Opinion ID: 1060443
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: factors minimizing the risk of arbitrary intrusion

Text: Applying these criteria to the roadblock in this case, we initially find that the roadblock lacked many of the attributes necessary to minimize the risk of arbitrary intrusion into the personal liberty and privacy of the motorists. Consistent with Article I, section 7, the officers did wear official uniforms, and the officers had one marked patrol car at each end of the roadblock with flashing emergency lights. However, contrary to our decision in Downey , the roadblock was operated with little regard to the safety of the approaching motorists. Although the roadblock was conducted at night, the record shows that the officers did not use any lighting separate from the patrol cars, and it appears that the officers could safely stop cars only on one side of the road. Further contrary to Downey , the officers placed no advanced warning signs giving approaching motorists notice of the upcoming roadblock. Not only is this requirement especially important to ensure the safety of motorists, but the presence of advanced warning signs also reassure[s] motorists that the stop is duly authorized, thereby diminishing the possibility of surprise, concern, or fright. See Ingersoll, 241 Cal.Rptr. 42, 743 P.2d at 1316. Although the Constitution does not require all of these specific measures, we cannot conceive of a reasonable roadblock that fails to adequately protect the safety of the passing motorists. Further, we find that no advance publicity was given to the public at large that the highway patrol intended to conduct a roadblock in this area. We emphasize that the advance publicity requirement of Downey was not merely an afterthought or a constitutionally needless restriction upon otherwise legitimate law enforcement activity. Apart from the important deterrence aspects discussed earlier, advanced publicity also gives citizens the important choice of not exposing themselves to state intrusion without prior suspicion of wrongdoing. Moreover, citizens who are aware that they may be subject to roadblocks have more of a basis to anticipate and understand the circumstances of the stop. See Jones v. State, 459 So.2d 1068, 1076 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1984). Although the absence of publicity will not invariably render a checkpoint invalid if other measures satisfy these concerns, the advanced publicity requirement of Downey must nevertheless be regarded as a key aspect of a minimally intrusive roadblock. Accordingly, we find that the absence of many of the attributes necessary to minimize the risk of arbitrary interference with the liberty and privacy of motorists weighs heavily against finding this roadblock to be constitutionally reasonable.