Protect Yourself From DUI Checkpoints + Why They're Absurd

What should you do if you end up in a DUI checkpoint? And did you know these checkpoints don't actually catch drunk drivers?

Indiana story about checkpoint failures:

[davidburdick]

I was caught up in one of these in Virginia. The State Trooper couldn't find anything wrong with me so he decided to do a vehicle inspection. He came back and cited me for insufficient tread on the right front tire. There was nothing wrong with the tire, I went to court and had it thrown out. This was about revenue generation and nothing more.

[StephanieSomer]

When I am asked by an officer where I'm going, I always point forward and say, "This way.".

[ShavinMcCrotch]

0.3% of drivers were charged with DUI. What would be even more interesting to know is, what percent were charged for things unrelated to driving under the influence, what were those charges, and how much $ was gathered in total fines.

[Metqa]

I came upon a checkpoint leaving a wedding party where I was the designated driver. I had had only one sip of wine over 4 hours prior, for a toast, that's why I drove. The checkpoint was in the mountains in the middle of nowhere, on 4th of July. The cop who stopped me was very "friendly" and even offered to get my license out of my trunk for me when I told him they were in my other pants. He wanted to search my trunk, No thanks. He wanted to question my passengers but they were smart enough to keep mute. Then, after he couldn't do anything else, the had me do the breathalyzer. It was my first time doing it, but i'm pretty sure the officer is not supposed to YANK the device out of my mouth in the middle of doing it knocking it against my teeth audibly when he becomes disgusted he can't charge me for anything. my driving record is clean, he saw me walk perfectly to my trunk and back and I speak like a Polite English grammar instructor, cuz I am. He didn't know what to do with me, except get pissed.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, when he asked me how much wine i had to drink and I said "about an ounce 4 hours ago", he replies "an ounce of WEED?!?!" Excuse me, officer Dupe? You asked how much I had to DRINK, why TF are you talking at me about weed?" Lesson learned, Never talk to cops, they are just looking for reasons to lie and take your words as evidence of anything that gets them brownie points. Hateful People who only are looking to cause trouble is what these guys were.

What is the point of being the designated driver if they try to put me in jail simply for driving safely? I'm literally keeping other inebriated people from driving and this is the thanks I get. Fuck Him and his ilk. They are fishing traps and nothing else. if they want to catch drunk drivers why not actually go to where people are driving, not lonely country roads where people are just trying to get home.

[kellyinfanger]

Years ago while driving in Virginia I came upon a checkpoint. I went into a tent and did their breath test. They claimed I was .02% and let me go. I did not and have NEVER drank an alcoholic beverage. I don't know what their racket is, but I don't blame anyone for not trusting them.

[zaneelliot]

I was coming home from working a night shift, I decided to stop at McDonalds for some breakfast. I left the parking lot and immediately got pulled over for a DUI check. I told them I just got out of the McDonalds parking lot, and the cop said I swerved a little as I turned. They checked my license, probably saw my McDonalds bag and let me go. Not more than 10 seconds later another cop pulls me over and starts to ask me if I have a turbo in my car. I asked him if that was a against the law, he said no, and I asked him why he pulled me over right after I was pulled over by his partners, he muttered something, and I asked if I could go, he said yes, and I left.
I get so tired of these cops doing what they want, when they want, and never get busted for it. They knew I was not drunk, they saw a red sports car, at 4 in the morning, and wanted to mess with me.

[darylogle]

It’s not about catching drunk drivers it’s about running as many warrant checks as they possibly can it’s about money it always is about money not justice not the law money

[savagewon]

When I was in 5th grade, a DEA agent came to my school and educated us on what they can and can't do. The information I learned that day has helped me multiple times throughout my life. This should be taught at all schools.

[rticle]

The supreme court is absolutely wrong about checkpoints. They are clearly a violation of the 4th amendment. The primary purpose is to run warrants and look for other violations. Dui is just an excuse.

[PaulDo]

I appreciate how you call out the Supreme Court for it's atrocious and arbitrary and capricious record of protecting our rights.

