You’re rolling down the road, minding your business when you look ahead and see flashing lights. You don’t know what’s happening at first, but soon come to realize you’re heading straight for a DUI checkpoint.
At that point, your hands begin to sweat and you wonder if you’re about to find yourself in trouble with the law. Even if you’ve only had one drink, you never know what an officer will come up with at a checkpoint.
Avoiding these common DUI checkpoint mistakes can help you avoid an arrest and the hassle that follows:
- Erratic or aggressive driving: Once you know you’re heading into a DUI checkpoint, slow down and stay in your lane. Don’t give police any reason to believe you’ve been drinking.
- Open alcohol in your vehicle: Talk about a reason for suspicion. You can guarantee this will lead to trouble, so you should never drive with an open alcohol container. Even if you’re not arrested for DUI, you are likely to find yourself in trouble for having an open container in your vehicle.
- Backtalk: You’re angry about being stopped at a DUI checkpoint, so you get the idea to talk back and explain your legal rights. You aren’t going to win this battle, so you’re best off keeping quiet and going along with what’s asked of you.
When you avoid these mistakes, you’re more likely to move through a DUI checkpoint without incident.
If you are arrested at a DUI checkpoint, don’t say anything that could be used against you in court. Also, as soon as time allows, learn more about your charges, your legal rights and the steps you can take to defend yourself successfully in court.