New York State law enforcement is expected to increase the number of sobriety checkpoints this New Year’s Eve in an attempt to keep drunk drivers off the road. Sobriety checkpoints are also used to bring awareness to our society’s drunk driving problem. High-visibility enforcement has been known to reduce fatalities relating to drunk driving incidents by as much as 20 percent.
To understand your rights if you are stopped at a sobriety checkpoint this New Year’s Eve, continue reading. If you have been arrested at a checkpoint this year, it is important that you retain the services of an experienced Garden City, NY DWI/DUI attorney. Our legal team is prepared to assist you with your charges, no matter the circumstances. We understand the weight that these circumstances may have on an individual’s future. To learn more, give our firm a call today to schedule your initial consultation.
What are my rights if I get pulled over at a sobriety checkpoint?
During a checkpoint, the first step that will occur is that you will speak with the officers conducting the checkpoint. They may ask if you have been drinking. They will also advise you as to why they are conducting a checkpoint. Officers can ask you to pull over for investigation if they smell alcohol on your person or vehicle. Officers may also ask you to answer questions, step out o the vehicle, participate in standardized field sobriety testing if they believe you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, you are not required to do any of these things. Before you refuse, it is important to understand that you may be arrested if you fail to submit to chemical testing or a field sobriety test if the offer has reasonable grounds to believe you are under the influence.
How can an attorney help me?
It is essential that you retain the services of an experienced attorney if you have been arrested at a sobriety checkpoint this New Year’s Eve. Your attorney will be able to assess your case to ensure the sobriety checkpoint was lawfully conducted. Your attorney may have a viable defense against your DUI charge if they can prove that the officer did not have probable cause to arrest you, or has determined that the checkpoint was unlawful in some may. An attorney may even be able to decrease the severity of your DUI charges if your arrest was conducted lawfully.
Contact our Firm
Criminal matters can change the course of your life forever. This is why you need an experienced attorney who will aggressively combat your charges to help mitigate their long-term effects. If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for a criminal defense matter on Long Island or throughout New York State, please contact Grunwald & Seman, P.C. to schedule a consultation. We would be happy to assist you.
