Is there any such thing as a random police checkpoint on roads?

Question

...where a group of police officers can stop you at any time & check for your Drivers License or Alcohol/Drugs etc? I am referring to American and Canadian police.

Answer 1

In Ontario Canada, the provincial police as well as city police often set up checkpoints during holidays where drinking and driving will be more common.

The OPP (Ontario provincial Police) have decided to stop doing these checks, because the public thinks they are only checking for drunk drivers at holidays. They do look hard every day.

Answer 2

In the US, your car cannot be searched without Reasonable Cause. An officer can certainly ask for your license and insurance at any time b/c those 2 things are illegal to be without while driving. If in the course of a routine check, if an officer has reasonable cause (this is subjective and where the whole area becomes gray) such as the smell of beer or marijuana then they can search your car.

Answer 3

Hmm.. your question is poorly worded. The police are allowed to setup checkpoints for specific reasons. They can check for drunks, check for vehicle safety. The checkpoints are supposed to be made public so you can avoid them (and in theory avoid the hassle of being stopped without reason). In reality you will find yourself in trouble if you intentionally avoid a checkpoint. Do government agencies increase enforcement activities during tough budget times? You bet they do. It's not so much to raise revenues but more to justify their budgets. If a city is looking to make some big cuts the cops will get out there and start making big high profile busts. Not just the cops though. Each department in the city will think of ways to raise their profiles with the public so it's harder to cut them when the time comes.

Answer 4

Yes, it's done all the time here in Chicago both by the Chicago Police and the Illinois State Police. They set up checkpoints for seatbelt violations and various things. You have to remember that driving is not a right in Americal as so many believe. It's a privlidge.

Answer 5

Checkpoints may be established for certain purposes, but there MUST be an explicit purpose. NO, you cannot set up a checkpoint just to see what you find. BUT you can set one up to, for instance, check driver's licenses, or to apprehend impaired drivers. Drug checkpoints are not allowed by Supreme Court decision

Answer 6

yep, they set up random checkpoints in the US all the time.....they do it for insurance checks more than most other things though

its not an issue because they are stopping everyone that goes through that particular route and not just random people....however, actually searching the car is an issue....i think they can only ask to see your DL or proof of insurance or registration or something like that, but they cant search your car

Answer 7

Absolutely, they are called road blocks. They normally do it no big drinking nights like New Years Eve, Black Wednesday or the 4th of July. I know this because my boyfriend is a Chicago police officer.

Answer 8

Yes, many departments do this, and espically on weekends and holidays, and these road blocks are well enforced and pretty well hidden in curves and dips in the road, and they also have units ready to chase down people who turn around and try and avoid these road blocks.

Answer 9

Yes, it is legal for the Police to set up road checks to see that you have the proper driving papers and to check for drinking and driving. Absolutly Legal.Plus, they can, if the suspect you have drugs, they can have their dog sniff your car.

Answer 10

I have seen it happen around new years eve...they stop every 3 or 4 cars and check to make sure you are sober and have your license, your seat belt on etc...