Missouri weighs funding cuts for sobriety checkpoints

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri police could lose state funding for sobriety checkpoints after a debate weighing motorists’ rights to avoid unreasonable searches against the state’s interest in keeping roads safe, as well as the value of checkpoints in deterring drunken driving.

The House on Thursday passed a budget that would prohibit the use of state funds for checkpoints. Local law enforcement would still be able to conduct checkpoints with locally raised money.

A core group of conservative Republicans supported the bill, arguing the checkpoints violate due process rights and protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

The checkpoints block a street so that all drivers are funneled through a group of officers who stop drivers even if they don’t appear to be doing anything illegal.

Read more: http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/missouri/2017/04/08/missouri-weighs-funding-cuts-sobriety-checkpoints/100213104/