Roadblocks are often a controversial law enforcement tool. Their effectiveness for preventing drunk driving is questionable and there may be alternatives that can work better. If you’ve been stopped and arrested, our DUI Lawyer Harvey Illinois is here to help. Call for a consultation today – (708) 218-0947 or (708) 218-0947.
What is a DUI Roadblock
A DUI roadblock is a police checkpoint set up on a road. The police stop drivers randomly and ask them to pull over, then check their license, registration, and administer field sobriety tests and breathalyzers if they suspect the driver has been drinking. If you refuse to cooperate with these requests or fail the breathalyzer test, you will likely be arrested.
A DUI roadblock is most commonly implemented on Friday and Saturday nights. The reason for this is because these are the times when most people will be out drinking and driving, so it is more likely that they will be caught if they drive drunk at those times. DUI roadblocks can also be set up during holiday weekends like Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Labor Day. When there is a special event in town like a concert or sporting event where lots of people will be drinking alcohol before heading home for the evening.
Roadblocks are usually executed by local police. However, state and federal agencies may also be involved in roadblocks. Some cities have their own municipal police forces who work in conjunction with county sheriffs’ offices or state police departments on special task forces or undercover operations such as DUI checkpoints.
If you’ve been stopped by police at a DUI roadblock and arrested, you will need a DUI Lawyer Harvey Illnios to defend you against the charges. The legal team at The MacNeil Firm will provide you with a comprehensive legal defense.
Effectiveness of DUI Roadblocks
The question of DUI roadblocks being effective is a complex one. On the one hand, they are not particularly effective at preventing drunk driving. On the other hand, they may result in more arrests than other methods.
First of all, let’s look at their effectiveness as a deterrent against drunk driving. A study conducted by NHTSA found that only 2% of drivers who were stopped at sobriety checkpoints tested positive for alcohol or drugs. This suggests that many people who drive under the influence choose not to go through these checkpoints because they know there’s a good chance they’ll get caught if they do so.
In regards to accidents, the CDC’s systematic review of 15 high-quality studies found that checkpoints reduce alcohol-related fatal crashes by 9% (Bergen et al., 2014). Similarly, a meta-analysis by Erke et al. (2009) found that checkpoints reduce alcohol-related crashes by 17%, and all crashes by 10 to 15%.
Many states don’t use their DUI checkpoints as effectively as possible because they don’t target areas with high rates of drunk driving or dangerous intersections where accidents involving alcohol are most likely to occur. Some people also argue that these checkpoints unfairly target minorities. According to some studies, black people were more likely than whites or Hispanics at similar points in their lives to be stopped by police at these checkpoints even though whites were more likely overall to be driving while intoxicated.
A DUI Lawyer Harvey Illinois from The MacNeil Firm will protect your rights
DUI roadblocks may not be a good way to prevent drunk driving. They do have some deterrent effect on some people, but they cannot catch everyone driving drunk. They do often result in arrests for this offense that would not have otherwise occurred, but these arrests do not necessarily prevent drunk driving. Whether they are the most effective method or not, they are used in Illinois.
If you have been pulled over for driving under the influence, The MacNeil Firm is ready to evaluate your case and provide you with a strong defense. Our DUI Lawyer Harvey Illinois has the experience and passion to protect you.