In most cases, police need probable cause to pull a driver over for a DUI, such as swerving or speeding. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that DUI checkpoints are an important exception, due to the dangers of intoxicated driving. Understanding how these checkpoints work in Connecticut can help you avoid an arrest that can upend your life, even if you do post bail immediately.

DUI Checkpoints in Connecticut

Checkpoints Are Legal

Following Supreme Court precedent, Connecticut courts have also decided that sobriety checkpoints are legal under the state constitution. Law enforcement has broad discretion when deciding where and when to establish checkpoints, but the law does require that they be temporary and random.

Who Is Stopped at a Checkpoint?

To avoid targeting specific individuals, police are required to establish some uniform process for deciding which drivers to interview. Some might stop every individual car, while others might wave every third or fifth driver to the side. However, if a driver is behaving erratically or suspiciously, they may flag that vehicle for further investigation.

What to Expect at a Sobriety Checkpoint

If you’re stopped at a DUI checkpoint, you’ll have to present your driver’s license and insurance card. The police officer will conduct a brief interview, probably asking questions like where you’ve been that night and if you’ve had anything to drink. Keep in mind that the purpose of these interviews is to find probable cause to conduct a field sobriety test or even place you under arrest. If you’re arrested, you have to spend at least a few hours in jail to get sober before you’re allowed to post bail.

If you’ve been arrested at a checkpoint anywhere in Hartford County, CT, the experienced agents at 3-D Bail Bonds will help secure your release as quickly as possible. They’re committed to ensuring no one has to spend a minute longer in jail than absolutely necessary, which is why they offer 24-hour service and creative, flexible financing programs. To contact a bail bondsman at anytime, visit their New Britain office at 15 Arch St in downtown New Britain or call (860) 229-2525. Cheapest payment plans in New Britain! Follow their Facebook posts for more tips and professional insights.