What You Need to Know About DUI Checkpoints This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time to get together with friends and family and celebrate together with a shared meal, gifts, and fun times. While this time of year can be full of cheer, many holiday parties involve alcohol, and it is crucial that attendees have a plan to avoid driving drunk this holiday season. It has been reported that while drunk driving occurs all year, it is more prevalent during the holiday season. If you have been accused of driving under the influence, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer with experience helping clients who have been charged with a DUI.
The Umansky Law Firm is a team of criminal defense lawyers with experience representing clients who have been charged with a DUI in Florida. Driving while under the influence is not only dangerous to you and other drivers on the road, it can also result in severe consequences. This holiday season, it is vital that you understand everything there is to know about DUI checkpoints in Florida.
Does Police Have to Notify the Public of a DUI Checkpoint?
Law enforcement is legally required to notify the public if they plan to set up a holiday DUI checkpoint. They must provide people with the location and the time they plan to be in operation at this checkpoint as well. Typically, police will utilize the following methods to let the public know of their plans for a DUI checkpoint:
- Law enforcement websites
- Local news stations
- Local newspapers
- Law enforcement official social media platforms
- Advertising
If you are unsure of how the lack of police notification regarding a holiday DUI checkpoint may affect your claim, contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
What Rules Do Holiday DUI Checkpoints Have to Follow?
There are rules that police must follow at holiday DUI checkpoints to protect the rights of drivers. The general rules they must follow include:
- They must use a set formula regarding what vehicles they will stop, such as every third vehicle or every blue car. This will allow them not to be accused of being biased when stopping vehicles.
- They must be wearing their official law enforcement uniforms.
- There should be parked law enforcement vehicles with lights flashing to indicate where the checkpoint is located clearly.
- The DUI checkpoint should be conducted for a reasonable period of time and should not keep drivers for unreasonable amounts of time when looking for signs that they are under the influence.
- Officers should be trying to minimize the disruption to traffic flow and prioritize the safety of drivers.
- The law enforcement officers should adhere to the schedule and checkpoint plan that should have been preapproved before the start time for the checkpoint.
A criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you understand if any rules were broken while you were stopped at a holiday checkpoint in Florida.
Get Help From a Orlando, Florida DUI Lawyer
If you are planning to drink at this year’s holiday parties, make sure you have a plan in place to make sure you do not get behind the wheel of a car. If you do drive, not only are you endangering your life, you may end up with a fine or jail time if you are stopped at a holiday DUI checkpoint. If you are arrested for a DUI in Florida this holiday season, an experienced Orlando DUI lawyer may be able to help.
The Umansky Law Firm is a team of Florida criminal defense lawyers with extensive experience helping clients who have been arrested for a DUI. Our award-winning legal team is proud to provide our clients with the personalized and dedicated representation they deserve. To schedule a free online case review, contact us here or call our office.
