-peace-

TELLURIDE DRUG CHECKPOINT BUSY

June 16, 2000 - Law officers were so busy at a drug checkpoint south of Telluride Wednesday and Thursday, the kickoff of the mountain hamlet's wildly popular Bluegrass Festival, that they could barely keep up with the paperwork, Dolores County Sheriff Jerry Martin said.

"It just bowled us over," Martin said. "It was a great success. I'm going to be in court for the next six months." Amid howls of protests from some motorists and local observers who said rights to privacy and other personal freedoms were being sacrificed, a drug interdiction team with officers from Cortez and Dolores and Montezuma counties made 20 arrests on Wednesday alone.

Four were on suspicion of felonies, Martin said. Officers also seized two cars at their checkpoint on Colorado 145 between Rico and Telluride.

"I think it's outrageous," Telluride Mayor Amy Levek said. "I'm not sure what the motivation is. The bluegrass festival has had its ups and downs, but for the last 10 years the crowd has been very manageable, a good crowd."

Cars were searched only when occupants gave their permission or after an arrest. Those arrests involved people who either had outstanding warrants or had illegal substances in plain view, he said.

Most of the catch Wednesday was marijuana or psilocybin from hallucinogenic mushrooms, which surprised Martin, who said methamphetamine is the "drug of choice" for the area.

San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters said that while he is a friend and admirer of Martin's, he is philosophically opposed to such tactics and won't use them in his jurisdiction.

p.s. Denver? Denver?

[This message has been edited by Suntzu (edited July 25, 2000).]

Pretty much im tring to make all new friend since all my friends use me for bud and money.