As Rowland Heights drunk driving criminal defense attorneys, we have long had suspicions about how effective DUI checkpoints really are. However, they are still a popular enforcement tool for police departments, especially around the holidays. That's why we were interested to see a Jan. 3 article in the Fontana Herald News about a DUI roadblock in that city conducted for 7.5 hours over New Year's Eve. During that time, the police stopped and arrested two drunk drivers out of the 871 vehicles that passed through the checkpoint. Fontana police had previously arrested two other drivers using "saturation patrols" on Dec. 31.
The checkpoint was set up at Sierra and Walnut Avenues in Fontana, from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. the next morning. During that time, 871 vehicles passed through the checkpoint and 67 were stopped. Of those, two stops arrested in intoxicated driving arrests. However, 32 drivers were cited for other traffic violations, which the article did not specify. An additional 30 vehicles were impounded by the police for violations including but not limited to driving without a license. The DUI roadblock and saturation patrols were part of a coordinated anti-drunk-driving campaign throughout San Bernardino County. Using a grant from the state, 25 police agencies throughout the county added extra officers to their patrols, with the specific goal of increasing DUI arrests. From Dec. 17 to Jan. 2, the officers involved in the program made 472 DUI arrests.
Our Garden Grove DUI criminal defense lawyers can't help but notice that just two of those 472 arrests came from the DUI checkpoint in Fontana. That means the checkpoint slowed down 869 drivers who were not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including 65 who were stopped. Leaving aside the inconvenience to individuals, that's a lot of money and effort for two arrests. However, the roadblock still probably made good money for the police department because it also allowed it to collect impound fees on 30 cars and fines from 32 citations. A study published last year suggests this is the real reason police agencies like roadblocks -- because they are cash cows under the socially acceptable guise of fighting drunk driving.
People accused of DUI in southern California should talk to Howard Law, P.C. as early as possible in their cases. That's because people arrested for DUI have just 10 days to request a hearing fighting the automatic driver's license suspension that comes with any DUI arrest. Taking the case early also helps our Moreno Valley intoxicated driving criminal defense attorneys build the strongest possible case and gives us opportunities to negotiate for dropped charges early in the process. Even if you believe the case against you is rock-solid, we can often find flaws and cracks. Arrests from DUI checkpoints like this, for example, may not be valid if they violate the strict guidelines handed down by the courts.
If you've been arrested for drunk driving, you're facing problems with your driver's license, your finances, your job and sometimes even at home. Howard Law, P.C. can help. To learn more or set up a free, confidential evaluation of your case, call us at 1-800-872-5925 or send us an email today.
