The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures. Sobriety checkpoints and police roadblocks raise serious Fourth Amendment concerns. Roadblocks are Seizures that Implicate the Fourth Amendment
This type of a sobriety checkpoint is no longer legal in Texas.
#POLICE ROADBLOCK NEAR ME DRIVERS#
In the end, 10 drivers were arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. If the officer did not see any signs of intoxication, then the driver was allowed to proceed through the checkpoint and continue on their way. If the officer observed signs of intoxication (such as the odor of an alcoholic beverage, slurred speech, or bloodshot, watery eyes), then the driver was moved to an isolated area to perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs). The police investigated each driver for signs of intoxication by detaining the driver and car for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. The roadblock stopped every vehicle passing through, netting 341 cars over a three-hour period. Warning signs were visible to drivers as they approached the roadblock, and police directed traffic to the checkpoint. The police department provided the date and the location of the checkpoint to the media, and the media then wrote an article advising citizens of the upcoming roadblock. At the time, the checkpoint followed department guidelines and was approved by the Traffic Division Commander. What is a DWI Checkpoint?ĭWI checkpoints are police roadblocks set up to stop every vehicle passing through a specific location in order to check the drivers’ sobriety.įor example, in 1991 the Arlington Police Department set-up a field sobriety checkpoint at the 1200 block of West Division Road. However, there are instances where roadblocks have been permitted in the past. DWI roadblocks and sobriety checkpoints are illegal in Texas.
We are often asked if police roadblocks or sobriety checkpoints in Fort Worth are allowed.
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