Some drivers along a busy Fort Worth street on Friday were stopped at a police roadblock and directed into a parking lot, where they were asked by federal contractors for samples of their breath, saliva and even blood.It was part of a government research study aimed at determining the number of drunken or drug-impaired drivers."It just doesn't seem right that you can be forced off the road when you're not doing anything wrong," said Kim Cope, who said she was on her lunch break when she was forced to pull over at the roadblock on Beach Street in North Fort Worth.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is spending $7.9 million on the survey over three years, said participation was "100 percent voluntary" and anonymous.But Cope said it didn't feel voluntary to her -- despite signs saying it was."I gestured to the guy in front that I just wanted to go straight, but he wouldn't let me and forced me into a parking spot," she said.Once parked, she couldn't believe what she was asked next."They were asking for cheek swabs," she said. "They would give $10 for that. Also, if you let them take your blood, they would pay you $50 for that."At the very least, she said, they wanted to test her breath for alcohol.She said she felt trapped."I finally did the Breathalyzer test just because I thought that would be the easiest way to leave," she said, adding she received no money.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
North Texas Drivers Stopped at Roadblock Asked for Saliva, Blood
No. Just no. [Link]
1 comment:
Anonymous, huh? A cursory check of your license plate could give them a fair idea of who you are. My bet would be that, given the choice, most people would opt out, payment or no. Especially if you had to give them personal info in order to receive payment at a later date. What an appalling fiasco. "Step over to this porto-potty and pee in this cup, please, Ma'am." That's next, if they get away with this much.
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