If you were charged with operating under the influence and cited for an OUI, you may have been stopped at a roadblock. These drunkdriving checkpoints happen throughout the year on major roadways and intersections. Road blocks will be set up to direct the flow of traffic toward law enforcement officers, who will then evaluate your demeanor and determine if a field sobriety or breathalyzer test will need to be administered to read your blood alcohol content or BAC. There are a few laws that need to be followed even by local authorities to have drunkdriving checkpoints be legal and valid.
The state of Massachusetts requires that:
- OUI checkpoints must be clearly marked.
- There must be a means to transport or hold suspected drunk drivers.
- The checkpoint must offer an alternate route to avoid the stop.
- A law enforcement supervisor must be present.
It is also important to note that the state of Massachusetts has determined that OUI checkpoints are Constitutional and police officers are allowed to arrest those that they feel are operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you feel that your rights were violated at a drunkdriving stop, it is important that you contact an attorney from The Law Offices of Joseph D. Bernard P.C. today and seek representation.
Defense you can trust!
At the Law Offices of Joseph D. Bernard, P.C. you can rely on his overt dedication and aggressive representation to provide you with the most favorable case results. You need to act quickly after an arrest though; you only have a number of days before you may be facing longterm license suspension and the possibility of jail, fines, and restitution.
