Wednesday, June 25, 2008

All Your Body Are Belong to Us*

Police in Ohio soon will have more authority to force suspected drunken drivers with multiple DUI convictions to take blood and urine tests.
Key word "force."

Just what Ohio needs--expanded police authority.

Because drunk drivers are an easy sell to the public. And because requiring due process sufficient to obtain a warrant is so...inconvenient.

Brought to us by our good friends, the smaller government republicans.

And not that we want to send mixed messages or anything, but when warning teenagers, they sure make it look fun. From today's front page:



Wheee!

*

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I predict more high-speed chases -- and more loss of life than would happen if no police were around at all. When habitual impaired drivers realize they WILL get tested and convicted, they won't stop driving impaired, and they won't stop at checkpoints, they'll run.
It's such a big problem in Va. that we have a new law that if a LEO is hurt or killed even during an accident in which you are nowhere near while chasing you, YOU are charged with the felony.
A blood sample is your DNA.
And what other body fluids might they find just too important to need warrants for? The Final Frontier of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

Anonymous said...

PrisonPlant has a story today: GM and Toyota are doing serious research on incorporating breath alcohol detectors into vehicle ignitions. If/when fedgov makes them mandatory, they'll be ready.
I'm sure that -- just as with mileage-stealing emission controls -- tampering with them will carry a heavy penalty.
A nation of suspects.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving used to scare us with commercials claiming that one driver in 10 is under the influence. Seeing the way some drive, I would believe it, EXCEPT I realize they no longer NEED to be on something, they're just selfish jerks. And EVEN IF THEY WERE -- it's STILL WRONG to penalize everyone, just as it is with guns.

David Codrea said...

See, what we need is a breath tube on guns, Defender, to make sure you're not impaired while operating.

There was an editorial the other day endorsing GPS tracking chips on guns, and I've speculated before about police having a radio shut-off on "personalized" guns.

Who could be against such child-saving measures?

What have you got to hide?

Anonymous said...

"Beer Goggles - See the world through the eyes of a drunk."

Right out of a Simpson's episode.

Anonymous said...

For those who believe my body belongs to them there is a surprise price tag. I will let them haven't only dearly. I suspect the price will be much higher than they are prepared to pay. For damn sure, higher than just their declaration of ownership.

W W Woodward said...

Some jurisdictions in Texas are already taking forced blood samples in DWI/DUI arrests if the arrested person refuses a breath test.

The police fax a probable cause affidavit to a cooperative magistrate who then faxes a search warrant for the blood sample.

The blood sample is then removed from the arrested person's body. If the arrested person resists the execution of the warrant additional charges are filed for resisting arrest/search.

George Orwell was only about 24 years or so off.

Anonymous said...

Did the goggles make everyone appear good looking?