A DUI checkpoint can come as an unpleasant surprise to unprepared drivers. A driver does not need to be intoxicated to want to avoid these checkpoints, either.
But is there a way to safely avoid them? Is it possible to do so without inviting suspicion from the police monitoring the checkpoint?
What not to do
LifeSafer discusses the safe avoidance of DUI checkpoints. It is not illegal by default to try avoiding a DUI checkpoint, just like it is not illegal for officers to set them up in the first place. However, an officer can still find reason to pull a driver over if they see fit.
In order to avoid this, it is important to avoid a DUI checkpoint in a safe way that abides by all rules of the road. In short, do not make sudden illegal turns or U-turns. Do not cut off other vehicles or cross road lines, and do not speed or drive recklessly. Doing so will give any watching officers a valid excuse to pull you over. After they do so, they can then legally ask for you to take a BAC test if they have reason to believe you are driving under the influence.
Who can turn safely
Note that an officer can also pull a driver over for anything wrong with their vehicle, such as a broken or missing tail light or expired plate stickers. In short, a driver should only leave a DUI checkpoint if they can do so in a completely legal and safe way, and if they do not have anything else that an officer may pull them over for.
