OK, so it’s going to be one of those days is it? No problem, we’ve got a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot category and we’re not afraid to use it. And here we go (again) . . . Fox News reports that “The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has a new campaign targeting drunken driving. Operation Would U Like Fries, or Operation WULF, will put undercover deputies inside 24-hour fast-food restaurants to spot impaired drivers placing their orders.” No, really. “Sgt. Doug Hanna, a DUI unit supervisor, says if deputies notice someone with classic symptoms of impairment — slurred speech, red or watery eyes or beer breath — they will have a uniformed deputy stationed outside pull the driver over.” A $128,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety will pay for the munchie patrol. Expect AZ drive-thru traffic to quadruple. At least. Dude. [thanks to Dave for the link]
so a cheeseburger and fries for Munchie cravings are out of the question in Az? Damn… why don’t they invest the money in catching dealers rather than fine the consumers.
anyway driving under the affect of cannabis is much safer than alcohol, not mention that the suspension softens up considerably… so maneuvers will have to be undertaken very carefully so that the ride wont flip over dudes…
I’d like to know what the percentage of late night fast-food customers have slurred speech to justify this expense? I can see that the LEO on duty is going to be gaining some weight! LOL
You gotta admit, this is pretty damn ingenious! The first stop after a night of drinking is always at the drive-thru. Taco Bell and Whataburger are always contenders for post 2am revenue.
How about we just install x10 cameras in all the cars so the cops can check up on us and tuck everyone in at night.
How about we just install x10 cameras in all the cars so the cops can check up on us and tuck everyone in at night.
Having cameras everywhere to watch us is a totally different matter than having cops actually out on patrol (or at your local In-n-Out Burger), IMO. I wish I could say that their efforts were there to make our streets safer though. It’s all to generate revenue, I’m sure, but one does have to admit that drunk or otherwise impaired drivers should be taken off the road. I don’t see anywhere near the problem with this program as I do with traffic cameras.
“so a cheeseburger and fries for Munchie cravings are out of the question in Az? Damn… why don’t they invest the money in catching dealers rather than fine the consumers.”
Catching dealers takes time and money, plus you may lose an officer or two in the process.
Tagging the users is cheaper, easier and much more profitable, plus you appear to be doing “something”, which apparently some of the less-enlightened like to see.
I agree with superbadd, it’s disgraceful that red-light cameras continue to be in place even where they INCREASE accidents, but a program like this isn’t endangering anyone and takes people off the road who rightly shouldn’t be driving. Whether it’s worth the expense will depend on the number of convictions and DUI arrests though.
Having said all that, it’s definately worthy of the WTF tag.
So these undercover cops… are they going to be actually *working at* the fast food places?
If so, that increases the entertainment value of “WULF” by 10x.
In my experience, they should just stand in the Taco Bell drive through line and hand out tickets.
I’m not offended that the cops get sneaky. Hiding out in a McDonalds isn’t evil or anything, and it’s not constitutionally prohibited. And the accused is actually able to “confront his accuser” in court.
Florida cops sometimes dress up as Santa Clause, an elf, or the Easter Bunny when they run the radar traps. They post signs to let drivers know that they’re entering a radar trap.
They’ve also stationed themselves inside of old refrigerator crates and beater cars. But one of the best ones was when the Grinch was out running Radar patrol a few days before Christmas.
Hey, if they catch you fair and square, that’s that!
Reminds me of the times in my youth when I stopped at a White Castle after a night on the town. The police always had a large presence at that place, but the lure of fresh sliders were too hard to resist. Thanfully the law was always more concerned with spinning tires on old rusty 5.0’s and IROC’s than the smell of beer on patrons downing a 10 pack inside the restaurant.
Granted this has nothing to do with nothing, but seeing how Zac Efron is apparently an Olds man (that’s obviously an Alero GLS) my opinion of him went up a few points :P
They just want your money, not to protect you. Man this drunk driving thing is a scam. Drunk driving doesn’t hurt anyone if you’re good at it, dangerous driving does, but if you know how to drive drunk you’re better than 99% of the drivers on the road.
