Decius wrote:

Last week, federal, state, and local police in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas conducted a massive sweep dubbed "Operation Sudden Impact."

The operation included raids of businesses, homes, and boats; traffic roadblocks; and personal searches. They say they were looking for "terrorists." If they found any, they haven't announced it yet. They did arrest 332 people, 142 of whom they describe as "fugitives." They also issued about 1,300 traffic tickets, and according to one media account, seized "hundreds" of dollars.

...

The FBI along with hundreds of officers said they are looking for anything out of the ordinary. Agents take computers and paperwork from businesses.

"What we have found traditionally is that terrorists are involved in a number of lesser known type crimes," said Mark Luttrell, Shelby County sheriff.

There you have it. All law enforcement is anti-terrorism. The police cannot legally establish "anti-terrorism" roadblocks that essentially serve as forums for random search and seizure.

I think the "Sudden Impact" was the impact on the fiscal bottom lines of many of these police departments, and the subsequent courts. People... this is a business like any other. You need revenue for shiny new cars, arms, and all of those public defenders. Issuing 1300 traffic tickets will keep the courts busy for months, all the while using court fines as extortion to protect your insurance rates.

RE: Tennessee Terrorism Sweep nets traffic violators