Be honest; does the sight of a DUI checkpoint up ahead on the road make your palms start to sweat? Here’s how to get through a legal checkpoint without losing your cool.
Legal Checkpoints
DUI checkpoints, also known as sobriety and legal checkpoints, work to catch drivers who are under the influence. The police set up random roadblocks and stop each car entering into the inspection to determine if the driver is intoxicated. Knowing how to get through a legal checkpoint is key to staying relaxed when you face the next police roadblock.
How To Get Through A Legal Checkpoint
No doubt traveling through a sobriety checkpoint makes many people nervous. You’re not alone if the prospect of interacting with the police at a roadblock makes you feel queasy even if you haven’t had a few beers or smoked any weed. Here are four points to memorize for the next time that a legal checkpoint appears in your path.
- #1: You do not have to enter the sobriety checkpoint area. It is perfectly legal to turn around to avoid encountering the police. Make sure that you don’t break any traffic laws if you decide to avoid the checkpoint.
- #2: Once at the checkpoint, expect the police to ask to see your drivers license and vehicle registration. It’s a smart idea to take your registration card out of the glove compartment before you drive up to the checkpoint. You’ll feel more relaxed if you aren’t fumbling for paperwork while you’re speaking with the police officer.
- #3: Roll down your window and take a deep breath to relax as the officer approaches your car. If you seem overly nervous and uncooperative, there is a higher chance that the encounter will escalate beyond a few quick questions into a field sobriety test. Never forget that you have the constitutional right to remain silent. You do not have to admit that you might be under the influence when asked by the police at the checkpoint.
- #4: Unfortunately, no matter how calmly and politely you are in answering any questions, it’s possible that the police might ask you to undergo a field sobriety test. This test consists of a series of tasks, such as reciting the alphabet backward, that can reveal a possible illegal impairment.
Opt For A Chemical Sobriety Test
It is vital to understand that the field sobriety test isn’t foolproof, and you could fail the test even if you aren’t under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is not against the law to decline to take a field sobriety test. For this reason, criminal defense attorneys recommend that you refuse to take the test.
After you refuse to do the field sobriety test, the arresting officer will need to find another reason to arrest you for driving under the influence. If you end up at the police station, you will have the chance to take a chemical sobriety test to establish an accurate blood alcohol reading.
Lastly, spotting a sobriety checkpoint up ahead is never a happy thing at the end of a night out with friends. The key to knowing how to get through a legal checkpoint is to remember to stay calm and exercise your constitutional rights against self-incrimination.
If you do find yourself under arrest for driving under the influence, Steve Blackman will post bond and get you home as fast as possible. Contact us at Blackman Bail Bonds so that you won’t spend unnecessary time behind bars.
