Beware of North Carolina’s many sobriety checkpoints this summer

On Behalf of | Jun 12, 2019 | dwi/dui

Just before Memorial Day, various organizations including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission all launched their 9th annual “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign. It kicks off several months of stepped-up law enforcement across the state. They aim to curb driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) rates.

Law enforcement officers with these different state agencies were slated to set up their first of many sobriety checkpoints, which started over Memorial Day weekend. They’re then expected to also set them up on what have historically been some of the summer’s three of the busiest weekends for alcohol-related crashes both on the water and roadways. These weekends include June 28-30, July 5-7 and Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

The participating organizations have noted that their announcement of these sobriety checkpoints in the past has served an effective tool in raising public awareness about the dangers of DWI/DUI. They hope that the fear of being caught will encourage both boaters and motorists to avoid engaging in behaviors that would result in them being arrested for DWI/DUI.

A police officer can’t pull you over for just any reason they want. They instead must have reasonable cause to do so. If a field sobriety test was performed, then it can only produce reliable results if it was carried out correctly. A Breathalyzer should only be trusted if it was recently calibrated.

If you’re uncertain about the nature of your stop and the validity of test results, then a DWI/DUI attorney can help. They can advise you of the penalties associated with the crime you’ve been charged with in Statesville. They can also let you know how a conviction on your record could affect your ability to secure employment and enjoy other freedoms. They can help in defending you from DWI/DUI charges if necessary as well.