Police and law enforcement officials are constantly searching for ways to reduce and prevent drunk driving. Thousands of people are killed or injured in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents every year, and unfortunately, drinking and driving will persist as a threat to the safety of American motorists as long as there is alcohol and cars. From tough anti-DUI laws, to aggressive prosecution of drunk drivers, to substantial penalties for drivers convicted of DUI, there are a number of ways state and local governments deal with drinking and driving. A combination of all of those approaches is usually favored by most municipalities.
But law enforcement do not all follow the same playbook. That is because laws covering drunk driving are not uniform throughout the country; they vary from state to state. Even the balance of anti-DUI measures that are applied by the police and district attorneys are different as you move from one city to another. For example, one county may favor active DUI patrols in high-risk areas on weekends and holidays, while the city or county next door prefers to use its resources in prosecuting those who have been charged with drunk driving.
In Texas, for example, a recent proposal in the state’s legislature has focused attention in the problem of drinking and driving in the Lone Star State, as well as the differences in DUI laws that complicates law enforcement’s ability to effectively police drunk driving. House Bill 253 would require Texas police to set up “security checkpoints” throughout the state on high-risk roads. In other words, if the law passes, Texas would join about 40 other states which use sobriety checkpoints (or “security” checkpoints) to catch drunk drivers and prevent alcohol-related traffic accidents. Sobriety checkpoints are normally set up along certain where higher than average numbers of DUI arrests and/or accidents occur. Sobriety checkpoints are usually in place on weekends and holidays and allow police officers to stop drivers who they suspect of being under the influence of alcohol.
Over 1,500 people died in alcohol-related accidents in Texas in 2005, and lawmakers in favor of the proposed law believe that drunk-driving accidents could be reduced by 20 percent through the implementation of security checkpoints. Opponents of the law contend that roving patrols are more effective than checkpoints, which could also lead to violations of constitutional prohibitions against illegal searches and seizures, and may also lead to racial profiling. However, a proponent of the House Bill believes that although security checkpoints may not lead to more DUI arrests, the specter of police roadblocks may deter would-be drunk drivers. According to one poll, 70% of Texans support the law.
California is a state that has used sobriety checkpoints for years. If you have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer in Long Beach right away. An experienced criminal defense lawyer who has worked on DUI cases in the past can provide you with helpful legal advice as your case moves forward. Depending on the circumstances, your lawyer may be able to have the charges against you reduced or dismissed. A conviction for DUI carries serious legal penalties, and the consequences may reach into your personal and professional life as well. However your case is resolved, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side that can help you at each and every step of the legal process and help you obtain a fair result.
