Is Carrboro targeting people of color?

Thanks, Ben, for posting this concern which I share. From what Chief Hutchison tells me, "checking stations" are done throughout town. I believe it is considered a standard police practice. However, I share your question on whether it is a good use of resources. I am particularly concerned that it would be set up in a residential neighborhood at midnight, particularly with such a significant police presence.I am also concerned about the unfriendly attitude you saw in the officers. We expect, and typically receive, a very high standard of professionalism and courtesy from our officers.When there was a similar checkpoint on a Friday afternoon on Pathway Drive in May, I asked about this policy. Here is part of the reply which speaks to the question of targeting:

"G.S. 20-16.3A specifies that the placement of checking stations should be random or statistically indicated and that agencies should avoid placing checking stations repeatedly in the same location or proximity. We have chosen our checking station locations based on complaints received from residents, officers’ observations during patrol, and information gleaned from incident and traffic accident reports. A partial list of the intersections throughout town that have been identified as possible checking station locations follows: Manor Ridge Drive and Willow Oak Lane, Fowler Street and Broad Street, Lorraine Street and James Street, Morningside Drive and Spring Valley Road, Davie Road and Colson Street, Jones Ferry Road and Laurel Avenue, Lake Hogan Farm Road and Lake Manor Road, Cobblestone Drive and Rock Garden Road, Shelton Street and Lindsay Street, Rogers Road and Tallyho Drive, Blueridge Road and Morningside Drive, Old Fayetteville Road and W. Poplar Avenue, N. Greensboro Street and Robert Hunt Drive, Hillsborough Road and Bruton Drive, and Pathway Drive and Tripp Farm Road."I will ask the police chief to follow up with you on this. 

I just wanted to thank Ben for posting about this and Dan for responding so informatively. I always envisioned OP as a good resource for frustrarted residents who need answers from elected and appointed officials. 

I am also grateful to Ben and Dan. I find it distressing that the police who work in Carrboro, of all places, would be rude to residents. There are also serious questions to be addressed about the whole idea of these checkpoints. I hope we get a response here on OP from Chief Hutchison.James Coley

From the CPD report on this matter:"Since the PD started conducting checking station in 2009, we have conducted twenty-five checking stations at different locations within the town limits. Three (3) of them in 'low income and non white neighborhoods' [in Mr. Davis' words]. The remaining neighborhoods are 'high income'. The checking stations are ways to continue to provide traffic safety and to do preventative enforcement instead of reactive enforcement. The plan is systematically drawn up and provided to us by the Governor Highway Safety Commission, the locations are randomly drawn as well."We do not target any racial or ethnic group for enforcement but neither do we avoid any racial or ethnic group either.  The checking stations are operated in a purely race/ethnicity blind manner. 

I am a white woman  and I live on Old Fayetteville Rd and I have had these check points set up at the end of my driveway twice.  The first one a couple of years ago and was  late at night.  I found out about it when the blue lights where shining in my bedroom window and woke me up and I went out to investigate.  As I recall they were polite to me.  The second time was a couple of months ago in the middle of the day.  They were there when I arrived home and I had to show my license and registration to get into my driveway.  So my experince would agree with the report from the CPD.     

A press releae from CPD.  My emphasis added in bold:  "Suspect Arrested in Daytime Residential Break-ins"Lydriquez Jamel Blount, 22, of 404 Jones Ferry Rd., Apt. D-18 in Carrboro, was arrested by the Carrboro Police Department on August 2, 2011 and charged with multiple counts of felony breaking and entering and felony larceny. Blount initially came to the attention of officers after he was stopped at a traffic checkpoint conducted on June 24, 2011 by the Carrboro Police Department. It was discovered that Blount had two outstanding felony warrants from Durham and Beaufort Counties for pawning stolen property. At the time of his arrest, his fingerprints were taken and entered into a fingerprint database. Latent evidence from break-ins led to his being identified as a suspect."Blount is charged with four counts of felony breaking and entering and felony larceny. He was held in the Orange County Jail under a $25,000 bond. Further investigation and stolen property recoveries from Blount’s residence have identified Blount as being involved in 14 residential break-ins in Carrboro, Chapel Hill and UNC Campus. The investigation is continuing