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[paxamicus AT earthlink.net]

I found this:     
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/20/AR2008062002036.html

"WASHINGTON -- A civil liberties group filed a lawsuit Friday seeking  
an injunction against the District of Columbia police department's  
vehicle checkpoint program, calling the "military-style" initiative  
unconstitutional and ineffective.

The class-action lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in  
Washington by the Partnership for Civil Justice on behalf of four D.C.  
residents who were stopped by the checkpoints earlier this month in  
the city's Trinidad neighborhood.

The checkpoints were in effect in Trinidad for six days beginning June  
7. The initiative requires officers to check drivers' ID and turn away  
those who don't have a "legitimate purpose" in the area, such as a  
doctor's appointment or church visit. Police have said the checkpoints  
could be used in other areas that experience a surge in violence.

The lawsuit also asks the court to throw out data that police  
collected on law-abiding citizens who were stopped at the checkpoints."



And this:         
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061602695.html

DC police chief defends checkpoints before Council
        

By BRIAN WESTLEY
The Associated Press
Monday, June 16, 2008; 10:18 PM

WASHINGTON -- The District of Columbia's police chief on Monday  
defended vehicle checkpoints in a neighborhood struggling with  
violence, saying the measure was a success and that no shootings  
occurred while they were in place.

Police Chief Cathy Lanier, testifying before a D.C. Council committee,  
also refused to refrain from using the controversial checkpoints  
again, despite those who said the tactic had brought the city a rash  
of bad publicity.

"We are trying to do the right things for the right reasons," Lanier  
said.

Under the initiative in the Trinidad neighborhood for six days earlier  
this month, officers checked drivers' ID and turned away those who  
didn't live there or have a "legitimate purpose" for visiting, such as  
a doctor's appointment or a church visit.
ad_icon

The measure has been criticized by civil liberties groups as a  
violation of citizens' constitutional rights.

Johnny Barnes, executive director of the D.C. branch of the American  
Civil Liberties Union, has warned that police "are on a collision  
course with the courts" if the checkpoints continue.




On Jun 26, 2008, at 4:29 PM, bob ford wrote:

> You are correct, I think we had some of our messages mixed.  And I  
> wasn't aware of what was happening in The District.  I'll have to  
> read up on that.  But even before I educate myself on the facts of  
> the issue ( which sound terrible, so far); I have to think that the  
> the council members have declined to fire the chief for a reason.
>
> Some in that city want to separate from others in that city for  
> reasons that heterfore even economic restrictions didn't bring to  
> fruition. This segregation is desired by some element in the  
> District.  And, The District is not exactly run by right wing bible  
> thumpers who look like me.
> If you have a link from the Wash. Post or The Wash. Times on this  
> issue , please post.
> ......sorry for the confusion....bobford