Idea of sobriety checkpoints gets mixed reviews

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) - One Milwaukee lawmaker says he wants sobriety checkpoints to be part of Wisconsin's arsenal as the state tries to curb drunken driving.
    
But the Appleton Post-Crescent reports that many others feel the checkpoints infringe on civil rights.
    
Sobriety checkpoints are outlawed in Wisconsin, and were not part of a bipartisan set of bills designed to crack down on impaired driving.
    
Democratic Sen. Tim Carpenter says checkpoints might send a message to that small number of people who drive drunk. He says the state could ease into the checkpoints at first, by allowing police to operate them on days that are associated with drinking, such as St. Patrick's Day or New Year's Eve.
    
Republican Rep. Dean Kaufert of Neenah says he doesn't believe checkpoints are the answer.