[MrTommyboy]

I did this shitty thankless job for 26 years, 20 on the streets, 6 in IA. While I have ZERO tolerance for DUI, I refused to participate in "checkpoints" as I would rather be on patrol and OBSERVING erratic driving that rings alarm bells in my head. After they are observed tagging the center line a couple of times, they got lit up. If it's late at night I didn't always ASSUME they were DUI, as people DO WORK the 4 to 12 shift and I know they are just tired and want to get home, so if I don't smell alcohol, I just ask that they pay a little closer attention and get home safely. No big deal. I have ZERO TOLERANCE for fellow Police Officers that drive drunk and think their badge will save them. That might have worker 50 or so years ago, but when I got on the streets that shit didn't fly and I've had fellow "officers" get stupid and end up getting arrested anyway. Back when I first started it was common to let fellow "officers" to skate away, but that changed and if they got stupid with us, they got "tuned up" before we got to the jail. It's not good, I know, but police ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND MUST BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD which instructors hammered into us during training. So, I would rather have active patrols looking for drivers that are sending up red flags with their driving. Same with radar. I didn't believe in hiding and ambushing someone at the bottom of a hill in the dark with my lights off. Just during normal patrol we would catch people without the having to hide in the bushes. If a problem area was identified or we had complaints about a certain stretch of road, we would increase patrol times and number of cars out there (calls had priority). Being visible is the BIGGEST deterrent, HOWEVER, people DO drive like idiots and sometimes you have to use unmarked cars especially on multi lane limited access roads.

[Cragun.]

I'm not in favor of police interrogating me for any reason other than if they suspect me of committing a crime (and having a good reason to do so) and have detained me. No fishing expeditions.

[josephmatthews]

"I would rather release 25 guilty men than imprison a single innocent." - Thomas Jefferson

"Let's inconvenience hundreds, deter zero, detain plenty of innocent people and possibly even get them arrested because people aren't people, they're statistics. Having those statistics ultra high shows I'm 'tough on crime' and looks great in political ads even though it ruins families and puts more economic pressure on poor citizens which has a direct correlation to crime rates." - Modern Law Apparently.

[hugh]

I used to carpool with a man who was a V-Cop (volunteer). They would direct parades, and church parking lots on Sunday.
He was called to assist with a DUI checkpoint. He quit after he was told to inspect the whole vehicle while the driver was doing the paperwork with the cop at the window. Everything: dead tag light, thin tires, noisy exhaust dirty tag, Tickets written. Essentially a safety inspection at a roadside DUI check.

[arnoldcaines]

I was given a roadside sobriety test once. I was dead sober. I failed it miserably. I was hauled in and blew straight zeros but they hedged their bets and took a urinalysis that wouldn't return results until after I spent adequate time in the tank sobering up. Long story short, with nothing to hang me on, the DA was going to ticket me for driving without my headlights on. Two deputy DAs couldn't even decipher which code I violated. They finally dropped all charges. Fortunately, this was in the days before you were charged money for staying in county facilities, so this whole episode only resulted in ruined plans for the evening and the PIA of going to court for half a day.

[arizonapapa]

During a traffic stop last year I had an officer ask me where I was going. I asked him if there was someplace I wasn't allowed to go? He looked puzzled by my answer, so I rolled with a follow up. Sir, you seem a little nervous, have you been drinking today?
He replied that he was an officer. So I got out my dad tone, and reminded him that wasn't what I asked! Why are you avoiding my question? Finally I couldn't hold it in anymore and I laughed. He looked relieved.
It's great being a sober old guy with legit paperwork in order. LMAO

[timinwsac]

You never find an officer Andy at these check points it's always officer Barney.

[newguy]

I commented on a different video of yours regarding how you're essentially educating the public on how to best protect yourself, and losing potential clients. I was wrong, you're essentially just making work easier for yourself WHILE providing information to the public. Nice work man. Love this.

[titans]

the issue is that this is so much easier said than done, almost every cop will contest you every way they can.

[avatar]

I've seen instances where they ask the driver to get out and the driver refuses. Then they get violently pulled out and arrested of obstruction or something.