Poll Center: Police Checkpoint in Trinidad

Photo of the 1400 block of Montello Avenue NE, where a police checkpoint will be set up this weekend, by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post

IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE INITIATIVE that has its share of proponents and detractors, but reaction to the plan by D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and Police Chief Cathy Lanier to set up a military-style checkpoint in the crime-plagued Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast is strong in many quarters.

Police officers will begin stopping cars this weekend in the 1400 block of Montello Avenue NE. The Post's Allison Klein and Nikita Stewart report that police will "record all license plate numbers, verify residents' addresses and ask others for phone numbers of those they are visiting, according to a directive issued by Chief Cathy L. Lanier."

Those who don't provide a reason for entering the neighborhood could be turned away, Klein and Stewart report:

"Legitimate" purposes to be in the area include going to a doctor, church or community event or visiting friends or relatives, officials said. Individuals can show a flier for an event to gain entrance, for example.

The topic is Express's poll question of the day: "Is D.C. going too far by using checkpoints to prevent violence in Northeast?"

Commenter H.B. spoke out in favor of the initiative:

Undoubtedly, the perps are not from the Trinidad neighborhood and the police believe they can put a stop to what's going on by flushing out these domestic terrorists. Yes, that is exactly what they are. And I would invite anyone with the ACLU to buy a house in the neighborhood and live there a few months and then see how they feel about the stops.

A short comment by viking, however, takes a very different view: "This is how police states get started..."

Participate in the poll and add your two cents to the comment stream here.

» Poll Center: Trinidad Checkpoint [Express]
» "Directive Details Trinidad Checks" [WaPo]

Posted By Greg Barber at 10:33 AM on June 6, 2008 Tagged in Free Ride , Poll Center , The District , Trinidad

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