What to Do at a Tucson DUI Checkpoint

If you’re driving around the right part of town at the right time of night, you might come across a DUI checkpoint. These checkpoints were instituted a few years ago with the goal of reducing the number of drunk drivers on Tucson’s roads. Drunk driving claims far too many victims every year, and this is one way to reduce that total.

What You Should Do at a Tucson DUI Checkpoint

If you are ever stopped at a DUI checkpoint, you may wonder what you should do and how you should conduct yourself. This article will attempt to answer that question.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a drunk driver, contact The Khalidi Law Firm. With over 20 years of experience with these cases, we can help guide you through this difficult process. We offer a free consultation, so you can get your case professionally evaluated without committing to suing anyone.

What Are Your Rights?

Generally speaking, the police do not have the right to search your vehicle except in three special cases.

• • The first is when they have probable cause to believe your vehicle has contraband or an item involved in a crime.
  • The second case is when the driver has been arrested.
  • The third case is when they make a visual inspection of the car from the outside and see illegal items in plain view.

If you have simply been stopped at the roadblock, the police do not have the right to check your license or registration.

It’s a good idea to be as cooperative as possible when you’re dealing with the DUI checkpoint. Roll down your window and do your best to cooperate with everything the officer asks of you—but know your rights. It would be a good idea to print off a card with an Assertion of Rights, so you can talk to your attorney before speaking to the police.

As a rule, however, it’s a good idea to cooperate with the officer. Refusing to take a breathalyzer test could lead to much worse. At the very least, the officer may require you to undergo a blood test.
Talk to your lawyer, assert your rights, but take the breathalyzer test. You might feel like this is a clear and blatant violation of your right to privacy, but the U.S. Supreme Court found otherwise in 1990’s Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz. So, take the test and try to make the best of it.

Contact Our Tucson Car Accident Attorneys

If you have been in car accident, contact the Khalidi Law Firm, PLLC today. Our team of experienced lawyers can help you obtain just compensation from a negligent driver, auto manufacturer, or other entity which was responsible for your injury. Set up a free consultation today to make sure your rights are protected by professionals.