The constitutional branch of the Costa Rican Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the police cannot conduct random roadblocks or checkpoints on the country's roads. This practice has been ruled unconstitutional. They must have specific cause to stop a motorist. This is a fantastic win for individual rights here. In the last few years the random roadblocks have become more frequent and more intrusive, as the police demand that they be "allowed" to search both the vehicle and the passengers. Refusal results in them detaining people until they can get a warrant, sometimes overnight.
This article from La Nación (Spanish) has the full story. Unfortunately the comments are running very strongly against the ruling. The public seems to support the "get tough on crime" approach and are more than willing to give up their rights. I hope this victory will not be short lived.
Funny
thought process they have! "Get tough on crime" by punishing everyone (including the law abiding). Guess they don't see the irony in that statement.
The usual suspects...
When challenged, of course, none of these folks who seem to love being manhandled, fondled and searched can give many real examples (if any) of actual criminals apprehended by these roadblocks.
They do net quite a few people who are indulging in mala prohibita, but most of the sheep can't tell the difference between that and real crime.
So, the question for such people would seem to be, "what is "crime?"
It seems
that the police haven't actually caught anyone who could be considered dangerous with these searches. The article I linked to has a fairly negative tone, but the pictures only show the police with a bunch of smuggled cell phones. If they had made a large (or even small) weapons or drugs bust you can bet that would have been shown.
This bit is hearsay but someone who is in a position to know told me that the police have never made a weapons or drug arrest from these searches. These are the two justifications always given (including in the article).
I am just glad that this practice is over. I hope it stays this way.
Gee, that's funny
Here in the land of the free, the highest court has ruled that "sobriety checkpoints" are just hunky dory. How could justices in Central America get ahead of "ours"?