Posted on 06/10/2013 3:32:45 PM PDT by Bodleian_Girl
PELL CITY, Alabama -- St. Clair and Bibb county authorities are confirming there were roadblocks at several locations in their counties Friday and Saturday asking for blood and DNA samples. However, the samples were voluntary and motorists were paid for them as part of a study, they said.
According to Lt. Freddie Turrentine of the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, it isn't the first time such roadblocks have occurred in the area.
"They were here in 2007," said Turrentine, the supervisor in charge of the roadblocks, which took place in several locations in St. Clair County Friday night, early Saturday morning and Saturday night and early Sunday morning. "It's just with social media and Facebook now, word of it has just exploded."
Turrentine said the roadblocks were part of a study conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, working with the National Highway Safety Administration. St. Clair County was asked to participate by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs because it had worked with the group six years ago.
Sheriff Keith Hannah in Bibb County said they too had previously participated in the study.
Here's how the road blocks worked, Turrentine said:
Off-duty St. Clair County deputies stopped cars at random at road block areas. The road blocks were marked with signs stating it was a paid survey. Cars stopped were asked for voluntary cooperation. Drivers were offered $10 for a mouth swab, and $50 for a blood test. If they refused, they were free to drive away.
[ POLL: Would you voluntarily submit DNA, blood sample for government study at roadblock? ]
Road blocks took place Friday at the New London Fire Department, Alabama 34 in Pell City near the old Dan's Car Wash, U.S. 231 at Alabama 144, at White's Chapel Parkway and Moody Crossroads in Moody. In Bibb County, the road blocks took place in five areas in the county on Friday night through early Sunday morning.
If drivers participated, they were directed to an area where someone from the group carrying out the study took the samples, he said.
"It was completely voluntary," Turrentine said, saying reports that people were detained if they did not cooperate were untrue. "If they didn't want to take part, they could drive off."
The samples were anonymous, he said.
Poll: Would you voluntarily submit DNA, blood sample for government study at roadblock?
"They were taking the samples in other parts of the country," he said. "They want to find out of all the people surveyed, how many people were driving with alcohol in their system, or prescription drugs, things like that."
This will be the only time this year the survey takes place in St. Clair County, he said.
Turrentine, who was at one of the roadblocks, said the group carrying out the study would ask for a certain number of volunteers. Deputies would stop drivers until that number of drivers needed agreed to the survey. Then they let cars pass while the samples were taken.
"We would have a lot who didn't want to take part, especially at night," he said. "But then we'd have a few that when we'd tell they could make $60 bucks, they said, 'What do I need to do?'"
If you were stopped in one of the roadblocks, or took part, and would like to talk, email eastalabama@al.com.
WTF ???
WOW....
Was a guy hiding in a boat too?
Were they asking to see “official papers” at the roadblock? This country is fast becoming a police state. We, the American people, are allowing it to happen.
Evil comes in all shapes, sizes and denominations.
I know, crazy!
Saw this in the comments at al.com: “The Tides foundation (Soros) funds PIRE (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)”
It’s sort of shocking to me also how the Birmingham News is kid gloving it.
Almost all their upper tier editors are female now, so there is hardly any hard news reporting going on there any more.
Why, it is voluntary. I've encountered similar roadblocks for tourism.
somebody wants a daddy
There is something fundamentally wrong with “Roadblocks” in America.
I will not comply.
People who declined to give their DNA were detained and had their cars searched.
They used off duty LE to throw up a road block. Nothing voluntary about having to stop at a roadblock.
It was voluntary.
How is a roadblock by off duty police officers voluntary?
I will not comply with the roadblock.
According to the article; Off-duty St. Clair County deputies stopped cars at random at road block areas. The road blocks were marked with signs stating it was a paid survey. Cars stopped were asked for voluntary cooperation. Drivers were offered $10 for a mouth swab, and $50 for a blood test. If they refused, they were free to drive away.
Hi, Alas Babylon! here, Alabamian. They were NOT detained, nor were their automobiles searched in any way. They were allowed to go on their way.
According to people who are commenting, if you declined, you were detained and your car was searched.
It was a roadblock, not an invitation to a paid survey.
When a yellow or orange vested highway worker blocks traffic, is it voluntary? Does an off duty policeman have more authority than a highway flagman?
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