Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based Law Enforcement
Part Twelve
Surprise inspections are one of the techniques that law enforcement entities could utilize to enhance public safety through Zero-Based Law Enforcement.
Rather than scheduling inspections in advance, surprise inspections could likely provide law enforcement officers with more real-world experiences.
As you read this news column, please note that law enforcement officers working through Zero-Based Law Enforcement do not need to carry weapons. School crossing guards and parking enforcement officers, for example, are parts of law enforcement entities in various parts of the country and, typically, do not carry weapons.
Also, some of the examples noted below are already implemented in some communities in the United States. Some of these processes are done through non-law enforcement entities, while other "surprise" inspections – like a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Checkpoint – are sometimes announced prior to the actual date of the "surprise" inspections.
Through Zero-Based Law Enforcement, surprise inspections could include ones focused on transportation, entities with regulated consumer products, centers and shelters for people, centers and shelters for animals, consumer-facing businesses, entities that handle chemicals, road signage and signals, governmental facilities, and law enforcement officers themselves.
Transportation-related surprise inspections could include both commercial and personal vehicles as well as public transit vehicles. Surprise inspections could be done on trucks, school buses, public transit vehicles, and other similar vehicles to determine if the vehicles are in good working order. Law enforcement officers could also utilize surprise inspections to determine if drivers of those vehicles are following regulations.
Surprise inspections of personal vehicles could focus on the proper use of car seats and other safety-related features. In addition, surprise checkpoints could be implemented to determine if passenger vehicle drivers are free of any impediments to operating a motor vehicle, including not being under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. Also, surprise inspections could help determine if passenger vehicle drivers are properly licensed, have their vehicles properly registered, and carry insurance, if required.
Boats, trailers, and other motor vehicles as well as the operators of these vehicles could also be subject to surprise inspections.
Regulated consumer products include such items as tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, guns, and other similar products. Surprise inspections of entities that sell or provide these products could be implemented through Zero-Based Law Enforcement. Entities could be as diverse as businesses, entertainment centers, and medical facilities, among other enterprises.
Surprise inspections of centers and shelters for people could be done by law enforcement officers. These could include day care centers for children, individuals with disabilities, and senior citizens. These could also include community centers serving similar populations. Emergency shelters, public housing, and publicly-supported housing could also have surprise inspections. Each of these types of surprise inspections could focus on physical aspects of structures and the suitability of personnel operating these centers and shelters.
Centers and shelters for animals could be subject to surprise inspections for similar reasons as those noted for centers and shelters for people.
Surprise inspections of consumer-facing businesses could focus on pricing, expiration selling dates, and weights and other measurements of products. These consumer-facing businesses could include fuel stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, and other similar businesses.
Entities that handle chemicals could be subject to surprise inspections by law enforcement officers. Storage, usage techniques, record-keeping, notification strategies to update first responders, and other issues related to chemicals could be reviewed through surprise inspections. These entities could include businesses, medical centers, governmental facilities, and other entities that handle chemicals.
Law enforcement officers could conduct surprise inspections of road signage and signals through Zero-Based Law Enforcement. These inspections could include determining if signage is readily able to be seen by those for whom the signage is directed, if traffic signals operate in proper fashion, and other signage and signals that regulate other aspects of travel.
Governmental facilities could be subject to surprise inspections. These facilities could include schools, municipal buildings, warehouses, storage yards, fire stations, ambulance stations, jails and prisons, law enforcement stations, and other structures and properties owned or operated by governmental entities.
In addition to law enforcement stations, surprise inspections could be done of law enforcement vehicles, equipment, and supplies as well as surprise inspections of law enforcement personnel. Surprise inspections could help determine if law enforcement personnel are carrying appropriate equipment in good working order, are dressed in appropriate manners, and are free of any impediments, including not being under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.
The next news column in this series will focus on how law enforcement officers could focus on specific strategies to enhance traffic safety through Zero-Based Law Enforcement.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
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