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On various holidays and at other times throughout the year there are DUI checkpoints that are set up in order to stop drunk drivers from occupying the road. There are many ways to increase your chances of a favorable outcome to this checkpoint. The checkpoint officers will be looking for nervousness, impairment, slurred speech, open alcohol containers, various drug paraphernalia, and the smell of alcohol or drugs.
There are several strategies used in checkpoints in order to filter out drunk drivers. The police may either stop every car or use a specific pattern in order to stop only specific cars. While the officers on the ground are conducting the actual searches, there are “chase” cars stationed in hiding spots at the checkpoint to drive after any cars that attempt to evade the checkpoint altogether.
During a sobriety stop, the officer will likely walk up to the car being stopped and begin speaking with the driver. He or she may ask questions about where they are driving from and whether they have been drinking. However, the conversation is just a cover for the actual investigation being conducted while the officer and driver talk. The officer is actually searching for signs from the behavior of the driver that may indicate that they have been drinking regardless of whether they admit to it. The signs searched for at sobriety checkpoints are more personal traits as opposed to actual motor skills.
The ways that you can prevent unnecessary suspicion include, but are not limited to, the following:
While you may not always be able to avoid these checkpoints it is important to remember your constitutional rights. First, you have the right to remain silent. Do not provide any more information than you have to, you are not required to tell the police officer what you were doing, when or where you were doing it. Any added information can be detrimental to your incognito pass through this checkpoint. Second, you have the right to refuse field sobriety tests. If a police officer suspects you to be driving while under the influence of impairing substances than they may ask you to perform field sobriety tests. You can respectfully say “I do not consent to field sobriety tests”; you cannot be penalized for this.
If you are arrested for DUI, then you must immediately speak with a Phoenix DUI attorney from the Rosenstein Law Group. We have the skill and the experience that you will need on your side in order to combat the accusations made against you. It is vitally important to remember your Fifth Amendment rights in this case, do not give any information to the police officers without first consulting with your legal assistance.
Need a DUI lawyer for your charges in Phoenix or the surrounding area in Arizona? Contact the Rosenstein Law Group for the professional legal help you need.