DUI Checkpoints

St. Patrick’s Day was this past weekend, and while Orange County residents were out enjoying a pint or six of green beer, local law enforcements agencies were out in force trying to keep drunk drivers off the road. This week, Orange County DUI lawyers should see an uptick in calls as a multiagency task force arrested 64 individuals over the holiday weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Most of the arrests were made at DUI checkpoints and the Orange County Sheriff’s department is claiming a victory as no DUI fatalities reported this weekend. The taskforce involved the California Highway Patrol, OC Sheriff’s Department and multiple local police agencies. The crackdown has been labeled as “avoid the 38” and officials say they plan more heightened presence over the upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration as well as Memorial day at the end of May.

If you plan on going out on one of these weekends, it is important that you understand the laws that govern sobriety checkpoints. First, law enforcement agencies must publish any upcoming sobriety checkpoint to the public. Second, they must select cars to stop at random, keeping to a mathematical formula. For example, they can only stop every 3rd car for questioning. It is also important to know that police cannot stop you for questioning simply for trying to avoid a DUI checkpoint. You must break some other traffic law, like making an illegal U-turn, for them to stop you and question you.

Knowing the laws that govern what makes a DUI checkpoint lawful or not is vital for your Southern California DUI attorney to understand. As spring turns to summer, law enforcement agencies will continue to step up their efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road. Know your rights and consult a DUI attorney immediately if you have been arrested on suspicion of DUI.

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