People have different and valid reasons to want to avoid going through a sobriety checkpoint.
But is it possible to do this in a safe and legal way? Do drivers actually have to go through these checkpoints, or can they leave?
Understanding DUI checkpoints
According to LifeSafer, it is possible to safely avoid a sobriety checkpoint. It boils down to how a person decides to leave once they notice one coming up ahead.
First, note that many officers have to give drivers not only a warning about an upcoming DUI checkpoint but also offer alternative routes to those who do not wish to go through.
This is because DUI checkpoints often involve officers pulling people over without needing to have a reason, unlike what is standard in any other situation. Officers can also give blood alcohol content (BAC) tests to whomever they see fit, if they find probable cause during the stops.
Many people do not like the amount of power this gives to individual officers. Groups who are at risk of unfair targeting in particular may feel fear or uncertainty about these checkpoints.
Safely avoiding a checkpoint
To avoid one safely, a person only needs to abide by the rules of the road. This means no illegal U-turns, no crossing solid lines, no reckless driving or speeding, no cutting off other vehicles and so on.
Drivers should also be sure not to have anything else that an officer could pull them over for, like broken tail lights or expired plate stickers. Otherwise, they might end up giving a driver a BAC test anyway.