I mean I’ve driven after a night out, and
If I’m smart enough to order for McDonald’s and provide the right change I can operate a car. Probably better than Johnny law pig who has downed too many donuts to even breathe or his daughter who drives texting with her Sidekick practically permanently fixed on top of the wheel.
If we can afford to have cops standing around doing nothing while waiting to arrest someone at a fast food joint or ticket people for not wearing a seatbelt, then we have too many cops.
I don’t have a problem with them driving around and stopping someone for suspicious behavior, because drunk driving is dangerous and they can also respond to other crimes. Sitting undercover, not being able to respond to other situations is inefficient.
While making up crimes for revenue (seatbelt laws) while standing around with their thumb up their ass to enforce those laws is wrong on so many fronts.
This is a brilliant idea.
As someone living in an area (Napa, CA) with a significant DUI problem, techniques to get the drunks off the road are greatly, GREATLY appreciated.
This is a really clever idea, and I hope Napa PD tries it!
OK, putting aside the question of whether the cops should be doing this, why the hell should this cost the taxpayer an EXTRA $128,000.00 ?.
Is that so they can fill up on Big Macs and Whoppers at public expense ? Don’t we ALREADY pay these cops a salary ? Do we have to stuff their over-sized bellies too ? This is bullshit.
@Moedaman- +1
The 128k will be paid to the restaurants to cover a 50% loss of business during the cop’s hours.
People have cell phones, don’tcha know.
This is far better than what some Maryland cops have done. At a bar near my hometown I once saw that a lot of the cars in the parking lot had a translucent blue sticker a little larger than a quarter on the headlight lens. A buddy of mine had previously noticed one on his truck and witness cops down the road pulling people over who projected a blue light from that one headlight to “screen” them.
Having worked at a 24-hour drive through in college, I think this is a great way to catch drunks. In addition to the typical 2:00 AM crowd of slightly toasted teens and older, we once had a guy pass out while in his car in drive through.
A little late on this reporting. It was in the local papers today that this will not be happening.
You may ask yourself, “why not?”
Not a single fast food chain agreed to be a part of this debacle.
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2009/06/15/news/state/doc4a35c5de68812719958426.txt
Wouldn’t it be easier just to pull over everyone as they leave the bars?
Not a single fast food chain agreed to be a part of this debacle.
What a shame. I thought it was a damn genius idea. It’s a hell of a smart way to pick off drunks.
I had to wait until the end of the comments to get what I was going to post….
It is private property. If the businesses don’t want cops there (either in the parking lot or inside the restaurant), they can tell them to get the hell out. I can understand why. 1) KILLER to big business, and you know places like White Castle or National Coney Island make a huge amount of their money on these late night eaters. 2) The cops can spend their own time, on public property catching drunks. I’d have them leave just on the principle of it.
Thirty years ago the cops in Lincoln nebraska sprayed ultra-violet paint on the bumpers of cars parked at the local bars, then just pulled over any of them they saw on their way home. I don’t know if they still do, though.
Once again, as somebody who worked his way through college at fast food joints, I’m certain the business owners don’t want the cops scaring off the drunk clientelle, but most of the employees wouldn’t mind a severe downturn in drunks coming through. They’re almost always obnoxiuos and sometimes can be down right violent. In terms of public safety, I would hope that cops could wait near the resaurants, but I believe there was a case several years ago that prevented cops from targeting bars at closing, and the same principle would apply here I’m sure.
All this is gonna due is kill business for these beaneries and put more people out of work.
But at least it’ll keep the cops outta random check lanes during rainy weather and generate yet more “tax” revenue from the working stiffs who own cars.
For 128Large they oughtta be delivering pizzas to my GD house! At least then the cops would be on the street, maybe even preventing a crime or two.