DUI checkpoints are not new on the scene, but there is a lot of buzz out there about what you can and cannot do at a checkpoint and whether these are valid ways for the police to identify drunk drivers. It is scary to be pulled over for any violation, but if you have been drinking when it happens the experience is even more frightening. This is true whether you are pulled over while driving, or are asked to step out of your car at a checkpoint. Because both are lawful ways for the authorities to write citations, it is important to know what to do in both events.

Any time you are pulled over it is best to remain calm and polite, but not give away too much information to the police. This approach will help you to minimize the amount of potentially harmful information you give and will also afford you the chance to get your wits about you. In the case of a DUI checkpoint, it is good to remember these three things:

  • Checkpoints have to be “advertised” prior to being set up in order to be valid.
  • You can ask for an attorney, but will have to answer preliminary questions.
  • The more you say, the more ammunition you give the police to make an arrest. This is true not only because of what you might say, but also the way in which it is said. The longer you talk to the police the more time they have to observe your behavior. If you are slurring your speech or your sentences are disjointed, law enforcement officials may have cause to believe you are driving while intoxicated.

The range of punishment for DUI depends on whether this is your first offense, or whether you have been charged before. In either instance you do have defense strategies available to you, and you should take full advantage of the legal remedies in your corner. For help developing an effective defense to DUI, contact one of our experienced DUI defense attorneys today.

 

For more information about DUI cases, call our office today. Contact us today schedule an appointment with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. The first visit is a free initial consultation.