PHELPS CO. ONLY STOPS SUSPICIOUS DRIVERS

Don Blankenship, sheriff of Phelps County (Rolla, Mo., is the county seat) checks vehicles traveling along I-44 for drugs.

He says he will continue the checkpoints in spite of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found drug stops in Philadelphia were unconstitutional.

Blankenship says his drug stops are different than the ones in Philadelphia, where most of the vehicles stopped were occupied by law-abiding citizens who happened to be in a rough neighborhood.

The Phelps County sheriff only stops suspicious motorists.

And how do sheriff's deputies know which drivers are suspicious as they whiz along the interstate?

Suspicious motorists, the sheriff says, turn around and try to avoid the checkpoints.

His method has resulted in finding drugs in 61 percent of the vehicles stopped.

Blankenship's approach might make for an interesting exchange before the U.S. Supreme Court.