Challenge to Trinidad Neighborhood Safety Zones Defeated in Federal Court

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Acting Attorney General Peter Nickles, and Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced today that a federal judge has upheld the District’s Neighborhood Safety Checkpoints established in the Trinidad Neighborhood in June of this year.

In denying a preliminary injunction motion filed by four residents, United States District Judge Richard Leon today upheld the District’s establishment of the checkpoints against a constitutional challenge.  The checkpoints were implemented by Mayor Fenty and Chief Lanier after a spike in drive-by shootings, during which 13-year-old Alonzo Robinson was murdered while walking with his mother in the Trinidad neighborhood.

Plaintiffs sought to stop the District from implementing more Neighborhood Safety Zone Checkpoints, claiming the initiative was a violation of the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures.

“Today’s opinion from Judge Leon is not only a great victory for the city but also a tremendous win for the citizens of the District of Columbia,” said Mayor Fenty.  “This ruling eloquently illustrates the spirit of the city’s intention to serve and protect residents.”

In ruling on the constitutional elements of the initiative, the Court stated:  “Suffice it to say that the public’s interest in deterring violent crime of this type through a checkpoint program this carefully crafted is overwhelming.”  The Court went on to state that: “to take this arrow out of MPD’s quiver on such a weak showing as to its unconstitutionality would be injurious not only to MPD’s ability to protect our citizens, but to the public’s overwhelming need to be protected from these mobile merchants of violence.”

Chief Lanier says she is beyond pleased with Judge Leon’s ruling.  “From the beginning, our sole intention was to stop the violence.  It is obvious from the Judge’s ruling that he saw the full intent of the Neighborhood Safety Zone Checkpoints as a narrowly crafted solution to a spike in crime – a solution that does not in any way violate the constitutional rights of any person seeking to pass through the checkpoints.

General Peter J. Nickles also expressed his pleasure at the ruling stating that:  “The Mayor has shown great leadership in supporting this program and those who have helped in its establishment and implementation, including the Office of the Attorney General, the MPD and the United States Attorney’s Office.

From June 7 – 12 and July 19 - 27, MPD officers stopped 951 vehicles, of which 903 were allowed to proceed.  Entry was denied to 48 drivers due to operator’s failure or refusal to provide a legitimate reason for entering the Trinidad neighborhood.  Only one arrest was made for driving while in possession of an open container of alcohol.