In the checkpoint-plagued community of Escondido, California, the police will not only continue to hold checkpoints, but will actually increase their use of the military tactic despite efforts of activist organizations and the ACLU. Read more here: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/26/motorist-checkpoints-will-continue-expand/

En la comunidad de Escondido, California, azotada por retenes, la policía no sólamente continuará con esta táctica militar, sino también aumentará su utilización de la misma, a pesar de esfuerzos de activistas comunitarios y la ACLU. Para mayor información: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/26/motorist-checkpoints-will-continue-expand/

And here in Los Angeles, community activists have spearheaded an effort to standardize text message announcements of checkpoints and migra/ICE/Border Patrol raids. Hopefully this will alleviate some of the confusion and duplication surrounding those texts we all get. Here is their statement:

In the midst of the holiday season, since “El Dia de La Virgen” (Dec 12), the South East, South Central and South East LA communities have experienced an aggressive intensification of security, DUI, and immigration check points that have resulted in multiple arrests, costly confiscations of vehicles, and non-sobriety related fines. These attacks and intimidation tactics, ironically, come after the recent introduction of an immigration reform bill (CIR A.S.A.P.) by Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). We are demanding freedom in our communities and calling everyone to be alert, document, and spread the word if you come across a check point. Please call 323-331-1334 and text the following information:

CONFIRMED (or UNCONFIRMED) Check Point (or I.C.E. Raid)!
DATE(MM/DD)
TIME (00:00A/P)
LOCATION (Street/cross street)


Spread the Word!

Aquí en Los Ángeles, activistas comunitarios encabezaron un esfuerzo para estandarizar anuncios mediante mensajes de text referente a retenes y redadas de la migra. Se espera que con el nuevo formato, se aliviará un poco la confusión y duplicación en torno a los textos que todos y todas recibimos. A continuación, su declaración:

Durante la temporada navideña, desde el Día de la Virgen (12 de diciembre), las comunidades del sureste, y sur centro de Los Ángeles han vivido una agudización agresiva de retenes policiacos y de la migra que han resultado un numerosas detenciones, encautaciones de vehículos, y multas no-relacionadas a la embriaguez. Estos ataque y tácticas de intimidación vienes, irónicamente, después de la introducción de una propuesta para reforma migratoria (se requiere una reforma justa e integra lo más antes posible) por el congresista Luis Gutiérrez, Demócrata de Illinois. Exigimos libertad en nuestras comunidades y pedimos que todos y todas estén alertos y alertas, que documenten y corran la voz si se encuentran con un retén. Favor de llamar al 323-331-1334 y textear la siguiente información:

CONFIRMADO (o NO CONFIRMADO, según el caso) Retén (o redada de la migra, etcétera)
FECHA (MM/DD)
HORA (00:00A/P)
LUGAR (Calle/Intersección)


¡Corran la voz!



Retenes este fin de semana (29-31/ene/2010) Checkpoints this weekend (29-31/jan/2010)

Viernes / Friday (29/jan-ene)

DAYTON (OH) - "The Combined Agency DUI Task Force of Montgomery County will operate a sobriety checkpoint on South Smithville Road tonight, Jan. 29. The checkpoint will operate from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. with the help of at least six area law enforcement agencies." (http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/sobriety-checkpoint-planned-tonight-in-dayton-519864.html)

LEE COUNTY (FL) - "A DUI sobriety checkpoint is scheduled for this weekend, beginning Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. The operation will take place at an undisclosed location in Lee County" (http://www.pineisland-eagle.com/page/content.detail/id/508347/Sobriety-Checkpoint-planned.html?nav=5051)

NAPA - "Napa police will conduct a checkpoint Friday where officers will look for drunk drivers and those driving without a valid license." (http://www.napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_5c2b4304-0ca8-11df-9c11-001cc4c03286.html)

ONTARIO (CA) - "The Ontario Police Department will conduct a DUI saturation patrol from 6 p.m Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday. The checkpoint will be at an undisclosed location." (http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_14283462)

ORANGE - "The Orange Police Dept. is conducting a DUI and driver's license checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, Jan 29. The checkpoint is at intersection 700 N. Tustin Street for southbound traffic." (http://www.ocregister.com/news/checkpoint-231204-dui-traffic.html)

PALM SPRINGS - "The checkpoint will be Friday night. The location of the checkpoint is not known." (http://www.kpsplocal2.com/news/local/story/Palm-Springs-DUI-Checkpoint/m5Oy5ikQw0mzDQen8364MA.cspx)

SANTA BARBARA - "The Santa Barbara Police Department will be conducting DUI Checkpoints in the City of Santa Barbara Friday January 29th, 2010 6 pm to 2 am" (http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1400&nid=26426)

TUCSON (AZ) - "Nearly $40,000 in state grant money has been awarded to the Tucson Police Department to help enforce traffic laws and prevent drunk driving, including a sobriety checkpoint scheduled for Friday." (http://www.azstarnet.com/staff/brian-j-pedersen/article_da20a1f8-0c1e-11df-9a36-001cc4c03286.html)

WEST MONROE (Louisiana) - "The West Monroe Police Department will operate a checkpoint to screen for intoxicated drivers Friday night." (http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20100129/NEWS01/1290307)



Sábado / Saturday (30/jan-ene)

ESCONDIDO - "Police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint from 6 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday" (http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/escondido/article_eedcc0b1-fa87-5d1c-ad91-16cd7bae35ac.html)

OAKDALE (CA) - "Police will be looking for drunken drivers Saturday night at a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location in Oakdale." (http://www.modbee.com/crime/story/1027643.html)

PALM DESERT - "The checkpoint will be Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location." (http://www.kpsplocal2.com/news/local/story/DUI-Checkpoint-Scheduled-in-Palm-Desert/X8yt_mV2sEqNHGmujk1slw.cspx)

POMONA - "Pomona police are conducting a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Saturday, January 30, 2010. The checkpoint will be from 9:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. " (información proporcionada por Pomona Habla)



Domingo / Sunday (31/jan-ene)

SANTA BARBARA - "The Santa Barbara Police Department will be conducting DUI Checkpoints in the City of Santa Barbara Sunday January 31st, 2010 6 pm to 2 am" (http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1400&nid=26426)



And if any of you are in South Dakota, you will want to check out this article, which offers a way to county-specific receive text message alerts about checkpoints: http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100125/UPDATES/100125019/1001/news

Y si alguno de ustedes radica en Dakota del Sur, querrán leer este artículo, que ofrede una manera de recibir alertas de texto sobre retenes en tu condado: http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100125/UPDATES/100125019/1001/news