Across the Nation

Supreme Court looks at drug roadblocks

WASHINGTON ÐÐ A new tactic being used by police to wage the war on drugs ÐÐ stopping cars and circling them with dogs that can sniff for narcotics ÐÐ is in serious constitutional doubt. But yesterday, the Supreme Court did little to clear it up.

For the first half of a lively one-hour hearing, drug roadblocks appeared to be doomed. Justices criticized the tactic, raising the possibility that police would turn next to stopping pedestrians and subjecting them to canine inspection.

But the second half-hour was a different story: The new technique abruptly seemed to regain constitutional respectability. Justice after justice suggested that if the police first asked to see a driverÕs license and registration, then the dog sniff might pose no constitutional problem.

For police and motorists, these were only preliminary signs of the courtÕs leaning. The justices will debate the issue at length and in private over the next few months, thendecide. But yesterdayÕs public discussion made it appear that a final ruling wonÕt come easy.

Police in Indianapolis, determined Òto interrupt the flow of illegal narcotics through Indianapolis,Ó began using drug roadblocks two years ago. The city ran six such roadblocks before motorists who had been stopped challenged their constitutionality.

Clinton proposes efficient appliances

WASHINGTON ÐÐ After a summer of brownouts, the Clinton administration proposed efficiency standards yesterday that would require new home central air conditioners and heat pumps to use 20 to 30 percent less electricity.

The increased cost of the improvements ÐÐ $274 more for the air units and $486 for a typical heat pump ÐÐ would be more than offset by consumersÕ electricity savings over time, Energy Department officials said.

ÒBy reducing electricity costs we are helping consumers save money,Ó said Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, who announced the proposal that is expected to be finalized later this year.

He said the new standards ÐÐ along with more stringent efficiency requirements for four other appliances already announced or about to be proposed ÐÐ will also ease the threat of summer brownouts and help cut pollution linked to climate change.

Separately, the department will propose this week that clothes washers be required to use 35 percent less water and energy beginning in 2007.

These high-efficiency washers are expected to cost $240 more than todayÕs washers, but the additional cost is expected to be recouped in seven years through energy and water savings, the department estimated.

Massive amounts of spandex heisted

LOS ANGELES ÐÐ The masked intruders burst into Ace Knitting Co. just before 11 p.m.

They stuck a pistol to the head of the lone employee, bound his wrists with shoelaces, then sped away with a truckload of booty.

The target of their carefully woven scheme Ñ Bolts of spandex fabric.

Armed gangs have stolen more than $2 million worth of the springy yarn and fabric from downtown textile mills over the last year, police say, making Los Angeles the city with the greatest amount of spandex fabric banditry.