Last month’s drug interdiction effort along Colorado Highway 145 near Rico was another example of how the so-called war on drugs in action. That police could throw up checkpoints and search private property was once held up as an example of Soviet tyranny. Thanks to our misbegotten drug policy, it has now become an American commonplace.

The central idea behind such an effort is a concept that stands justice on its head: First identify the criminal, then find the crime. In this case, the effort specifically targeted traffic headed for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. But depending on the political climate it could be almost any of us.

The operation was led by the Dolores County Sheriff Jerry Martin, with assistance from other agencies including sheriff’s deputies from both La Plata and Montezuma counties. It was conducted on June 14 and 15 about five miles north of Rico. Signs warning motorists were posted before the checkpoint and officers hiding in the bushes watched for vehicles making abrupt U-turns or for anyone who appeared to be disposing of or stashing drugs. Suspicious vehicles were stopped and searched after officers asked permission of the drivers.

Leaving aside how voluntary such permission can be when surrounded by armed men, the fact remains the only crimes the authorities actually knew to have occurred were minor traffic offenses that would hardly justify a search. Based on a presumed destination, appearance and "suspicious" actions induced by the cops themselves, the "criminals" were identified. All that remained was to discover the crime.

As a result of the checkpoint eight people were arrested for possession of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, 13 received drug-related citations and another 10 got traffic tickets. That proves the interdiction worked, right?

By drug war logic, yes. And if we want to search everyone we can catch even more offenders.

Theft is illegal, isn’t it? So is failure to pay child support. And, even the National Rifle Association says we should enforce existing gun laws.

So, why not set up roadblocks to search for illegal guns? Why not check every vehicle for stolen merchandise and deadbeat dads? What makes drug laws so special?

There are a lot of laws on the books and random searches would probably turn up a lot of violations. But is that how we want to live? Is that why we pay taxes?