KCPD’s sobriety checkpoints: now more surprise-y

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You know what was great about the Kansas City Police Department’s sobriety checkpoints? They used to send us press releases announcing exactly what day, time and place that they’d be delaying drivers. “Friday night, Midtown Kansas City,” the release would say, which usually meant the Westport area, where the drunks pour out onto Southwest Trafficway or Broadway. Or “Saturday night, South Kansas City,” which often meant Ward Parkway. If they were going to do one on 71 Highway, they’d tell us.

Not anymore. Srg. Ron Podraza, supervisor of the KCPD DUI Section, sent us this vague release (bold emphasis added):

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT – The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department will
conduct a sobriety checkpoint on the weekend of February 13-15 at a
location in Kansas City, Missouri that is known for occurrence of DUI
related crashes or DUI arrests. This checkpoint will be preceded with a
briefing at the Agnes Police Facility, 1328 Agnes at 2300 hours.

During this operation there will be signs placed in advance of the
checkpoint site and officers will be on the street directing traffic.
Motorists will be directed to a location where an officer can conduct a
brief check to determine if the motorist should be delayed longer. If
not, the motorist will be delayed only a very brief period of time and
will then be furnished with written material about drunk driving.

What the eff? I asked Srg. Podraza via e-mail. His curt reply: “We are only providing what is required by the state. General dates and within our city at known DUI sites.”

But, I whined, you used to be much more detailed!

“Negative,” he typed back. “We gave a general location of the city, not specific. We will now provide a notice similar to what you have received.”

Well, that’s no fun. Word to your happy-hour posse: It’s best to leave the tipsy driving to Grand Theft Auto IV’s simulations.