Sobriety checkpoints – what is their purpose?
Sobriety checkpoints are designed to be a deterrent, not a trap. The Supreme Court has ruled that before conducting a sobriety checkpoint, several criteria must be met. First, the location of the checkpoint must have a historically high rate of alcohol-related crashes. Second, the agency must follow specific guideline for notification that the checkpoint is to be conducted. Also, if traffic is too heavy to stop each car passing through the checkpoint, cars must be stopped according to a predetermined formula (i.e.: every other car, every fourth car, etc.).
