Checkpoint Spikes for Border Patrol
Your editorial regarding the Border Patrol checkpoint in San Clemente (Oct. 5) and the anticipated relocation brings to mind an alternative to relocating.
To relieve the citizens of local cities of dangerous high-speed chases by the Border Patrol and to improve the chance of apprehending guilty or suspicious drivers responsible for any illegal action, I suggest installing parking lot spikes at checkpoints. They could be electrically operated and controlled by the Border Patrol at a location that could not be by passed by any motorists.
Caution would be taken to install emergency red flashing stoplights and a siren to immediately halt all traffic when the spikes were activated. Motorists would heed such an alarm, except the guilty violators who would encounter the activated spikes. The Border Patrol pursuit would be limited to a few hundred yards, rather than miles.
The expense for such an installation would be far less than relocating the checkpoint.
Although some innocent motorist may incur tire damage due to negligence during such an emergency, the cost to compensate them would be nil compared to the jeopardy of property damage and the danger of injury or death to the innocent citizen, officers in pursuit or the violators.
JAMES FLORES
La Habra
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