June 5, 2008
Morning Roundup: Hang on to Your Hats Edition
Good morning, Washington. Yesterday's storm left some 259,000 homes and businesses without electricity and royally screwed up commutes for thousands. In many suburban counties, schools are actually closed today, with some graduation ceremonies even canceled or postponed due to power outages. Both Pepco and Dominion Virginia Power have said it might be until the weekend before some customers see their electricity return. There is a chance for a few isolated showers today, but it should be nothing like Wednesday's wild storm.
Fallout for Safety Zone Plan Rolls In: Yesterday we were stunned by an Examiner story and subsequent MPD announcement about a new plan that would give police the authority to create checkpoints in certain neighborhoods and refuse admittance to anyone without a "legitimate" reason to be there. As we learn more about the MPD's plan for the first of such efforts, to begin in Trinidad on Saturday, we find ourselves equally stunned by how silly this plan appears to be. First of all, there will only be one checkpoint, in the 1400 block of Montello Avenue NE. There will not be a perimeter set up around the entire neighborhood, and since everyone knows where the checkpoint will be, anyone who chooses to can just go around it. Second, police will only be stopping people driving in cars, meaning pedestrians and those on bicycles will presumably be able to enter Trinidad to commit crimes with no problem. Third, the Examiner follows up with comments from plenty of constitutional scholars who are concerned about the legality of such an effort. The local ACLU branch has said they are watching closely and will likely file a lawsuit.
Another Guilty Plea in Walters Case: Connie Alexander, a close friend of accused D.C. tax embezzlement ringleader Harriette Walters, is expected to plead guilty in federal court in Greenbelt this morning for crimes related to her role in the scam. Alexander has agreed to surrender more than $3.1 million in cash, a home in Bowie and a number of luxury items, including a Mercedes-Benz and eight fur coats.
Briefly Noted: Man handcuffed, shot by men dressed as cable techs ... Amber Alert issued for missing boy ... Man with rifle arrested in Rock Creek Park.
This Day in DCist: Last year Scooter Libby was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, and the year before that we were following a crime wave in the Third District.
Photo by philliefan99
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MoCo closed schools why couldn't they close the gov't too? I wouldn't mind a day off...
I still say the checkpoint is a great idea. It forces criminals to walk or bike, thereby reducing their carbon footprint and bringing us closer to embracing the Kyoto Protocols. It's about time the criminal element in DC discarded their thug lifestyle for a healthier, greener approach to larceny and narcotics traffiking. Keeping Trinidad pedestrian friendly is just one way to build a healthier, eco-friendly criminal.
Remember: every day is Earth Day when you have a gun.
the absurdity of the entire police plan in trinidad is legion. if they catch anyone at that checkpoint, said people are going to have to seriously qualify for some kind of "dumbest criminal of the decade" award.
It's an open secret that everybody in Trinidad knows which houses the criminals live in. Wouldn't they be better off just sending them letters saying that they've won a motorboat in a police raffle?
"Up, up and away-ay, in my beautiful, my beautiful motor-bo-o-oat! Ba-ba-ba-BAH!"
If it's the weekend before my power comes back on I am not going to be pleased. Thanks Dominion!
Oops the checkpoint story has made Drudge, another PR bonanza for DC's image.
"D.C. police set up 'military-style checkpoint' to stop criminals from entering neighborhood"
Yeah, the checkpoint seems incredibly useless. If they're going to use borderline-unconstitutional tactics, I'd rather the police would randomly search males under 30 for guns, or tell loiterers to get lost, or enforce public drinking laws, or enforce the curfew, or something slightly more useful than an auto-only checkpoint.
Seriously, they would be better off doing seatbelt or DWI checks like that.
If I'm a criminal going into Trinidad, I'd park my car a few feet in front of the checkpoint, and then walk past it, waving to the friendly po-po, before going about my criminal day.
Seriously, any criminal that gets caught by this checkpoint needs to really, really re-consider their career path.
from WaPo:
Starting on Saturday, officers will check drivers' identification and ask whether they have a "legitimate purpose" to be in the Trinidad area, such as going to a doctor or church or visiting friends or relatives. If not, the drivers will be turned away.
a legitimate purpose such as visiting friends? "yes hello there, officer. i'm here to visit my good friend Raw Dog. yes that's correct, the one who got my sister pregnant and called my mother a dirty whore. we're getting together to play some chess and drink some Pimms. yes, yes. it should be quite pleasant really."
Instead of a checkpoint to keep people out why can't we set-up checkpoints in the ghettos to keep the animal life in? A plan to greatly increase QoL for all TAX PAYING DC citizens.
@Monkeyrotica:
Maybe the checkpoints could be manned by the DMV. Police could do their thing, and the DMV could check exhaust levels, which probably contribute to just as many deaths (albeit long-term) as guns. All in the name of Mother Earth!
And here's my biggest beef with this idea:
It's not that I am constitutionally outraged by this. I think it would probably pass court review since NYC did something similar several years ago.
It's that this idea - like Lanier's "Knock, Knock. Who's there? Po-Po. Po-Po who? Po-Po who would like to search your home for any illegal stuff, so would you mind letting us in?" idea - is barely thought out. Clearly it's "outside the box". But to spring this on people, without giving the council bigwigs a heads up, is just plain ol' stupid. All it does is piss people off about being caught off guard and, when the inevitable backlash forces a backtracking, makes the mayor's peeps look foolish.
