Random road checkpoints being set up in deep South Texas by the Texas Department of Public Safety have raised serious concerns among Valley residents, including questions on why certain areas in Hidalgo County appear to be targeted. Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, wants the state police agency to provide justification for their actions.
A checkpoint is a place along a road or border where vehicles are stopped for inspection.
According to Canales, he has received reports from constituents that the DPS road checkpoints being conducted “seem to be placed in economically disadvantaged areas. Checkpoints have been set up in Alton, the east side of Pharr, a portion of Alamo, but none, so far, along highly-traveled roadways in wealthier parts of the county, such as along Trenton or Dove roads in northeast McAllen.”
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Beginning Sunday, the Texas Department of Public Safety has temporarily increased its patrol presence in the Rio Grande Valley and establishing “regulatory checkpoints” to check driver's licenses and other registration requirements, according to a news release the agency issued Friday afternoon.
“Law enforcement has identified various criminal activities and unsafe driving behaviors in south Texas that has led to the launch of this short-term enforcement effort in the Rio Grande Valley,” the release stated.
The release did not specify — and a DPS spokesman declined to comment on — how many additional troopers will be in the area for how long. Also unclear is the manner of the checkpoints, how many will be in operation or where they’ll be.
http://www.themonitor.com/
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More Background
http://riograndeguardian.com/
http://www.valleycentral.com/
http://www.mysanantonio.com/
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Facebook pages set up to alert people where checkpoints are:
Spanish Language:
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
English Language:
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
