Sobriety Checkpoints in Los Angeles

Los Angeles DUI Defense Lawyer

A sobriety checkpoint, or DUI roadblock, is a location where law enforcement stops vehicles to check for drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs. Were you stopped at a DUI roadblock and subsequently arrested for drunk driving? A Los Angeles DUI lawyer can help you challenge your charges. At the Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin, we understand how to approach these cases in particular and can offer you valuable insight into the matter.

Is a Sobriety Checkpoint or DUI Roadblock a Violation of Your Rights?

Since they were first implemented by law enforcement, sobriety checkpoints have been a subject of much controversy due to their potential infringement upon fourth amendment rights. In 1990, however, the Supreme Court ruled that these checkpoints were constitutional in certain circumstances. The intrusion in drivers’ rights must be properly balanced by the effectiveness of the checkpoint.

Understanding the particular issues relevant to DUI roadblocks will enable your attorney to competently handle your case. There are specific rules that Los Angeles law enforcement must abide by when running a sobriety checkpoint:

• The public must be notified of the checkpoint;
• Law enforcement must use a random/impartial method of stopping drivers;
• There must be a turnout prior to the checkpoint, offering drivers the option of avoiding the checkpoint (and a driver cannot be pulled over simply for choosing to avoid the checkpoint); and
• The location, duration and time of the checkpoint must be reasonable.

A violation of any of these issues may mean that your arrest and DUI charges as a whole may be brought into question.

Learn more about the lawfulness of sobriety checkpoints and how a dedicated lawyer can protect your legal rights if you were arrested at a DUI roadblock in the Los Angeles area. Contact a Los Angeles Sobriety Checkpoint Attorney at our law firm today.