Law enforcement agencies in Scottsdale, and throughout the state of Arizona, often conduct sobriety checkpoints. The purpose of these stops is to identify suspected drunk drivers and get them off of the roads. As a result of these, and other traffic stops, more than 29,000 people were arrested for DUI in 2014. Not all of these are cut and dry cases, however. In order to protect themselves from unwarranted arrests, it is important for Arizona drivers to understand their rights at DUI checkpoints. Responding to questioning At most DUI checkpoints, the first thing law enforcement officers do is approach stopped vehicles and question the drivers. People often feel as though they have to answer these questions, but they could potentially incriminate …show more content…
These tests include the one-leg stand, walk and turn, and horizontal gaze nystagmus. They are typically used to prove that drivers have been drinking, not that they should be allowed to continue on their way. Generally, field sobriety tests are voluntary, meaning that drivers can refuse to perform them. However, law enforcement officers commonly neglect to tell motorists this when they make the request. It is important for drivers to understand that just because they have refused to perform field sobriety tests does not mean that they will not be arrested. Rather, it may just make it more difficult for the authorities to prove their case in court. Breath, blood and urine tests At DUI checkpoints, law enforcement officers may also ask drivers to perform chemical testing, such as breath, blood or urine tests. Many people are confused about their rights regarding this type of testing. In general, a driver who has not been arrested has the right to refuse preliminary breath tests. If he or she has not consumed any alcohol, however, then it may be in his or her best interests to agree to these
Furthermore, they understand the factors that may compromise field sobriety tests and breath tests. Thus, it may be helpful for drivers who have been arrested for DUI to obtain legal representation. An attorney may question the accuracy of these types of tests, as well as whether their rights were upheld during the traffic stops that led to their arrests.
Some exceptions that have been argued in drunk driving cases are “exigent circumstances” and “search-incident-to-arrest.” The method that has been used in drunk driving incidents is a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test. The BAC test can be administered either through a breath test or a blood test. The courts have determined that taking a blood sample or administering a breath test constitutes a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 767-768 (1966).
If there is no indication, for example, that an individual has driven recklessly or caused a car crash, and the officer at the scene has not observed any common signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, unsteady walk, or inability to understand, then there would be no probable cause. Case law has determined, simply noticing an odor of alcohol is not enough for probable cause. There must be some other indication for probable cause to require such a test as mandated by the Express Consent law. See People v. Roybal, 655 P.2d 410 (Colo. 1980). In People v. Roybal, the court ruled that where there is an absence of any indication that the defendant was at fault in causing the collision, than the police lacked the requisite probable cause to administer a
The officer can also ask for pat-down (stop and frisk) of the driver and the occupants of the car, or if any sniffer dogs smell through the vehicle to find out if there are any drugs being carried or sometimes they may stop on highways without any suspicion as well.
“Any person who drives a vehicle on a highway or public vehicular area thereby gives consent to a chemical analysis if charged with an implied-consent offense. Any law enforcement officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that the person charged has committed the implied-consent offense may obtain a chemical analysis of the person.”
Also one must look into some of the misunderstandings about defending a suspect who is accused of drunk driving. One of the main misapprehensions of being accused of driving while under the influence is an excessive margin of the people accused of driving while under the influence are guilty. In the majority of Dui cases like these, just a breath exam is used, not a blood examination, which is much more exact than just a breath exam. Yet still in the majority of cases the lack of effort and an even less amount of argument goes into cases which only involve a breath exam. This face can be because of the method is in state approved and a massive amount of law enforcement agency are obligated for the jurisdiction which is used by the agencies. According to a study that has been done on field sobriety tests, they are not given similarly time after time. Showing that most officers are conducting field sobriety test in the wrong/inconsistence manners. The field sobriety tests are normally assumed to be inconclusive for the reasons as the suspect/accused could have any known/unknown medical conduction that the officers could mostly likely mistake. For example, bloodshot eyes while driving and under the influence, but due to ones medical conduction could actually be caused by contact lenses irritation or allergies. Finally to concluded these misunderstandings on the No-Refusal law, that it is/could be a more effective way to have fewer unlawfully convictions only due to the required blood draw for a more accurate and effective reading of blood alcohol level instead of the breath test or other field sobriety test the officers might conduct. In a recent article in “russellfrostlaw” it states that, “Law enforcement officers across the state claim that the program
DUI Checkpoint Procedures – Mr. Seeget claims perjury, obstruction of justice, extortion, abuse and embezzlement of public monies for various employees being involved in the operation of the DUI checkpoint on May 10th, 2014 at Mission Blvd and Linden St. However, Mr. Seeget’s does not list facts to indicate the improper involvement or conduct with the operation of the DUI checkpoint. Additionally, Mr. Seeget sent his complaint to the California Office of Traffic Safety who reviewed his claims and found no improper conduct on the part of the Pomona Police Department or any of its employees, to include grant funding and compliance.
When people are pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence the first thing an officer should offer the violator is the three standardized field sobriety tests. The first of which is the Horizontal Gaze and Nystagmus, which is the involuntary jerking of the eyes this occurs when the eyes move to the side (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website). When a person has consumed alcohol, the nystagmus will be exaggerated and occur at lesser angles depending on what degree of impairment that the violator is (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website). Arguably, these tests are to be performed in a standardized manor, meaning that this test, the Horizontal Gaze and Nystagmus and the other tests are to be performed the same way every time just as the officer was trained and as the tests are intended to be performed to achieve the most accurate result
Field sobriety tests are the subject of hot debate. On one hand, a motorist that's clearly over the legal alcohol limit will usually display characteristic behavior that makes them easy to spot. On the other hand, many of the field tests require skills that could be compromised for reasons other than inebriation. In fact, in a U.S. Department of Transportation study, no field sobriety test was 100% accurate. This makes it difficult to say whether these tests are useful or a detriment to motorist's basic rights.
Used to deter drinking and driving, sobriety checkpoints are related more directly to educating the public and encouraging designated drivers, rather than actually apprehending impaired drivers. They offer authorities an educational tool. Education and awareness serve as a
Proper procedures that are consistent with every test are important when administering tests. The following details the steps police use when giving roadside tests with the Alco-Sensor FST. Before a test is to take place, an officer must record the serial number of the breathalyzer being used and attach a clean mouthpiece (Canada. British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police, 2017).
Field sobriety tests are usually performed before more scientific tests to determine if a driver
Typically, the first thing law enforcement agents do at such checkpoints is approach vehicles as they are stopped and question the drivers. Like others in this situation, you may feel obligated to answer the officers’ questions. However, doing so may incriminate yourself or give them cause to investigate
Opponents argue aggressive methods violate suspects’ rights. Drunk driving checkpoints measures set a dangerous precedent for abuse of authority. Drunk driving checkpoints waste time and effort stopping motorists who have not shown signs of intoxication in their driving. Many police officers issue tickets to people who were not
If law enforcement agencies publish information on DUI checkpoints, it is not okay to have an app for drivers. First of all drivers don't need to worry about the DUI