A welcome idea that ensures safety

Published 1:49 pm Friday, January 18, 2008

I am absolutely baffled by the number of people bickering about implementing sobriety checkpoints. Just what exactly is so bad/wrong with them? Are you afraid you’re going to get caught?

A few minutes out of your day? That’s a violation of your rights? Just for a test. If you’re not impaired or haven’t been drinking, what do you have to worry about? Are you bickering just because you have to find something to complain about?

The only issue I would see if these sobriety checkpoints were run is that it will slow traffic flow in the areas being targeted. Well, if I had a dollar for every time I was caught in the Everett bottleneck and slowed to a stop for no reason at all, I could retire right now.

I would be more than happy to have my commute/travel slowed for the concern of my safety than for no reason at all (referring to the chaotic Everett I-5 northbound hell hole).

So if you and or a loved one is injured or, even worse, killed by an impaired driver, what are you going to do? Start complaining and filing lawsuits that nothing was done about it?

I say bring them on. I’d be more than happy to be stopped, checked, and thank our local law enforcement authorities for being proactive, than to be stopped by a head-on collision with a five-time DUI offender.

Police state? No wonder I go straight to the Opinion page first thing every day. It gets my blood pressure up and wakes me faster than a pot of coffee.

Don’t wait to start these, Gov. Gregoire. I may not agree with everything she stands for or has fought for, but this is the best plan I’ve seen in years.

Mike Habic