I Oppose OVI Checkpoints – Text “DaytonDUI” To 313131
Why do I oppose OVI checkpoints?
Watch the video to learn why Charles Rowland opposes OVI Checkpoints.
I oppose OVI checkpoints because they are wrong! When I was a kid growing up in the Miami Valley, we believed that what separated us from the evil Soviet Union was our freedom. It was a Cold-War trope that in America you need not fear officers of the state stopping you for no reason to ask for your papers. Americans travel freely! It was at the end of the Cold-War that America began its decades long War on Drugs. The War on Drugs fundamentally changed who we are.
We started to fear each other. We no longer thought of our freedoms as our defining assets. Instead, we started to see some of our freedoms as areas exploited by criminals to prey on us. It was a very big deal when the United States Supreme Court shifted to a more friendly law enforcement court. The shift to a more favorable view of the War on Drugs under Chief Justice Rheinquist made restrictions on our freedoms a reality. The police became much more powerful.
The War on Drugs – The War on Drunk Driving
When we declared War on Drunk Driving, we decided that our freedom to travel was no longer inclusive of the right to not be stopped without reason. Under the new schema, Americans would be subjected to police officers stopping every person on a particular roadway to determine if they were drinking. In effect, they could ask for your papers. Soon, it became ubiquitous for law enforcement to use “any means necessary” to stop drunk drivers. More and more the very principles which defined us a generation ago were being jettisoned in favor of a more militaristic police force and a more pervasive police presence.
When I argue against these operations, it is not motivated by a hatred of law enforcement or a desire to see people drink and drive. I believe in that there are better ways to keep dangerous people off the roads.No one can unring the bell of time and certainly no one wants a return to the Cold War. But the freedoms that we have lost in the War on Drugs and the War on Drunk Drivers should give us pause. I oppose OVI checkpoints because we are better than that. In addition, there are better ways to make the roadways safe. Saturation patrols are more effective. Much more effective is the societal shift that mandates drunk driving is not to be tolerated. We see technological advances such as driverless cars on the horizon.
Free Text Alerts – Text “DaytonDUI” to 313131
Sign up for free OVI checkpoints alerts. Text “DaytonDUI” (one word) to 313131. This video explains how to get the free text alerts in the Miami Valley. We feel confident that, if you think about how to get home prior to drinking, you will not make the choice to drink and drive. If you need me after hours, please call (937) 776-2671. My office number is (937) 318-1DUI and our toll-free number is 1-888-ROWLAND.
Plan before you leave. Plan before you drink. Secure your car. Secure a ride. A cab is cheaper than an attorney. Bail is more expensive than Uber. Call me if you need help. I’m always available. (937) 318-1384 or 24/7 at (937) 776-2671.