These things are great case studies in how NOT to undertake a large and creative new effort. Who the heck's in charge of these bright ideas being done this way?
Thanks DC for giving more ammunition to the "law and order" *cough*racists*cough* conservatives! I'm sure this and the 500k will REALLY help get DC the vote.
I just hope the NRA doesn’t get word of the police’s arrest in Rock Creek Park. First we have a lawsuit taking away our gun laws, next they’ll push a lawsuit to reintroduce ‘endangered’ hunters into our parks. Watch out raccoons!
Highlights from the Post article about checkpoints:
Talk to police, Wilhelmina? Ha! Let it not be said that the residents of Trinidad have lost their sense of humor during this difficult time.
Seriously, any criminal that gets caught by this checkpoint needs to really, really re-consider their career path.
I think you're on to something. I never considered the checkpoint plan as a stealth method for career intervention. I'm sure if they set up a table with job pamphlets, GRE equivalency exam training, and refreshments, they'd get a decent thug turnout, particularly if they could get Doug E. Fresh and EU to perform "for the children."
Also, they'll need to set up a Church of Scientology tent because everybody in Trinidad needs Dianetics.
quoth monkeyrotica:
OW MY BOATING ARM!
Before calling all advocates (which I am not) of this policy conservative racists (I doubt Fenty is either vary conservative or racist) think about this... What percentage of all DC crime is committed by this animals that are housed in that area (and similar government subsidized areas)of DC? 90 - 100% is probably a safe bet.
"Seriously, they would be better off doing seatbelt or DWI checks like that."
But MPD doesn't do traffic enforcement or DWI checks.
I've got a buddy that's a Capitol Police officer. Sadly, he's not hot at all. But he tells me when they do regular planned jack-ups about 1/5 of the cars they stop have drivers with outstanding warrants, drugs in the car, or some other fairly serious fuck-up.
1 out of 5.
That tells me that MPD NEVER does traffic stops.
This very valuable prevention tool would do wonders in DC. But of course prevention is something MPD doesn't do.
Roberts asked yesterday how this is constitutional. It's not, but that has never stopped the MPD. Remember the mass arrests of "protesters" between 2000 and 2002? Did you know about the woman arrested for wondering why there were so many cops in the 7-11?
It is not a crime control strategy. It is a PR strategy. It is similar to the constantly flashing light on police cars, Capitol Police posted at intersections around the Hill, and having to show ID at places that do not serve alcohol.
It is unlikely that they will arrest anyone in these boondoggles, unless someone in a stolen car has drugs and guns sitting on the seat next to them. If they make no arrests, they are less likely to be sued.
Alternatively, the MPD may have planned this so they would be sued. That way they could claim every time they try something "innovative" the courts stop them. I don't think they are really that smart, though.
Wow. So it's unconstitutional, ineffective, and makes DC look desperate and clueless? Now that's government efficiency!
Seriously, if you're going to have a police state, you have to do it right, people. You can't half-ass it.
I used to see MPD do traffic stops when I was a student at GW (what up Colonials!). At the corner of 22 and G streets, a K-9 copper would park his car near the GW Deli (moment of silence for Old Man Leo), and then stand on the opposite sidewalk. He would watch afternoon commuters coming down G Street to see if they had their seatbelts on. If not, they go pulled over and ticketed. He'd be there for about 30-45 minutes and then leave. Because it wasn't a daily thing, it seemed like he would do this near the end of his shift. I doubt it was much more than a revenue raising method, but it was fun to watch the Virginia commuters suddenly try to put on their seatbelt without looking to obvious.
Another odd traffic stop I noticed this weekend: several MPD coppers pulling over trucks (FedEx, UPS, grocery delivery trucks, moving vans) on Wisconsin Avenue near Sidwell Friends. They seemed to be checking all the trucks' paperwork and walking around the truck to see if anything looked fine-able. It was there for maybe 90 minutes or so and was totally random. Again - was this part of a concerted effort by MPD to deal with truck safety issues? Or was it simply an easy excuse to give out a bunch of tickets?
I report. You decide.
We should throw a Trinidad block party to celebrate the effort, and bring the community together.
You know, cuz, like won't it be so much safer with this police effort in place?
"and having to show ID at places that do not serve alcohol."
I've implemented that policy in all my daily interactions. I routinely ask the UPS guy for his ID, then complain because he's clearly aged since his ID picture was taken.
And I feel good knowing I've done my small part for Homeland Security.
This is the sort of tense, divisive situation that can only be solved by a "candid" Heidi Montag/Spencer Pratt photo op.
You know, I hate to hate on a fellow blonde, but most of Lanier's initiatives have been embarrassing, to say the least.
"Did you know about the woman arrested for wondering why there were so many cops in the 7-11?"
What?
If Hillman's friend's stats are true, that would suggest that a "zero tolerence" policy for moving violations would actually do more than this laughable, barely legal checkpoint strategy.
I wish that the city would pilot one weekend of MPD enforcing traffic laws when not actively responding to calls. Not only could it generate plenty of arrests on outstanding warrants, but it might make the streets a little safer for pedestrians and drivers alike.
one vote for "career intervention" table/concert/info-distribution, as if it counts....
dude: amen on that one! would love to see that happen, and i think the cops might actually enjoy it if they saw it was actually doing some good.