JER 2 years, 3 months ago

It is so good that you guys are outraged by this obvious abuse of power by the "police state" government. This is a clear sign that that the evil government is moving to take over every aspect of your pitiful lives. Call a meeting of the local militia and immediately begin to formulate your plans for protecting yourselves from this impending doom. You may want to attend the gun show in Fayetteville to stock up on all the latest weaponry. After all, you are AMERICANS, by god and you don't have to be subjected to inconvenience. (I now am removing my tongue from my cheek. I have to put this in so that Zoey will understand that I'm being ironic).

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not2us 2 years, 3 months ago

How dare these cops conduct a traffic stop on Sunday morning! Don't they know that only good, honest, law-abiding citizens are out and about on Sunday mornings?

And on Linden road of all places.

This is an outrage...an outrage I tell you!

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mcg2010 2 years, 3 months ago

I am thankful to see that you have so few problems in your life that your biggest complaint is having to sit through a routine traffic stop in Pinehurst.

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eflat7 2 years, 3 months ago

Let's just setup checkpoints in only the low income areas of the county, especially at an hour that everyone expects it. We all know poor people are the only citizens that commit crimes, drive without insurance, and/or expired tags.

I mean where are all my illegal immigration people that are always yelling "illegal is illegal"?

A Pinehurst resident is just as guilty of expired tags as anyone else. You just don't like being treated equal. Period.

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JET747 2 years, 3 months ago

Pinehurst is just so full of uninsured motorists, expired tags, unlicensed drivers that we must have these frequent "routine traffic stops" to rid ourselves of these terrible people. Not.

There is a bigger issue here in terms of our basic freedom of movement. A police officer using a radar gun only stops motorists driving over the posted speed limit. That is the way it should be in all traffic stops. There should be a reason for the stop. Period.

However, I'm sure a few comments on this issue will not change anything, so maybe these officers with time on their hands should station themselves near the parking lot of a gun shop and check everybody's person and vehicle for unlicensed/illegal weapons. If we are going to erode our freedom, let's do something worthwhile. Is someone driving with an expired tag is a real threat to the community? I don't think so.

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Way2Hot4You 2 years, 3 months ago

OMG...How dare he do his job. Especially when it inconvenienced you. Wouldn't you think doing little checks like this catch criminals! Yet another perfect Pinehurst citizen. Go back up NORTH!

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Steve 2 years, 3 months ago

They did it in Aberdeen on Sunday to and it was an inconvenience We had to wait 10 or 15 min. it is hard enough to be on time with Kids to get ready. They said just checking.

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slimchance 2 years, 3 months ago

End of the month, low on the ticket quotas maybe?

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dogboy 2 years, 3 months ago

...you haff papers Herr Aitken?

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tlm123 2 years, 3 months ago

Well written! Your comments are so on point. Well done.

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TallShadow 2 years, 3 months ago

There are alot of Saturday night drunks rolling around on Sunday mornings. These officers may have saved your life and you never even knew it.

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blake 2 years, 3 months ago

I do not find the nature of these stops objectionable but the officer should give a rational justification as to why you are being stopped. Whether a routine check point or getting pulled over in traffic, I would think it proper procedure for the officer to explain why he is detaining you, even if it is just a minute or two.

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None 2 years, 3 months ago

Funny you guys are...in the State of North Carolina when you applied for your driving privilege, the state issued a license once you passed series of tests. One of the features of having a license is you have a privilege to operate a motor vehicle based on size and classification on North Carolina roads and highways. No one is given a “right” to drive anywhere on state roads. When one has been adjudicated for a DWI, their privilege to drive is revoked. Now for an officer to have a reason to stop someone driving a motor vehicle for any reason, well ~ now you know. Officers have a right to stop any motor vehicle to check for any violation of NC Motor Vehicle Laws. Anyone who doesn’t want to be stopped or delayed, turn in your driving privilege! It’s just that easy.

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Bluegoose 2 years, 3 months ago

Amen Toda!! We don't know the reason for a lot of things that happen. We may not need to or want to.

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takeaStand 2 years, 3 months ago

Lets stop bashing the police for doing there job. When its a inconvenience its so easy to bash about what they are doing. What if by chance there checkpoint stopped someone that did not have a license and got them off the road, that may have been drinking or still intoxicated from the party Saturday night, that if they were not out there doing there job could have hit some of you church goers causing us to loose a life or someone getting injured badly. I know the old WHAT IF - But just by chance What If ! Most everyone wants nothing to do with the police unless you need them, Lets talk about some positive things they do, Helping you if you break down, have a flat, lock yourself out of your car, have a break in, get robbed. When something bad happens and you need them who comes running right to where the danger is with only one thing in mind, PROTECT & SERVE! Despite if they just arrested you the night before or wrote you a speeding ticket, they will be there for you when you need them....

