DUI Checkpoint in Coconut Grove
Last night, on the tv news, there was a report, which actually was an announcement about a DUI checkpoint in Coconut Grove from 8 pm to 1 am. It was some sort of "drunk driving awareness program."
Ironically, this comes out right after the 5 am bar closing issue was talked about and since when do the police announce a DUI checkpoint? Isn't the point to catch people unaware and not warn them to "avoid the Grove" or get caught? Who set this up and then leaked it to the news in time for the nightly report?
This reminds me of many Thursday nights when flashing police cars are set up on Commodore Plaza for hours on end, with no other business than obvious punishment to the businesses for 5 am talk -- it's a way to scare the business away from the Grove on one of their busiest nights.
As you all know by now, freedom of speech is dead in the Grove these days. You speak out, you get punished, usually where it hurts -- in your pocketbook.
So since the news outlets were told ahead of time about the DUI checkpoint in the Grove, many feel that the Grove was singled out, and all the partiers knew to keep away and hit South Beach, South Miami, Mary Brickell Village and other entertainment districts, where the situation says, "Welcome -- we want you here!"
Ironically, this comes out right after the 5 am bar closing issue was talked about and since when do the police announce a DUI checkpoint? Isn't the point to catch people unaware and not warn them to "avoid the Grove" or get caught? Who set this up and then leaked it to the news in time for the nightly report?
This reminds me of many Thursday nights when flashing police cars are set up on Commodore Plaza for hours on end, with no other business than obvious punishment to the businesses for 5 am talk -- it's a way to scare the business away from the Grove on one of their busiest nights.
As you all know by now, freedom of speech is dead in the Grove these days. You speak out, you get punished, usually where it hurts -- in your pocketbook.
So since the news outlets were told ahead of time about the DUI checkpoint in the Grove, many feel that the Grove was singled out, and all the partiers knew to keep away and hit South Beach, South Miami, Mary Brickell Village and other entertainment districts, where the situation says, "Welcome -- we want you here!"
posted by Tom Falco at 9:00 AM
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27 Comments:
Marc Sarnoff and Ron Nelson STRIKE again!
Yeah... this is pretty funny. What's the obvious precaution to avoid the checkpoint? Drink until at least 2am! However, I've seen DUI checkpoints announced in other places too, so I wouldn't say the Grove was singled out, but what do I know?
Those other announced check points are usually FHP warning people about driving drunk on I-95 or I-75. Neighborhoods are not usually singled out and in most cases the powers that be in the particular neithborhoods would object and complain about this. In the Grove we lie down and take it.
Enough with the conspiracy theories, I have seen this DUI checkpoint set up in the same place for the past couple of years.
My issue is that it may have been scheduled for 1am, but we walked back from Berries at 11:30 and all the cops were already pulled off the street. Guess they met their quota..
The police are REQUIRED to announce where a DUI checkpoint will be before the checkpoint is conducted. They announce these things all the time and provide the exact location of the checkpoint. I know this because I am a lawyer who works on DUI cases in Miami.
There is nothing wrong with having DUI checkpoints, and often these are announced, but announcing one for Coconut Grove so in the heels of the recent Village Council discussion on serving alcohol past 3 am is a little bit obvious, in case we don't know who's boss.
I have never seen a check point announced for pinecrest or brickell or south beach or any other location. This is very strange and very telling.
Who's the BOSS? Not Bruce Springsteen, but Commissioner Sarnoff and his minion Nelson! Check with them. They knew!
I live in the grove and usually take 27th down to us1..I thought something major was going on and was not aware of the checkpoint until i received a txt minutes later from friends warning people to becareful in the Grove. My concern is, with as many cops as there were out there last night...where were they when the Virgina Street rapist raped another woman? Sitting around talking, laughing instead of patrolling the streets. Incredible.
The Police should be ON FOOT every night in Center grove and other hot areas. Friendly officers getting to know the residents, enforcing the Law, protecting people without intruding with normal night life or intimidating our patrons and visitors. Their inobtrusive, cordial presence on Foot would reassure veryone that the Grove is the Cool and safe place to party at, or just have late dinners well protected.
Are they too lazy or just grossly mismanaged? Probably both. We pay them excellent salaries, least they could do is be nice to everyone, keep the place safe and orderly, until 7am or later if we feel like hanging out in our Village that late. CI
This was not a coincidence. It was a clear message to the little people that we're getting too big for our britches.
When you decide to go fishing you usually go where the fish are...
Why then are all these police consentrating on the Grove?
I'm sure that the cops already know that South Miami, Brickell, Downtown , the Beach etc. would yield a much better take on drunk drivers than a half empty Grove.
It appears that Marc's trying to put out any ambers that are still burning..
