It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us. And yet, it is. The days leading up to and immediately after the holiday are some of the busiest travel times of the year.
Besides traveling, another activity that accompanies many people’s Thanksgiving festivities is imbibing alcohol. That’s fine as long as the drinker isn’t driving. But the police realize that some drivers will indeed do just that — and they are prepared to haul suspected drunken drivers off to jail.
Avoid sobriety checkpoints and drunk-driving charges
Pennsylvania is one of the 38 states (and the District of Columbia) that allow police to set up roadblocks to make sure the drivers are not intoxicated. In fact, local police and sheriff departments often apply for and receive grants to put more police officers on the roads.
When do the checkpoints occur?
Here in Pennsylvania, they get scheduled year-round, with extra emphasis on holiday weekends and around major events like the Superbowl. But drivers should never assume that they couldn’t run into a checkpoint.
Should you have a strategy?
Your best strategy is to not drink and drive. Take an Uber, a long nap, spend the night or call a sober friend to come pick you up and take you home. That being said, here is some helpful information:
- The checkpoint must be announced publicly, as well as the location where it will be and during what times.
- There must be a neutral or arbitrary advance decision of which cars to stop, e.g. every fourth vehicle.
- The stops cannot depend on the make or condition of the car.
If you get stopped, keep your interaction with the officer as brief as possible. Be polite and remain compliant with requests to see your driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration. Always remember that you have the right to remain silent. Invoke that right if you get arrested for DUI.