What exactly happens at a DUI checkpoint?

Question

Thanks in advance.

This sounds terrible but i do not yet have my licenes but i drive very well, i must drive to get back and for to work for my daughter, please no critsism, i do have a schedualed test coming up. But my main concern, will they ask for my licence? if so can i say i left it at home with out them running my plates?

i have no intention to drive drunk, and it would be way more than 5 bucks for me to get home in a cab, try 45 to 50 if i'm lucky, i live 30 mins from my job. I'm not even going to be out that late anyway. Here in Ohio its a Ticket for driving without a licence. You won't get your car impounded. Well thats what i've heard. If any Ohio cop is on here that would be a nice thing to know for sure as well

Answer 1

Officers are directing their efforts primarily at locating impaired drivers. The vehicles are directed to stop and the drivers are asked a series of questions. The officers look for slurred speech, lack of manual dexterity, altered states of awareness, odors of impairing substances...etc. All of this occurs in a very short time. None of the above appearing, the driver is allowed to continue on their way. If the officer detects one or more of the above, he may detain the driver reasonably long enough to do a more thorough interview, which may also include Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, field breath testing...etc.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

The driver is stopped, the police officer approaches the driver and speak to him/her. The officer will inform the driver the reason for the stop and ask the driver if he/she has consumed alcohol recently (and sometimes will ask where they are coming from). The officer may also ask for vehicle/driver documents. During this interaction the officer will look for signs of impairment like: glassy/bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, clumsy movements, odour of an alcoholic beverage on the breath.
If there is an admission of drinking within the last couple of hours or if the odour of alcohol are present the officer may demand that the driver provide a breath sample into a roadside screening device. This is usually conducted in the police cruiser (at least around here). The officer will remove a new mouthpiece from a plastic wrapper and put it on the screener. The driver will be asked to blow into the machine until they tell them to stop. You blow almost as hard as you would to blow up a balloon and if you are doing it correctly you will hear a tone. The tone will stop and a little light on the screener will go on and the officer will tell the person to stop. I have seen small kids have no trouble giving samples ( boy/girl scouts on a tour of the police station sometimes are given a tour of the breath room).
There are three possible outcomes of the test:

1. blow a "fail" which means over .08, then you will be taken to the police station for another test with the larger machine and probably charged with blow over.

2.blow a "warn" which means you are near or at 0.08 and you will receive a 12hr licence suspension (here in Ontario Canada) and most likely have your car towed (if there is no other sober/licenced driver in your car).

3. Blow a reading under 0.08 and you will be allowed to continue on your way.

If you refuse to blow you will be charged with refusing a breath test, which has the same penalty as blowing over.

Answer 4

They are going to see if you are wearing seatbelt and ask you some general questions to see if they can smell alcohol. Sometimes they have a flashlight that "sniffs" for alcohol and gives them a digital readout if it detects any. They are going to ask for your license and check your license plate to see if it's expired. If you tell them you left it at home, then they will do a computer check of you name and date of birth. When it tells them that you do not have a license, you may go straight to jail and your car will be towed. If you do go to jail you will have to pay the ticket fine to get out. Depending on the state you are in this could cost between $500 and $1,000. So either get you license, take a cab or keep $1,000 on you when you drive to minimize your time in jail.

Answer 5

What happens is you are illegally detained without reasonable suspicion, but under pressure from MADD and other groups, your Governor and State Attorney General have overridden the Fourth Amendment protections you are afforded and said it's okay because we are saving lives.

DUI Checkpoints to my knowledge have never been challenged all the way to the US Supreme court, and I doubt they would stand up to that level of Constitutional scrutiny.

Just don't get cocky, Obey any normally Lawful order given like a request for license and registration. If asked if you've had anything to drink for the love of God don't incriminate yourself as this questioning without the Miranda warning being given has been deemed admissible too. The side of the road is not the place to argue your rights are being violated. Besides it's just dumb to argue with a man with a gun. If you are asked to pull out of the lane you have to choose whether to refuse to do the FST, field sobriety tests and if requested Blow. You are going to lose your license if you refuse. And due to the high level of training of officers, their testimony of their observation of you is most likely going to get a conviction anyway. Remember you have to get pretty far out in the sticks to find an officer who couldn't qualify as a DRE Drug Recognition Expert in any court in the land. Basically if you're under the influence you're screwed and rightfully so.

I am not in favor of drunk driving, but I'd rather that every car had an engine disabling breathalyzer in it than to put up with illegal detentions. Blow and Go would be my choice.

Answer 6

in our state, they ask to see your drivers license and your insurance card. They also speak to you. ( to see if they smell anything on your breath) and to look at you and see what your eyes look like, and how well you speak.

If you don't have a license, you would be given a ticket. Some departments, like the one I used to work for, would also impound your car, unless there was someone in the car with a license that could drive

Answer 7

They will ask for your license. If you don't have one they will run your name and DOB to see if you have one. Driving while unlicensed in most states is a ticket+tow your vehicle unless you have a licensed driver with you.

Answer 8

THE ANSWER IS AN OFFICER OF THE LAW WILL SEE IF YOU ARE ONE WEARING A SEAT BELT SEE IF YOU ARE CONSUMING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR CONSUMING DRUGS IF YOU ARE AN FINED AN ARES TED FOR DRIVING INTOXICATED OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS REMEMBER THEY ARE NOT THERE TO HARASS YOU IN ANY WAY OR FORM THEY ARE THERE TO SERVE YOU AN THE PUBLIC SO YOU WILL NOT HURT OR DO BODILY INJURY TO YOURSELF OR ANY OTHER CITIZEN COUNT LESS LIVES ARE LOST EVERY YEAR FOR ONES NEGLIGENCE IN DRIVING WHILE CONSUMING ALCOHOL AN DRUGS REMEMBER WE ALL CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES ON THE ACTIONS WE MAKE TODAY IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT SUCH AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKING ITS ONLY $5.00 TO CALL A TAXI AN GET A RIDE HOME THAT LOUSY $5.00 MIGHT SAVE A LIFE

Answer 9

You get spoken to to determine if you are intoxicated. They ask for your license and proof of insurance. You may be checked for warrants and your license plates are checked for validity. If all is good, you go on your merry way.

Answer 10

I've only been through one. There were a lot of lights and a lot of cops. I was glad I was sober and more importantly the driver was sober too. All those lights are not complimentary to your complexion either.