What to Know About DUI Checkpoints During the Holidays

The holiday season often brings festive gatherings and extra driving, as well as an increased police presence on the roads. If you’re driving in Illinois, understanding your rights at a DUI checkpoint is crucial, especially during this time of year. Knowing what to expect can help you navigate these encounters calmly and protect your legal interests.

During this season, it’s important to understand that:

• DUI checkpoints are legal roadblocks where police check for impaired drivers.
• Officers will briefly stop you, ask for documents, and look for signs of intoxication.
• Checkpoints can be more common during holidays due to a higher risk of drunk driving.

The attorneys at Sabuco Beck, P.C. have over 90 years of combined legal experience. We believe in treating our clients as more than just case numbers, providing personalized and aggressive legal defense, including for DUI charges. Let’s look further at each of these points so you know what to be aware of on the road this season and how to respond when needed.

What Is a DUI Checkpoint?

DUI checkpoints, also commonly known as sobriety checkpoints, are temporary roadblocks set up by law enforcement to assess drivers for signs of impairment. In Illinois, these checkpoints are legal as long as they follow specific guidelines to protect drivers’ constitutional rights.

For a checkpoint to be legal, it must:

• Use a neutral formula for selection: Officers must stop cars based on a predetermined, non-discriminatory pattern.
• Be clearly marked: The area must have markers like signs and lights to ensure safety and visibility.
• Minimize intrusion: The stop should be brief and focused only on detecting impairment.

What Happens at a DUI Checkpoint?

When you enter a DUI checkpoint, an officer will signal for you to stop. The interaction is usually brief. The officer will likely approach your window, ask for your driver’s license and proof of insurance, and may ask a few questions, like where you are coming from.

During this conversation, the officer will observe you for signs of intoxication, such as the smell of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, or slurred speech. If they have no reason to suspect you are impaired, you will be allowed to leave. If they do suspect impairment, they may ask you to pull over for further testing, such as field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer.

It is important to know your rights. You must provide your license and insurance when asked, but you have the right to remain silent and not answer incriminating questions.

Are DUI Checkpoints More Common During the Holidays?

Law enforcement agencies across the country often increase the frequency of DUI checkpoints during holiday periods. Days like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are associated with more social gatherings with alcohol consumption, leading to a higher risk of impaired driving. The goal of these checkpoints and other preventative measures is to deter drunk driving and keep the roads safe for everyone.

Because of this heightened enforcement, it’s especially important to be prepared and understand what to do if you encounter a checkpoint.

Protect Your Rights While Driving this Holiday Season

Encountering a DUI checkpoint can be stressful, but knowing the law and your rights is the first step in protecting yourself. If you are stopped at a checkpoint and subsequently face DUI charges, the details of the stop become critical. An experienced attorney can examine whether law enforcement followed all legal procedures and if the charge is valid.

The team at Sabuco Beck, P.C. is dedicated to providing thorough, robust legal defense for our clients. If you have been charged with a DUI in Will County or the surrounding areas, we invite you to contact us for a consultation.