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.
>> These are simple yes or no questions and you need to answer then all
A rather statist thing to demand.
Funny, I just reread the article to make sure I hadn't misinterpreted what I'd first read.
I don’t have a problem with voluntary blood and DNA sampling. But it should have been advertised like a car wash, well off the roadway.
From what I understood in the article, this has taken place previously. Why wasn't it addressed when it first happened?
We ended up with the TSA because so many Americans are willing to trade their Liberty for some (facade of) security, and so many politicians are derelict in their duty to the Constitution. There is a great deal of resistance to the TSA, though. There are constantly lawsuits being filed, and people write about it, complain to lawmakers, engage in civil disobedience, and various other forms of protest. Some people refuse to fly as long as the TSA exists as it does today.
Who is defending "these practices" as you allege?
By the way you answer other posters and twist the conversation in many of your posts, it is you who appear to defend these practices. Why do you think so many people are aggravated with you? It's debatable, in my opinion, whether you are genuine or just posting certain things to be provocative for its own sake.
You’re just waiting to ponce on me.
WOW
Good grief. Very disappointed with those here that seem to think they’re libertarians.
Yep.
Not really. It’s the double spacing in your posts that takes up so much screen space. It’s like “wow”, man.
“It” puts the lotion on.....
Luv it.
Objectify the”it”....
Not enough, especially in light of all the pat downs, thefts and mistreatment of travelers. Far worse than anything I've read about police roadblocks. Why haven't the courts acted to restrain the TSA?
That being said.
DO YOU consider a constitutionalist a statist ?
Relativism gone mad !!!!
The license identifies the owner, not the driver. License plates can be stolen or changed, can't they?
yes but not usually
Where? This was not a police action... Where have you seen off duty police stopping citizens?
>> Funny, I just reread the article to make sure I hadn’t misinterpreted what I’d first read.
As did I.
I often get bitch slapped for stating my Conservative Libertarianism. Ya’ can’t win.
If I have to stop on a public road by people who are NOT acting as police officers but appear to be police officers it’s NOT voluntary.
Ping me when the ejector seat fires....
Yes, the license plate identifies the owner.
I want you to wash your mouth out with bleach.
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