Question 1

When did the practice of establishing roadblocks to detect people drinking and driving become popular among police in the United States?&#10;A) 1960s&#10;B) 1970s&#10;C) 1980s&#10;D) 1990s

Accepted Answer

The practice of establishing roadblocks to detect people drinking and driving became popular among police in the United States in the 1980s, as part of efforts to reduce drunk driving incidents and enhance road safety.

Question 2

In Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz, the constitutionality of roadblocks was challenged, and the Court held that these kinds of police actions are constitutional under ________ circumstances.

A) Limited
B) Unlimited
C) Unusual
D) Exigent

Limited

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court held that sobriety checkpoints (roadblocks) are constitutional under limited circumstances, balancing the state's interest in preventing drunk driving against the Fourth Amendment rights of individual motorists.

Question 3

Why did the Supreme Court in Sitz decided in favor of the state?&#10;A) The balance of the state's interest in preventing drunk driving&#10;B) The extent to which sobriety checkpoints can reasonably be said to advance a state interest in preventing drunk driving&#10;C) The minimal degree of intrusion upon individual motorists who are stopped briefly&#10;D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court in Michigan Dept. of State Police v. Sitz (1990) decided in favor of the state because it found that the balance of the state's interest in preventing drunk driving, the effectiveness of sobriety checkpoints in advancing this interest, and the minimal intrusion on individual motorists justified the use of sobriety checkpoints.

Question 4

Highway checkpoints whose primary purpose is ________ violate the Fourth Amendment.&#10;A) To detect drunk drivers&#10;B) To detect evidence of ordinary criminal wrongdoing&#10;C) To secure the border&#10;D) Crime control with an individualized suspicion

Accepted Answer

Highway checkpoints aimed primarily at detecting evidence of ordinary criminal wrongdoing violate the Fourth Amendment because they do not meet the requirement for reasonable search and seizure without individualized suspicion.

Question 5

In Illinois v. Lidster, the Court held that police checkpoints set up for the purpose of obtaining information from motorists about ________ were valid under the Fourth Amendment.&#10;A) Drunk drivers&#10;B) Illegal aliens&#10;C) A hit-and-run accident&#10;D) Their personal whereabouts

Accepted Answer

In Illinois v. Lidster, the Supreme Court held that police checkpoints set up specifically to obtain information from motorists about a recent hit-and-run accident were valid under the Fourth Amendment, distinguishing this from checkpoints aimed at general crime control.

Question 6

Which of the following types of roadblocks would not be considered valid or constitutional?&#10;A) Roadblocks established to detect evidence of ordinary criminal wrongdoing&#10;B) Roadblocks established to check drivers' licenses and vehicle registrations&#10;C) Roadblocks established to help solve a specific crime&#10;D) Roadblocks established as drunk-driving checkpoints on days when the police suspects that people may be drinking and driving

Accepted Answer

Roadblocks established solely to detect evidence of ordinary criminal wrongdoing are generally not considered valid or constitutional because they do not meet the specific standards set by the Supreme Court for balancing the government's interest against individual privacy rights. The Court has upheld certain types of roadblocks, such as those for sobriety checks or to seek information about a specific crime, but has indicated that roadblocks cannot be used just for the purpose of uncovering evidence of general criminal wrongdoing without a more specific public safety rationale.

Question 7

The Court has held that sobriety checkpoints constitute a form of ________ and therefore come under the Fourth Amendment.&#10;A) Arrest&#10;B) Detention&#10;C) Seizure&#10;D) Search

Accepted Answer

Sobriety checkpoints are considered a form of seizure because they involve stopping vehicles without a specific suspicion of wrongdoing, which falls under the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 8

The general rule in Fourth Amendment cases is that searches and seizures are unreasonable unless there is ________ suspicion of criminal wrongdoing.&#10;A) General&#10;B) Individualized&#10;C) Exclusionary&#10;D) Common

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "Individualized" suspicion, which means that the suspicion must be specific to the individual being searched or seized, rather than a general or broad suspicion applied to a group of people. This principle ensures that Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures are personalized and based on specific evidence.

Question 9

Which of the following if not an exception to the need for individualized suspicion for roadblocks?&#10;A) When the purpose of the roadblock is securing the border.&#10;B) When the purpose is to control the flow of drugs&#10;C) When the purpose is apprehending drunken drivers.&#10;D) When the purpose is verifying drivers' licenses and registrations.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court has generally required individualized suspicion for searches and seizures but has made exceptions for certain types of roadblocks. However, it has not recognized an exception specifically for the purpose of controlling the flow of drugs, making choice B the correct answer. Exceptions have been made for purposes such as securing the border, apprehending drunken drivers, and verifying drivers' licenses and registrations, as these are seen as serving significant public interests with minimal intrusion on privacy.

Question 10

In ________, the Court held that even though the drug problem was severe it did not justify setting up roadblocks.&#10;A) Maryland v. Wilson&#10;B) Carroll v. United States&#10;C) Indianapolis v. Edmond&#10;D) Chimel v. California

Accepted Answer

In Indianapolis v. Edmond, the Supreme Court ruled that the severity of the drug problem did not justify the city's use of roadblocks to search for drugs, as it violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 11

Roadblocks designed to detect &#34;ordinary criminal wrongdoing&#34; are constitutional.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Roadblocks designed to detect &#34;ordinary criminal wrongdoing&#34;...

Question 12

The Sitz case does not allow police to make random stops; what it does authorize are well-conceived and carefully structured sobriety checkpoints.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Sitz case does not allow police...

Question 13

Although sobriety checkpoints are constitutional, they may be prohibited by departmental policy or state law.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although sobriety checkpoints are constitutional, they may...

Question 14

In roadblocks, there is generally no individualized suspicion of wrongdoing.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In roadblocks, there is generally no individualized...

Question 15

All police roadblocks are constitutional under the Fourth Amendment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All police roadblocks are constitutional under the...

Question 16

Roadblocks designed to enhance safety on the roads are unconstitutional.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Roadblocks designed to enhance safety on the...

Question 17

The purpose of a checkpoint is general law enforcement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The purpose of a checkpoint is general...

Deck 11: Roadblocks