Watch Out for DUI Checkpoints around Graduation

It’s no secret that police officers strategically place and time DUI checkpoints to catch the most offenders possible. State troopers in Johnson County and throughout the nation have made their intentions clear: they are cracking down on drunk drivers this graduation season. With momentous events like prom and graduation, people are also more likely to drive while partially intoxicated.
Missouri law enforcement agencies have decided to be proactive in their approach to this celebratory season, and have announced that they will conduct sobriety checkpoints and other enforcement efforts for most of May.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Olathe police are conductive checkpoints in the city and looking for drivers without valid driver’s licenses in addition to checking for intoxicated drivers and those who are violated the state’s seat belt law. These agencies say that these measures are specifically designed to deter alcohol-related collisions during high school graduation times. Even though individuals graduating high school are usually under the age of 21 and not legally allowed to drink, that age group makes up a significant portion of drunk drivers causing crashes and collisions.

When police officers conduct DUI checkpoints, there are many guidelines and regulations that must be followed in order for the checkpoint to be legitimate. The United States Supreme Court ruling on Ingersoll vs. Palmer outlined the guidelines that must be complied with in any particular law enforcement checkpoint. This ruling delineates the manner by which the time and duration of the roadblock and the specific location of the roadblock are to be determined. Other factors include the degree of discretion left to the individual officer in the field and the length of time that each motorist is stopped and detained.

If you have been charged with a DUI at a checkpoint in Johnson County, Olathe or a surrounding county, you may be able to fight your charges with the help of a skilled Johnson County criminal lawyer. A knowledgeable attorney can investigate the circumstances that led to your arrest and determine if your rights were violated along the way. One of the most common problems with DUI checkpoints is that police officers will stop and detain drivers who simply turn off and avoid going through a roadblock. Simply making a turn to avoid the checkpoint is not illegal and police officers do not have a legal basis for stopping and detaining a motorist for that reason. There are numerous situations like this that can lead to your charges being reduced or dismissed altogether, so call a Johnson County DUI attorney at The Law Office of John Harvell today.