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Mooremom 2 years, 3 months ago

Traffic stops are a part of our law enforcement doing their job. I have no problem going through them, one because I have nothing to hide, and two it makes me feel safer that the officers are doing their best and looking after our community. I am really tried of everyone bashing our law enforcement in Moore County. I have grown up with quite a few and they are outstanding officers. Let them do their job! What would have happen IF there was a drunk driver just down the road and he/she hit your car and God forbid killed you or your wife. Then the article would be how the PHPD wasn't doing their job. Traffic stops are a part of driving, if you don't like them, stop driving!

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tlm123 2 years, 3 months ago

Nothing wrong with expressing his or her opinion, and it happens to be quite reasonable. Silly to try to draw lines in the sand and hyperventilate over someone bringing this up. I would so much rather use the tax funds to meet needs of tax payers, I believe the author is correct that this is not the best use of precious tax dollars. I am not the only person who agrees with this author, dignify your responses by showing respect for the rights of Americans to express their views. Reasonable, well stated, rational, not polemic or attacking, this is civil speech, the foundation of democracy.

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MLD206 2 years, 3 months ago

What you are refering to is a Drivers license check point. These are not just something an officer can do whenever they want. A DWI checkpoint is totally different and requires much more planning and documentation. A DL checkpoint just has to be approved by a supervisor and it is to check for DL only. If an officer suspects some other violation during the stop then they can investigate but they have to have reason. Statuatory law is very clear about when and why an officer can stop a motorvehicle and its not just for "no reason". While this few minutes of detaining a motorist can be an inconvenience to some, you have to think about the non licensed, non insured motorist, improper child restraints etc. that are on our streets and highways that makes it unsafe for the law abiding motorist. If you have nothing to hide then you should commend these officers in their attempt to make the highways safe for our familys. And as for Sunday mornings, well i can assure you that law abiding citizens are not the only ones driving on Sunday mornings.

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None 2 years, 3 months ago

MLD206 February 5, 2011 at 10:06 a.m.

"Statuatory [Statutory] law is very clear about when and why an officer can stop a motor vehicle" Citation of the state statute please.

I can speak from experience after policing the roads in an around Pinehurst as well as several years experience working the county roads. Those who have a conviction or multiple convictions for various violations use roads that are off the mainstream to avoid detection by law enforcement to get from point a, to point b. Most of the violators would be driving while licenses' were revoked, or suspended for prior convictions. The best time to leave to go home is when everyone is in church or going to church: they are less likely to be stopped.

I wonder what Mr. Aitken would have written had he and his wife been hit head-on by a sobering up drunk driver trying to navigate his or her way home after a heavy night of drugs and alcohol? Chief Davis's telephone would be ringing off the hook early Monday morning. Good decision Pinehurst PD in my opinion.

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golfin69 2 years, 3 months ago

Sounds to me like Doug needs to spend a little more time in church because he obviously isn't learning anything...I will pray for him.. I for one and happy to see Officers out checking to make sure people are insured and actually have a valid drivers license regardless of the time, If doug ever gets hit by someone who has no license or insurance he will understand. Also I would rather see the officers out then sitting at a store or donut shop oh but let me guess doug would complain about that too...

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bloscoe 2 years, 3 months ago

You think the Pinehurst Police Dept is over-staffed? Check out the Whispering Pines S.W.A.T. & Profilers Team. What do we have there? 10-12 cops on the payroll? Gotta keep an eye on those 80 yr old dudes in their golf carts. You just never know when 1 of them will decide to open-fire because the foursome in front of them are taking too long on the next green. Talk about Profiling!! The cops there will pull over any male between 18-30, especially if they have long hair, & will intimidate them until they confess to being the Zodiac Killer. Those cops have WAY too much dead-time on their hands & that Village could easily get by with 1/2 the staff they now employ. A waste of those residents' $$$, imho.

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dustyrhoades 2 years, 3 months ago

This letter is hilarious. Everybody wants vigilant law enforcement, so long as law enforcement is looking at someone else.

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Ross 2 years, 3 months ago

Now if only "you" could move to the middle jimmie - from that far right position you normally sit at. The founding fathers would be so proud.......

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Yukonjohn 2 years, 3 months ago

I read these comments with complete disbelief. Folks, we live in America. We have rights to free travel, unimpeded by police. I do not have a horse in this race, but being from Moore county, and visiting there from time to time, I find this story and subsequent comments disturbing. I have lived in Alaska for almost 3 decades, and one of the reasons I do is that we do not tolerate this sort of thing. They tried having a sobriety checkpoint in Anchorage in the 80s, and our supreme court told the police to cease immediately!! We have never had them again. The serious disturbing part of this is how many people think this is appropriate!!!

