A sobriety checkpoint set up Friday night is causing controversy in one Nashville neighborhood. Many roadblocks set up recently have been in areas with large Hispanic populations, raising concerns of discrimination.
This particular checkpoint is on Murfreesboro Road near the intersection of Thompson Lane, an area where a lot of Hispanics live. Police say the checkpoints have nothing to do with race, and that the locations of the checkpoints are decided based on crime rates.
Police say no one should worry about the checkpoints. They're to keep the public safe, and keep drunk drivers off the streets. They say they don’t ask for identification, and only stop a car if they see a visual indication that the driver has been drinking.
Just recently, the Davidson County sheriff's department announced deputies will have the authority to check immigration status of those booked into Metro jails. Some fear sobriety checkpoints will lead to police asking for proof of legal residence, regardless of whether the driver is intoxicated.
Copyright 2007 by WKRN Nashville Tennessee. All Rights Reserved.
Source: WKRN
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