Arizona Roadblocks | The Roadblock Registry

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INS / Hwy Patrol at the normally empty permanent checkpoint

Ehrenburg, Arizona

Friday night 7:00pm March 4th. Interstate 10 headed East. Heavy presence of INS and Hwy Patrol checking all vehicles. No dogs seen. Delay with long line.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in April 2012.

I-10 Westbound

I travel weekly from PHX to So Cal. In the last year, there has twice been a border patrol stop on I-10 just west of the rest stop which would be right around mile marker 4. Both times there was not a stop on Eastbound I-10. Next time you pass the rest area just before the AZ - CA state line - look to the right and you will see a small building on a small off ramp. That is where they set ip their operations at. The first time there were dogs, the second there was not.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in January 2012.

Highway 93 intersection with Route 71

Wickenburg, Arizona

On 11-30-2011, I was traveling south on 93 and just prior to the off ramp for Route 71 at about 3:30 pm and I noticed a small sign placed on the left side of the road stating "Narcotics Check 1/2 mile". I slowed down, and as I went over the overpass over Route 71, I noticed several police and sheriff vehicles parked to the left. There was no stopped vehicles and I just continued on. I did see several police vehicles just after the parked vehicles. I did see a northbound vehicle stopped and talking to the officers. I believe that they were watching for vehicles to turn around or exit on route 71, or maybe the checkpoint had stopped for the day. I have driven that route many times and this was the first checkpoint I had ever seen.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in December 2011.

Duvall Mine Road & La Canada

Sahuarita, Arizona

This was in area of Green Valley and Sahuarita.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in September 2009.

North Highway 88 and Superstition

Apache Junction, Arizona

They seemed to be checking for DUI, drugs, vehicle registration, insurance, and seat belts.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in June 2009.

SR 80

Tombstone, Arizona

Very scary dogs, weapons, cameras. Walked dog around car, went through stuff in back seat.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in January 2009.

H-90N

Whetstone, Arizona

Border patrol officers. All cars are forced into checkpoint. all cars are stopped and inspected. They visually search your vehicle through your windows before speaking to you. Then, they ask your citizenship. I asked if i was free to go, they said no. I asked if i was being detained, they said no. Tried to move me to secondary area. Said it sounded like i'm being detained, am i free to go? Etc.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in January 2009.

North Highway 85 Milepost 18

Maricopa County, Arizona

Searched car after dog could not find anything. They said we had too many air fresheners in our car and that only drug smugglers do that.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in November 2008.

Highway 85 about 20 miles north of Ajo

Ajo, Arizona

Each time is different. However, one time, while traveling by myself(a single female), I was stopped by 3 male US Border Patrol Agents, asked where I was coming from and where I was headed.

I gave the responses. I was then told to "pop your trunk", while two of the three agents, started around the back of my vehicle as if expecting me to just comply.

I asked if they had a search warrant and the agent, looking extremely surprised told me that they did not need one if I consented to the search. I asked what would happen if I did not comply with their request to search my vehicle trunk. I was told that I would be detained until a drug dog could be located and transported to our location. I was also told that it could be 2-3 hours before the dog arrived.

Never was I told that a search warrant would be obtained so that a LEGAL search could take place, or that they had probable cause to search, nor was a I told the reason for the search, at the time that the search was initiated.

As a single female traveler, on a deserted road (no other vehicles in sight other than the USBP) with three armed federal agents, where no cell phone reception could be received, I felt that I had no choice but to comply with the request. I complied, but got the name of the agent who had requested that I open my trunk, and when I got to my destination, I called the Ajo station and spoke with the supervisor on duty. I explained to him that I was a history teacher and did not appreciate my 5th amendment rights being violated, especially since I was a regular visitor to Ajo, (almost weekly), and that as a teacher, I had a clean record, and did not appreciate being intimidated, illegally searched, and threatened with detainment.

He did not apologize. However, I explained that from that point on, when I taught students about their Constitutional Rights, I would teach the 5th Amendment as theory, since it was obvious that it was no longer in practice, at least by the federal government.

He got extremely angry and started to interrupt me. I would not allow it. I stated that there were residents of Ajo, who did business daily, north of the checkpoint, and that those who had legitimate business north of the checkpoint should not be impeded in their travels. I also suggested that to avoid harassment from the federal agents to local, law abiding residents, that a voluntary decal could be offered to citizens who travel regularly through that area.

It would not be mandatory, but that anyone who wanted to, could apply for the decal and pay a fee for a background check to be done, and then the decal could be placed in the window of the vehicle and when agents saw it, they would simply wave the vehicle through. He told me that they would not do that, as they needed to stop people to check for things that would not be covered in the background check.

I asked what, and never received an answer. However, before the conversation was finished, he accused me of being a criminal, or looking suspicious (because I was "a pretty female traveling alone and could distract the agents from doing their jobs of checking for drugs or illegal immigrants"), otherwise, the agents would not have requested to check my vehicle. So, watch out ladies! If you are attractive, that's now a crime!

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in July 2008.

Aviation Highway E / Paloverde overpass

Tuscon, Arizona

I was going east on Aviation Highway approaching the Palo Verde under pass when I saw a bunch of cop lights on ahead. I wasn't sure if there was an accident or what. Then I saw some stop signs and people waving me through so I thought that it was a construction site. Till I passed the 3rd stop sign and realized that it was a sobriety check point. The sheriff stopped me and asked where I was coming from? I said from my parents house and then the other sheriff guy asked me if I had been doing any drinking. I said " No! " I was annoyed! Then they said ok be careful driving and handed me a sobriety checkpoint pamphlet. I thought how sneaky of them to try and trick people into thinking that it was a construction work site. So be aware of those night time construction sites they might be check points.

This Arizona roadblock was added to the Roadblock Registry in December 2007.