What do you think about DUI checkpoints?

Posted by on . 16 comments.

I was in one, and was asked how much I had to drink, and I very politely answered 'zero' (It was the truth, and I was a little nervous)


I was clean cut, in town on business

deputy got all smart aleckly and cocky 'ZEE-ROW, HUH?'

Seemed to really be on a power trip - really seemed to enjoy throwing his weight around

Is this acceptable behavior for cops?
Personally, i do NOT support giving up 4th amendment rights, IF the police do not use that power respectfully
I still dont think the attitude was justfied, they stuck one of those flashlights near my face, and i didnt avoid breathing on it.

It could not have been more clear that I had nothing to drink
'ahsoasho' it was clearly smart aleck and beligerent. And not being arrested when you've done nothing wrong isnt a huge favor
Robert S ' if you were in his position where probably 80% of the people he tests do nothing but complain'

well, I wasnt one of them - does that give him the right to take that frustration out on me? I get frustrated all the time as a consultant, and I can NEVER talk with people like that. But then, I dont carry a gun and a badge
Robert S says "When you are in contact with a police officer, what is the situation? It should be where you have violated a law of the road or social rules have been violated. That is their job. They don't give tickets or accommodations for correct behavior. They don't pull you over for outstanding performance on the highway. "

that's NOT true at a checkpoint! when you pull over at a checkpoint you have NOT done anything wrong!
Oh, and the 4th amendment issue? MY state's supreeme court says it is a violation of 4th amendment right, they are illegal in my state. And we are in the 5 safest alcohol accident rate states in the country (and we're not bible belt or mormon)

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  1. Eric S says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    I don’t know if the checkpoints are necessary or not, personally I don’t have a problem with them, but I know a lot of people do. However, the cop had no right to be rude and you should report him.

    If you have more questions about this subject, here is a link that is pretty informative:

    http://www.totaldui.com/breathalyzers/field-sobriety-tests/dui-checkpoints.aspx

  2. Good Guinness To You! says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    Cops can be rude sometimes. I love dui checkpoints. It makes my family safer, bring em on.

  3. MCT says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    There are jerks in every profession though the law enforcement professionals seem to have a higher percentage of a**holes. Regardless of right or wrong you’re best to be in good behavior with a cop so as not to give him incentive to jerk you around more than he already is.

  4. Corey W says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    Personally I believe the theory behind them is an excellent idea, however if the behavior above is true, in many cases it can be, then it can be rather annoying to go through, just make smart decisions though and nobody should fear them :)

  5. I Bleed Sarcasm says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    it’s not acceptable but that’s just the way it is. there are jerks everywhere.

  6. Lauren M says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    I think DUI checkpoints are completely necessary. Unfortunately people can’t handle the responsibilities that come with drinking. A lot of cops are rude, so I would just be polite and forget about it. And sometimes they need to act that way, perhaps the person in front of you was not as cooperative. They have to look out for their own safety too and that does not always mean being nice and making small talk.

  7. Informer R says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    This is appalling. This is against the constitution however in 2001 when the Patriot ACT 1 was passed it made this ok by the Federal Government which by fairness should not supersede the constitution.
    "They" say that it’s for monitoring DUI but it is established in order to condition the American public for a police state under Martial Law.

  8. satcomgrunt says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    guess what DUI checkpoints are not a violation of your 4th Amendment rights. You give your consent to be stopped at such checkpoints when you get your license. The only thing the officer can not due is search your car unless he has probable cause (IE empty beer bottles in the passenger seat, breathe smells like a bar).

  9. NYK3!$H@ 4 LYF3 says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    i think they need more. this is because a close family friend last year got killed by a drunk driver in New haven Connecticut. the person was driving on the wrong side of the road and was of coarse drunk and an illegal immigrant. my friends body was discombobulated for example his nose was where his forehead was suppose to be. we really need more of those check points.

  10. Rick M says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    DUI Checkpoints are not going to go away. And they’re okay as long as they are done within the constitutional limitations placed on them by the courts. Officers should not abuse their powers and should follow the law – e.g. there should be an escape route prior to entry, yet officers do what they can at times to avoid following that California requirement.

    When someone tells the officer they had nothing, the officer often has to further make sure the person is telling the truth, because many people say that they had zero to drink when in reality that may not be the case.

    So the officer looks for odor of alcohol, bloodshot/watery eyes, slurred speech and if he gets you of your vehicle, unsteady gait. A Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test is often done although that only tests for presence. There could also be innocent explanations for observed behavior.

  11. S S says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    There is never a reason to treat people like this!
    Good thing we don’t check them !?!

