Should the State Police submit roadside truckdriver urine containers for DNA-identity databases?

tommy44432

If a urine filled pop bottle in a garbage container at a rest stop is the worst thing OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDMOTHERS (GASP) are subjected to in this society then they should consider themselves fortunate. You need to find a better outlet for your anti-trucker crusade there, Adolph!

"Electric" Bill Pylon

It's not just truckers that do that, Adolph.

blueridgemotors

You really are advocating a police state. We have given up so much in the past ten years that I wonder if the Constitution will become a Historic Document for what it used to stand for.

bill blasphemy

why don't the police just pull them over and write every trucker they see a ticket? If they drive a truck, they must be guilty, right? should we start stopping all the cars to see if the air pressure is correct in the tires to make sure they're not wasting gas? Truckers need to dispose of the urine bottles better than they do, but Nazi tactics isn't the way to go.

A Man

Under George W. Bush war on individual rights, why not?

Haleiwa Bound

OK Hitler....slow down.

joeanonymous

Our center for forensic sciences is so back logged with criminal DNA sample cases, there is no possibility that something as minor (however disgusting) as littering would be considered.

I had blood on a door handle of a vehicle that someone had just attempted to steal (smashed window, damaged steering column). A man was located a couple of km away acting suspiciously with a fresh cut on his hand, he was subsequently arrested for some other offence and I did request that swabs of his hands be taken. He denies being around the vehicle and there were no witnesses.
Sounds perfect for DNA analysis doesn't it?
Well, because it was "only" attempted theft and mischief I could not send the samples away for analysis. The forensic center does not have the time or the money to analyze sample for minor offences (it has to be a B&E or a violent offence). Do you think that they will be analysing pee-pee?

Aliz

No, they should not because it is another invasion of privacy. I am tired of being ordered to give up my rights that my ancestor fought for all Americans to have when we broke away from England.
This is not the old USSR but a democratic America.

Daniel K

Where in the world are you from? If I saw this I would report it to the police as littering. Please don't think that new laws will give truckdrivers or anyone else common sense. This whole thing really pisses me off!

crisagi

Someone's been watching a little too much CSI and Law & Order.

Then again if you had been watching you'd realize that there is a very small chance of ever prosecuting someone on such an offense - since it would be almost impossible to prove they were the ones who disposed of the urine improperly.

BTW - the most they would get is a littering fine - and I doubt any DA would authorize the grand scale you propose for that. It's like spending $20 on raffle tickets for a $5 prize. - It makes no sense.

lovemytc

Urine does not contain DNA, but may contain epithelial cells. Most healthy adults do not excrete epithelial cells in their DNA, so it will be a painstaking process, cost tax-payers even more money, also overwhelming the already overwhelmed forensic scientists working on more important cases.

DNA extraction from urine is VERY difficult. DNA from urine will degrade after a few hours if not properly handled, and fully degrade after a few weeks after tests. So it's basically not concrete evidence.

Even if they pass this law, it would have such an outrage, because they would be violating our Amendment Rights, which cannot be changed. If you are so concerned, pick it up and throw it away.

firstmammaw

would you like to get arrested by your dna because you stopped at a truck stop?

bullwinkle

We could DNA test old bubble gum, too, especially from hot sidewalks in front of elementary schools.

levindis

The reality is that DNA tests are neither cheap nor quick. In fact it takes several weeks to complete a DNA test meaning that the offender can actually be several states away when the results are made available. Not to mention you would need to somehow get the drivers DNA to compare against which raises a number of legal and constitutional questions. Even if you were able to get around the first 2 hurdles you would be left with the legal reality that the driver could state that he did properly dispose it and a third party is responsible for misplacing the urine. Without evidence he could not be fined.
A cheaper and more effective alternative would be too establish a hotline with local law enforcement so citizens can report this illegal dumping or establish regular clean up crews. Either of these would result in a cheaper solution than DNA testing. Another solution would be to implement a highway survelience system similar to what Great Britain has implemented where the highways are monitored and an offender could be easily identified.

Sarge

Yea, I love to have that job.

Give me a break!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: