DUI checkpoints are
only exception to freedoms granted to U.S. citizens by constitution. The U.S. Constitution states that government and police need “probable cause” to detain any citizen for questioning except in case of DUI checkpoints. Just because you are out driving, they can detain you and question you without probable cause. Is this a lawful/fair practice? Read this scenario and ask yourself if this could be you?
Your good friend just moved into a new home a few blocks away from where you live. It’s going to be fun living so close to such a good friend. They invite you over for a welcoming dinner get together Friday night. You attend and there are a couple of other people there that you know. You arrive around 7:30 PM and are offered a social glass of wine. You accept to be polite and hold wine without really drinking much, maybe 2 or 3 sips socially.
Dinner is served around 8:15 PM and you sit down to a nice dinner with a group of old friends. At dinner you enjoy 1 full glass of wine and relax into some good conversation. After dinner everyone moves into living room where you sit and discuss an upcoming event that you all are excited about. As you all talk host brings you another glass of wine. You realize that you need to drive home so you don’t really drink wine but just hold it to be social. You end up taking another 2 or 3 sips maximum. You say your good-bye’s around 9:15 PM and head home.
You only live a few blocks away but as you drive you see something strange in distance. You see a series of bright lights ahead and a bunch of cones spread out along road. As you continue to drive cones get closer and closer together forming a funnel that limits access to road forcing you to drive directly towards bright flashing lights. Your eyes were already adjusted to dark night and upcoming bright lights are disorienting you a bit as you drive towards them. The combination of cones re-directing traffic pattern along with bright lights makes you unsure of exactly where you’re supposed to drive on road.
As you get closer to these bright lights you see a large group of people standing along side road, some carrying signs. You start wondering what all of these people are doing standing on side of road and you try to read some of signs as you approach. This distracts you from bright lights for a second because it’s such an odd thing to see. As your attention returns to bright lights your eyes are struggling between dilating for darkness and adjusting to brightness. Your heart rate has started to increase in response to all of confusing stimuli.