  12. ahsoasho2u2 says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    DUI checkpoints are legal as a stop for one and all.
    No 4th Amendment violations here as all are stopped the same.
    Sorry you had a bad experience, but then again, consider how many times a night an officer hears that one, at a check point.
    If all he said back was ZEE-ROW, HUH, then let you go, he was getting a second reaction of positive feedback.
    A drunk would have said; Say What about zero who?
    Seems like you passed, you were not arrested?

  13. Robert S says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    -I was in one, and was asked how much I had to drink, and I very politely answered ‘zero’ (It was the truth, and I was a little nervous)

    Everyone is a little nervous. Thats natural.

    -I was clean cut, in town on business

    What does that have to do with anything?

    -deputy got all smart aleckly and cocky ‘ZEE-ROW, HUH?’

    This is based upon your perspective. This was most likely just a comment intended to insight some sense of humor. The PBT detects alcohol only. And will not be disabled by any "trick" or sneaky procedure. He has no reason not to believe the PBT.

    -Seemed to really be on a power trip – really seemed to enjoy throwing his weight around

    This is a result of what you implied from your last statement. I think you just jumped to the wrong conclusion… Result – a skewed perspective based upon a wrong assumption. He had no reason to believe YOU in particular were under the influence. This is a DUI checkpoint, he has probably checked dozens if not hundreds. With many giving him a hard time. Try thinking about what you would be doing. How would you be dealing with people if you were in his position where probably 80% of the people he tests do nothing but complain. Where 2% flat out refuse, half of those are drunk adding more stress. How would you deal with it? Let them go. You just got burned by a drunk.

    -Is this acceptable behavior for cops?

    Of course not. If that is what it was. But was this actually the behavior? Or your perspective based upon what you saw and heard. Many times what we see and hear can be skewed due to the context of a situation.

    -Personally, i do NOT support giving up 4th amendment rights, IF the police do not use that power respectfully

    Respect… Hmmm I would say professionalism. His position demands respect. He must perform with professionalism. From this respect is derived.

    As for jerks in law enforcement…
    The typical police/public contact is based upon what? Think about this. When you are in contact with a police officer, what is the situation? It should be where you have violated a law of the road or social rules have been violated. That is their job. They don’t give tickets or accommodations for correct behavior. They don’t pull you over for outstanding performance on the highway. All contact is negative. People interpret this as throwing their weight around, arrogance, or figure violent bully like personalities are attracted to the position. These are people just like everyone else. They have car trouble, bills, family problems, jerks at work, flat tires on the way to the DMV. grocery bills. It is the job that requires one to change. To be somewhat closed to peoples feelings and stand by the rules. Enforce them. Ignorance is no excuse but eveyone is an expert in the field of law (or so they think).

    DUI checkpoints are fine. If your not drinking, make light of the situation. Help him/her to move on and make the shift a little better. The guy in the car behind you may be armed.

    You don’t have a gun or badge… But then again you don’t have as much chance of dealing with a client determined to take you out with him. But then again, you only comprehending what you want to, of what I have placed here. Sort of like the checkpoint situation itself. Proves my point.

  14. Crazy Dave says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    I think they fall under the category of illegal search and seizure. If you have not given any probable cause for the stop or search then they should not have the right to stop you. No swerving, weaving, or breaking of any other traffic laws then why should you be stopped? The police get away with murder (literally) they can do what ever they want and just hide behind the badge. You have to earn respect, it does not come with the job. The cops now days are just as bad if not worse than the criminals! The police wonder why so many people hate them, well its because of the way they treat the public. They bring it on themselves! If they want public opinion of them to change then they need to change and become part of the solution and stop being part of the problem! Like I said the police get away with murder! If shooting an unarmed person in the back while they are on the groung is not murder then I do not know what is. I’m not talking about the Oakland subway deal either.

  15. conservatism has failed the usa says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    I think the cops in Modesto CA are very rude and I avoid contact with them as much as possible. But on the other hand I do value DUI checkpoints. They keep drunks off the streets and make our roads and highways safer. There is a place in our society for DUI checkpoints so get over it

  16. lpdhcdh says:
    September 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    Wow, someone seems to a little chip on their shoulder.

    Couple of points; DUI checkpoints aren’t a violation of anyone’s constitutional rights, and unlike the one one answerer’s assertion have nothing to do with the Patriot Act.

    Your psyche must be very dainty, to take the words "’ZEE-ROW, HUH" as cocky and smart Alec. As for the flashlight, I suspect it was dark!

    I suspect your issue, is more to do with an anti-police attitude rather than anything else.

    The officer, did nothing wrong. Get over yourself.

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