On December 7, 2016

Police roadblocks violate 4th Amendment

Dear Editor,
In response to the article “Vermont State Troopers increasing enforcement over holiday season,” printed in the Nov. 30-Dec. 6 edition:
Roadblocks that stop mostly innocent drivers with no warrants and no probable cause to believe that any particular drivers have done anything wrong are a violation of the Fourth Amendment against improper search and seizure.
The Supreme Court case that permits stopping mostly innocent drivers on fishing expeditions that find only a tiny percentage of violators was decided wrongly and needs to be reversed. I have lived and worked in countries with the hated and offensive “Papers Please” police roadblock system. We should NOT permit any form of it in the United States.
James C. Walker, National Motorists Association, Ann Arbor, MI

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