PIML 96061202 / Forwarded to Patriot Information Mailing List: [One step in the direction of Liberty.] PIML ================================================================== Date: 11 Jun 96 22:20:43 EDT From: William Winter <73163.3063@CompuServe.COM> Subject: LP RELEASE: NH Roadblocks Ended ----------------------------------------- NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 ----------------------------------------- For release: June 12, 1996 ----------------------------------------- For additional information: Bill Winter, Director of Communications (202) 333-0008 Internet:73163.3063@CompuServe.com ----------------------------------------- New Libertarian law ends random drunk-driving roadblocks in N.H. WASHINGTON, DC -- Random drunk-driving roadblocks will vanish from New Hampshire as of midnight, June 11, thanks to the first Libertarian-sponsored legislation to become law at the state level in more than a decade. House Bill 1285, introduced by Libertarian State Representative Don Gorman (L-Deerfield), requires police to get permission from a judge before setting up drunk-driving roadblocks, and requires the judge to affirm that "all constitutional guarantees are met." "This effectively means that there won't be another sobriety roadblock in New Hampshire," said Gorman. The bill passed the N.H. House by voice vote in March, and the State Senate in April. It became law on Tuesday when Governor Steve Merrill (R) did not sign or veto the bill within five days. Random drunk-driving roadblocks are "no question, unconstitutional," said Gorman, explaining why he filed the bill. "Roadblocks of this type infringe on the right of law-abiding citizens to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The NH State Constitution, as interpreted by the State Supreme Court (State vs. Koppel, 1985) clearly indicates that NH residents are entitled to greater protection against these types of 'no-reason' stops than is provided for in the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution," he said. "It's about time that law enforcement learned that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are supreme in the land," said Gorman, the lone Libertarian legislator in New Hampshire's 400-member House. In addition, sobriety checkpoints are not effective, argued Gorman. Citing New Hampshire's capitol city Concord as an example, Gorman noted, "During a six-month period, the Concord police department conducted 47 checkpoints, making 1,680 stops and 18 arrests for DWI [Driving While Intoxicated]. During the same period, routine patrols using traditional methods arrested 175 for DWI. Clearly, the checkpoints are ineffective as well as unconstitutional." National Libertarian Party Chair Steve Dasbach applauded Gorman's achievement, calling it a victory for civil liberties in America and for Libertarian political action. "Passage of the bill helps take the Libertarian Party to the next level, from electoral victory to successful Libertarian legislation. That's how we will change this country -- town by town, state by state, issue by issue," said Dasbach. The last Libertarian-sponsored state-level legislation was voted into law in Alaska in the early 1980s. # # # ================================================================== * Patriot Information Mailing List * http://constitution.org/piml/piml.htm * A service to help inform those who have an active interest in * returning our federal and state governments to limited, * constitutional government * Send messages for consideration and possible posting to * butterb@sagenet.net (Bill Utterback). * To subscribe or unsubscribe, send message with subject line * "subscribe patriot" or "unsubscribe patriot" * Forwarded messages sent on this mailing list are NOT verified. * See World's Smallest Political Quiz: www.self-gov.org/quiz.html * Libertarian is to LIBERTY as librarian is to library (DePena) * PIML grants permission to copy and repost this message * in its entirety with headers and trailers left intact.