St Patrick’s Day is here, and we can expect more partying and alcohol consumption up to and after March 17. Of course, DUI arrests will be on the rise.
DUI sobriety checkpoints are legal and not a 4th Amendment illegal search and seizure violation. Of course, that is if the Checkpoints comply with all the regulatory rules. Turning onto a side street or turning around before passing through a checkpoint is generally not against the law. Turning around should not, in and of itself, give the police a reasonable suspicion to make a DUI stop. However, the officer may be able to stop you if he observes any driving that would be sufficient for reasonable suspicion. Thus, slow or erratic driving, straddling the line or making an illegal turn could attract the officer’s attention, and he then could stop your car.
To address all holiday drinking, Checkpoints are implemented to meet the increased number of people who will be drinking and driving. Please understand that, DRINKING AND TEXTING CAUSE DUI’S & ACCIDENTS. CALLING A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER IS CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME!
What You Need To Know About Checkpoints!
- Sobriety checkpoints are a technique by which law enforcement officials evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment at specific points on the roadway.
- Vehicles are stopped in a specific sequence. The average stop time is about the length of a cycle at a stoplight.
- Checkpoints are typically publicized in advance…SO LOOK BEFORE EVERY HOLIDAY!
- The primary goal of a sobriety checkpoint is not to arrest people, but rather to deter people from committing a DUI. The publicity from checkpoints reminds people who drink, that drinking and driving don’t mix.
- Sobriety checkpoints help stop drunk drivers who would likely remain under the radar.
- Checkpoints reduce drunk driving crashes and fatalities by 20% on average.
- Research shows that for every dollar invested in checkpoints, communities save between $6 and $23 in costs from alcohol-related crashes.
- The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes to society is over $100 billion.
- Research shows that checkpoints, if done correctly, can be effective with as few as three to five officers.
Few realize that we have more DUI FATALITIES…per capita, than anywhere else in California. That makes DUI Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols essential to save lives. A saturation patrol is a large number of law enforcement officers making their presence known by conducting stops, targeting inebriated, distracted, aggressive and speeding drivers, as well as those with seatbelt or cell phone violations….the whole nine yards of traffic violations.
Though often referred to as a DUI criminal defense lawyer, I choose to not view my DUI clients as “criminals”. I prefer to view them, and more importantly to treat them, as good, honest people that have found themselves in a scary and unfortunate situation after screwing up.
I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks, drives and gets arrested for a DUI or has an ACCIDENT. I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760 837-7500/ dale@dalegribowlaw.com
Dale Gribow’s “boutique/concierge” firm with 25+ Top Lawyer Awards, 9 Man of the Year (The City of Palm Desert, The City of Hope, The California Senate) and 4 Dale Gribow Day’s, promises “Whether or not I accept a case, if someone calls, I will consult, and when necessary, direct to another competent local lawyer.” The limited caseload allows Gribow to answer calls the “old fashioned” way, personally… not an assistant.
Don’t let a lawyer who hasn’t walked in your shoes with PI/DUI’S, tell you how to tie your laces.
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Upon the advice of my attorney, Dale Gribow, I exercise my right to remain silent until you contact him at (760) 837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com for an OK. Remember: Silence is Golden and Handcuffs are Silver, so DON’T TALK to the POLICE or Insurance Company without your lawyer’s permission. Remember the preliminary Breath Test at the scene is optional, as is the Field Sobriety Tests (FST). At the station you must take a blood or breath test, and I would recommend Blood.
He advises, “the VOLUNTARY FIELD SOBRIETY AND PORTABLE BREATH TEST at the scene, are OPTIONAL (unless one is on probation).
Thus, I elect not to take them. I want to cooperate and am happy to take a BLOOD TEST.”
