Hollywood loves to glamorize crime, on both sides of the law. A good car theft movie can make stealing cars seem like a good way to earn a living, while having more fun than the law should allow. Inevitably though, there will be a scene where the authorities catch up to the crooks, and a long chase or shoot out scene will resolve the entire plot. In real life, things don’t work out like they do on the big screen. The police don’t usually slide across the hoods of cars, and criminal defendants rarely walk away with a casino’s worth of cash.

One important real life situation you might have questions about, that is likely portrayed differently in the movies, is a checkpoint. The law on DUI checkpoints in Florida is clear. The following things must be present in order for a checkpoint to be valid:

● Stops must be done on a random basis.

● The time of the stop cannot exceed three minutes.

If you are stopped at a DUI checkpoint there are some important things to keep in mind. For one, you should be prepared to provide the officer with your driver’s license for inspection and answer his or her questions. This does not mean you should volunteer damaging information or offer to take a field sobriety test. Remaining calm and polite is a much better tactic than becoming defensive. If the stop you are involved in results in an arrest, be prepared to take action immediately. You will only have 10 days from the date of arrest to challenge the suspension of your license, and you will also be required to defend the criminal case against you. The dual nature of a DUI case can seem overwhelming, but with the assistance of a trained DUI defense attorney, you can reach satisfactory results.

For questions about DUI checkpoints, contact a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. Your first visit is a free consultation and we work with you to reach results that fit your needs.