John LePlae wrote:I sure don't mind seeing the checkpoints every once in awhile.
Do they ever do one on Clifton, or Highland Ave for that matter?
John
I did not remember them, but Don at 56 West recounted each one. I have not heard of them on Clifton, which
would seem possible as this was the State Police with assistance from Lakewood Police. The processing area, I
saw two go through in 20 minutes, was a state unit and a majority of vehicles there were state police.
Madison is not a state route, so I think maybe Lakewood would have to run it? Would probably have to go
through Westshore Enforcement Bureau maybe. They have all of the serious toys err weapons against crime,
like tanks, robots, and swat pigeons.

Even the buses were stopped. Once in the funnel, you were getting 10 seconds talking to a police officer,
about many things, including, were you drinking. It is something to watch them work, they engage in so many different conversation from what kind of dog, where are you going, how do you like this car, I was
thinking, what are you doing, as they watch for signals of impairment and guilt. And then off down the road.

However, I cannot see where it would surprise a drunk, as it glow from blocks away. Now suspicious cars are
chased down, but it was either a sobriety check point or terrible accident. Ah! I get it, drunks are usually found
around terrible accidents! They attract each other.

State Representative Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood resident, stopped by during her police ride along.

The diners in 56 West paid little attention to the check point.

Another thing I observed, and it was pretty interesting, how many people walking, would not walk by the check point.
Even though it was obvious they were only working one side of the street, and not stopping walkers. They would
walk up and look, I would ask what they were doing and they generally would say bar hopping, going to XXX
bar, whatever, they would ask what is going on I would tell them, and they would head back the way they came.
100 cones, 10 police and state troopers, 10 cars and motorcycles it was pretty intimidating.
.