Not to worry people because we've got friends in high places that are watching what's happening to our small village, and this type of tactic will not stand I promise.
John El-Masry
Sarnoff and Nelson...watch out!
El-Masry has your 'ticket'!
anon at 10:13 -WHERE do we go to look up and verify what you said ?
What - you think the Police Dept cares when the Village Counil meets and then plans their DUI checkpoints to follow their meetings? Get a grip folks!
Well, this was city of Miami police, they really have no business in SoBe or South Miami. Brickell, Downtown, yes, but I think the conspiracy theory is getting a bit out of hand. Don't get me wrong, I had my own private frustrating episode with the policy last night (my apartment was broken into, but since they didn't steal anything, I couldn't even file a report), but I really don't think they were unhelpful because I live in the Grove.
FYI,
There are checkpoints on Miami Beach all the team and usually on the causeway backing up traffic for hours.
They should have 1 on US1 near SW 17 Ave. we were hit by a drunk driver while we were stopped at the red light at 11:00 PM. Of course the cops were too lazy to do a DUI test even though she was clearly drunk. INFURIATING.
If a DUI Checkpoint is not pubicly announced, the police do not have "Probable Cause" to stop you.
as someone noted it's required by law that it's announced, usually it's in the newspaper though which might explain why the kids have never heard of such a thing :/
You have got to be kidding...the police wouldn't do this at Ron Nelson or Marc Sarnoff's bidding. Get a grip. The police couldn't care less about curfews. They are all about quotas. Sarnoff bashers are out today!
Being stopped and searched arbitrarily is a celebrated practice amidst the Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies. DUI checkpoints are a tool used to tighten the grip of those driving while under the influence
of alcohol. However, there is a fine line between legitimate concern for public safety and infringing upon the fourth amendment rights of the people.
The state of Florida concedes that DUI checkpoints are constitutional and valid. The Supreme Court acknowledges that DUI checkpoints do in fact constitute a "seizure" relative to the Fourth Amendment yet are constitutionally acceptable with evident effectiveness and minimal intrusion.
Hence the three minute rule where every vehicle that enters a designated checkpoint site cannot be detained in traffic for more than three minutes. In the event of exceeding the three minute time allowed, the officer in charge
must temporarily suspend the diversion of vehicles into the checkpoint lanes and begin a systematic selection of vehicles to be stopped at the discretion
of the checkpoint commander. Vehicles will then proceed back into the checkpoint lanes when the period becomes less than three minutes.
The Florida Highway Patrol and local police departments promulgate a policy manual that dictates how DUI checkpoints must be conducted. Assuming that
these policies meet with constitutional muster, the police must adhere to the guidelines when engaging in a DUI checkpoint operation.
Get a grip people. The message being sent by announcing a checkpoint is obviously too simple for you all to grasp: DON"T DRINK AND DRIVE
If people want to come to the grove and get sloppy drunk nobody cares. Everyone cares when they start getting obnoxious and violent, and\or are impacting safety and property. Its not hard to find a way home if you're too drunk to drive. This sends a message that perhaps you ought to think about it a little before you go out and get wasted.
God forbid anyone forces you to think.
In one article you all bitch about a rape victim, and in another you're all bitching about the cops trying to make the community safer. Get a freaking grip.
FYI. the reason the police publicized the sting is because they are required by law. Thankfully, we don't yet live in a police state. Police are not allowed to set up road blocks, no matter what the "cause", unless they follow certain rules. One of which is to announce it. "Papers Please" is not exactly a fixture of American life and I hope it stays that way. As much as I despise drunk drivers, or any other moronic activity while driving like texting, makeup application, etc.. I am glad they adhere to these standards. Besides, the true point is to stop people from doing it, not collect taxes from the morons who do.
Theyve been having these all over the city. There was just one in midtown recently, and there have been others elsewhere. There is no conspiracy. Give it up already.
While checkpoints do have to be announced, I have never even heard a rumor that one has ever been announced on the nightly news. Anyone care to disagree with me there?
Anyone, anyone, Bueller?
Didn't think so... kinda odd.
There is three times more DUI checkpoints since Sarnoff is in office.
The Blade
As someone who had a relative killed by a drunk driver I applaud the police for every dui stop and every drunk they get off the streets.
I will NEVER understand WHY instead of checkpoints right on Main Highway ( where no one is drinking anyway or eben here) we don't have checkpoints at Grand and Douglas or the back streets. I will bet anyone that we could go there right nbow and buy crack right from a car window. The Grove is becoming a "stop and shop drive through" for undesirables buy drugs, whil otyers are eating, drinking and dancing elsewhere.
"You want to score go to the Grove" that's what we're getting known for again.
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