if you read the news carefully, they thought that the car was stolen. someone may have wrongly reported that.

apparently, the blockade was built specifically for them.

but for regular checkpoints, it is relatively safe. just turn off your headlights, open a crack in the window, appear calm and drive slowly. just be wary in you are all males in an AUV - i've seen that these are the kind of situations where the police really scrutinizes the vehicle.