DUI checkpoint effectiveness unclear

Most residents in Pennsylvania have heard reports about local law enforcement groups setting up special areas to scout for suspected drunk drivers. Often referred to as sobriety checkpoints, these areas can find traffic lanes coned off and vehicles stopped and question by officers before drivers are allowed to proceed. Those persons suspected of being impaired may be tested for suspected driving under the influence.

Over a period lasting four hours late on a Saturday night into the wee hours of Sunday morning, such a checkpoint was set up in Dauphin County. As reported by Penn Live, a checkpoint in the same spot three years ago found officers arresting 21 people for impaired driving. This time, however, only two people were placed under arrest and charged with a drunk driving offense. 

Some people credit wise choices such as electing to use a ridesharing service instead of driving oneself as part of why this recent checkpoint saw such a dramatic reduction in arrests compared to checkpoints in previous years. Others, however, indicate that some drivers might have chosen to go a different route once they realized that they might be stopped in the original location should they drive that way.

It is also important to note that not every vehicle that passed through the checkpoint was stopped. This is due in part to the fact that officers sometimes let vehicles go if there was a backlog of vehicles and they needed to allow traffic to get moving again. Anyone arrested for drunk driving at a checkpoint or elsewhere might find it useful to learn about their defense options by talking with a lawyer in Pennsylvania.