Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote a brilliant article reminding everyone that Tweeting checkstops is risky business.
Picture it: An intoxicated man stumbles to his vehicle, gets behind the wheel and turns the key. Before driving off, he looks at his smartphone.
His bloodshot eyes widen as he scans his Twitter feed.
It’s his lucky day. Someone has just posted a list of locations where police are out in full force that night, looking to crack down on drunk drivers.
And so off he goes, altering his route to bypass the area he’s just read about. He is likely going to avoid arrest. Hopefully, he makes it to his next destination without injuring or killing some innocent motorist or pedestrian in his path.
We often forget that check stops and speed traps, first and foremost, are out there to protect the public. What if that intoxicated man took a detour through a busier intersection and caused an accident? Or even worse, if he makes it home… what’s stopping him from repeating his actions the following week?
We need to let the people who are in the wrong get caught.
If you’re at a bar, and you see a intoxicated man get in a vehicle, you first instinct should be to tip off the police – not giving him a list of check stops.
Social Media is a powerful tool that can distribute information faster than any other platform… but we also need to be smart with how we use it. A 140-character tweet could be the difference between life and death.
Spread the word… Don’t Tweet Speed Traps and Check Stops. [WINNIPEG FREE PRESS]
