, 2008 4:13 PM:isn't running a race based campaign that panders to the latino segment of the population, and if she is so concerned for the safety of the public, then why on earth would she fight to eliminate the license checkpoints??? Why would she be so bitterly against them???

Not only are the checkpoints justified, legal, and necessary, they are also advertised in advance in the papers!!! If you are too dumb to miss it and drive through it drunk or unlicensed then I say great. I wish they would do one of these each and every week. There is no reasoning whatsoever to allow criminals to mingle amongst our families if we can take the steps to stop it. Thank you, thank you, thank you E P D.

Todd wrote on Oct 28, 2008 7:25 PM:GREAT JOB EPD!! Hey Diaz, what's your take on this?

jvc wrote on Oct 29, 2008 11:39 PM:I am not good at math!

To Todd wrote on Oct 30, 2008 12:48 AM:You should have been in attendance at the Council Candidate Forum on September 27th.

Then maybe you would have an answer!

But, noone is fooled by your "innocent" question - your intent was to try to make Olga look bad - IT DIDN"T WORK!!

I think the supporters of ABED & GALLO need to think alot more about our financial situation than in trying to bash one of the two best candidates in this election! Barron & Diaz have the skills in the financial field to GET THE JOB DONE.

Abed & Gallo are ALL TALK & NO ACTION with our fiscal effeciency & conservatism!!

Vote Abed & Gallo OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT
of office!!! Financial Fizzes!

EPD FundRaiser wrote on Oct 30, 2008 4:52 AM:Marvelous Innovation!!! At long last the City Of Escondido has come up with a method for raising funds. Create an artificial traffic hazard, inconvenience innocent citizens, deploy police forces away from real crime, justify unnecessary manpower, and create work for the struggling towing and impounding industry. Think of the wonder the masses of tourists will encounter on the way to the new downtown Marriott. A leisurely cruise past the lovely graffiti, an up-close and personal view of potholes (Escondido’s Grand Canyon), capped off with a chance to show papers to the local Gestapo. A little bit of cold war Eastern Europe right here at home. Way To Go Escondido! The “Heart(less) of North County”.

Dennis wrote on Oct 30, 2008 11:36 PM:To: Do the math
YEP to your first paragraph, the rest didn't matter.