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JustSayin 2 years, 3 months ago

All of you self-righteous holy rolling church goes sicken me! You sit in the pew and nod your heads and say your "Amens" and soak in some religion on Sunday morning so you can feel good about yourself for the rest of the day or at least up until mid-week. Cause by that time you've sinned again a few times I'm sure. The officers that stopped you on a Sunday morning and inconvenienced you for a few moments of your time are NOT THE DEVIL so you can quit your witch-hunt of them! They are human beings who perhaps like you, if they were not scheduled to uphold their duties that morning, would have been in church as well. The ridiculous comment that I read about "Why does a two-cop town like Foxfire & Taylortown already dress the part of a "police state" ?" further irritates me. What would you have them wear I wonder? You people are truly ridiculous. For all the good that church is doing you why don't you just stay home on Sunday mornings, sleep in, read the paper, enjoy some breakfast and then you won't be on the road anyway to be inconvenienced by someone who is serving to protect your sorry rear in the first place!

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HillTopper 2 years, 3 months ago

I bet if you poll the residents of Whispering Pines you'll find out that they're perfectly happy with the number of police officers they have. Strength (protection) in numbers. Keeps the "bad guys" out. And back to the traffic stops, I remember the first license check I ever went through because I DIDN'T HAVE MY LICENSE WITH ME. I had just filled up my 1965 VW and was on my way to pick up my sweetie and go to the movies. What's the big deal???

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Ross 2 years, 3 months ago

too funny........ "Keeps the "bad guys" out"........ the ones on the golf carts?

What they do is keep Whispering Pines in the black with all those silly tickets they issue. Ironic thing is that WP residents do the same for SP etc.

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golfin69 2 years, 3 months ago

@Zoey, First of all really sounds like you got some issues, the discussion was about checkpoints not a departments uniforms WOW... Second of all I cant think of more approachable officers than Foxfire I have needed their assistance at the Golf Course and they were Very approachable and professional you need to get a life...

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HillTopper 2 years, 3 months ago

Ross ... Since I said it, now I'm curious ... I wonder how many breaking and entering or other crimes were comitted last year in Whispering Pines compared to other similar communities? Does "profiling" traffic stops deter or prevent crime. It's a private community, just not gated. I say if you have no business being there ... don't go. And if someone looks like they have no business being there, they should be stopped and asked. Simple as that. It ain't downtown Southern Pines ...

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Yukonjohn 2 years, 3 months ago

I rarely go through WP when l am down visiting. I do not go through West SP either. I have hair halfway down my back and a beard to my nipples, and I am terrified of the police in either place. I do not do drugs, and never drink and drive. I am 54 yrs old and have had a successful government career, most recently as a mid-level manager, and will retire soon. I see no reason to be stopped by the police if I am not a suspect in a crime. In Alaska, I have a number of state trooper friends, as I work in the emergency management field, and would never in my life think an AST would stop me for "no reason". They will not even stop you for a real reason unless they feel a crime has been committed. We have a very good relationship with our law enforcement community here, and police are well thought of, and treat even criminals with the utmost respect when arresting them. Why are other states not like that?

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moonchild7 2 years, 3 months ago

"Why aren't other states like that?" Because the mentality of the Lower 48 I guess is "Lock them up first and ask questions later." Besides that's how they make their money. Simple traffic stops and road blocks reel in tons of money with little to no trouble for the cops doing the checks. I'm not really surprised Mr. Aitken that you want to know why you were stopped because you guys of a certain older age seem to avoid "trouble" so easily. Just go to Walmart and see all the new cars with expired tags in the parking lot and most of the time you'll see a reference to Pinehurst, Foxfire, or Whispering Pines. Someone like me, who drives an older vehicle seems to be a magnet to get stopped the "thinking" of course being, Oh, there's an old auto who's tags or inspection sticker must be expired, because they are "poor". I've been unnecessarily stopped many times here. Nothing expired. I've also been stopped many times at road blocks, nothing expired. I still don't know why the cops don't go to Walmart and just put TICKETS on the cars with all the expirations. Oh that's right, the cops ignore them because they just forgot about it.

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mcg2010 2 years, 3 months ago

I cannot believe that a letter about a traffic stop has generated 83 comments and counting. (Yes, one of which was mine.)

I suppose that if you are upsetting this many people you must be doing something right.

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HillTopper 2 years, 3 months ago

Well DR ... based on the link that runorbike gave me (which I see that Ross checked out) I'd say basically anyone that isn't white would qualify. Of course, that's a lawsuit just waiting to happen. Interesting stats. Thanks runorbike.

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mcguy1 2 years, 3 months ago

you goof ball, the officer does not have to tell you the real reason why they are having a traffic check. they do it simply because they can. and it wasnt a traffic stop, its a check. and "evil speeding church goers", speeding is speeding if your a church goer or not. and even if you are a church goer you shouldnt be breaking the laws by speeding, and also about writing this article. let him who is without sin cast the first stone

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