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You Drink & Drive. You
Lose. National Crackdown
Small Scale Sobriety Checkpoints
Sobriety checkpoints are an effective law enforcement tool involving
the stopping of vehicles or a specific sequence of vehicles, at a
predetermined fixed location to detect drivers impaired by alcohol
and/or other drugs. These operations not only serve as a specific
deterrent by arresting impaired drivers who pass through the checkpoints,
but more importantly, as a general deterrent to persons who have
knowledge of the operation. Sobriety checkpoints increase the perception
of the risk of arrest, if they are adequately publicized and highly
visible to the public.
Staffing requirements for checkpoints are dependent
on many factors, but most importantly the location and traffic volume
of the selected site. The traditional sobriety checkpoint is resource
intensive for both uniform and support personnel, in order to set
up and conduct the operation safely. Resource intensive operations
discourage a number of law enforcement agencies from conducting sobriety
checkpoints, particularly smaller agencies or others that can ill-afford
to dedicate limited staff to such an operation. The end result is
that some small agencies are reluctant to use this effective tool.
This results in less frequent use of checkpoints, and correspondingly,
less exposure and awareness by the public and a reduced perception
of risk of arrest for DUI. This may be overcome by partnering with
other agencies in the immediate area.
The Goal Is Prevention
The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement.
Prevention and not arrest is the goal. The research is clear on the
affect highly visible enforcement has on deterring impairing driving.
When drivers perceive the risk of being caught is high their behavior
changes immediately. This is the basis of the You
Drink & Drive.
You Lose. campaign. The message is simple, direct, relevant and it
works -- having already influenced thousands of citizens not to drink
and drive nationwide. In most cases, reduced staff checkpoints can
be as effective as large scale activities in preventing impaired
driving if the effort is correctly publicized to increase the perception
of being caught.
Accordingly, it’s important to have both an operational and
media relations plan to guide your efforts. The following infor-
mation is meant to provide you a guide on operational planning for
small scale checkpoints. For information on publicizing and conducting
highly visible enforcement activities, please refer to the Checkpoint
and Saturation Patrol Planning Guidebook, available at www.nhtsa.dot.gov and www.StopImpairedDriving.org
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Purpose Of This Publication
The purpose of this publication is to inform law enforcement agencies
of promising practices by a number of agencies in the application
of small scale sobriety checkpoints. These agencies have conducted
sobriety checkpoints that did not involve large numbers of personnel,
leading to a more efficient use of limited resources and a deterrence
capability, without conducting a large scale sobriety checkpoint
operation.
Research Concerning Small Scale Checkpoints
In 1995, NHTSA conducted a study in six California communities, to
evaluate the effectiveness of their checkpoint program’s
staffing levels (three to five officers vs eight to twelve) and
mobility (stationary vs three sequential locations).
The principal findings of the report included that the low staffing
level approach (when appropriately used) is effective in generating
public awareness and it is more cost-effective than a high staffing
level configuration.
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Successful Small Scale Checkpoint Experiences
Some states recently have used techniques that permit them to conduct
checkpoints with fewer resources. Moreover, states have found that
their small scale checkpoints yielded a number of advantages. Some
examples of small scale checkpoint programs are described below:
Pennsylvania
Small scale, mobile checkpoints expanded the State’s DUI law
enforcement effort over a 15-month intensive enforcement period.
Checkpoint activities were run with limited resources, as few as
5 officers. A significant benefit experienced by Pennsylvania’s
small scale checkpoints was that they created a heightened awareness
of their DUI enforcement program. By allowing the enforcement team
to move the location of the operation, within 5-hour periods, the
motoring public was encouraged to exercise alternatives to drinking
and driving.
Contact person is Mr. Lou Rader, Governor’s Office of Highway
Safety, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 9th Floor,
Harrisburg, 17120-0064, (717) 787-6875.
Florida
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office initiated Checkpoint Brevard,
a program to show that small-scale sobriety checkpoints (using 10
to 12 officers and volunteers as opposed to 35-40) can be an efficient
way to apprehend impaired drivers. The operational plan included
involving officers from other jurisdictions (Mutual Aid Agreement),
media events (press conferences & live feeds), and rotating checkpoints
to high crash locations. Officers participating in Checkpoint Brevard
made 163 impaired driving arrests over a two-year period. In addition,
58 persons were arrested on drug charges, 20 arrested on felony charges
and 115 arrested for other misdemeanors offenses. Checkpoint Brevard
produced a significant decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities
(38.2%), and a decrease in alcohol-related crashes with injury (9.3%).
Officer and public safety did not appear to be affected negatively
by using less manpower at the checkpoints. At 37 checkpoints, not
one crash took place. Small-scale checkpoints are now being conducted
on a monthly basis. Contact person is Mr. Roger Doherty, DUI Coordinator,
Florida Department of Transportation, 605 Suwanne Street, Tallahassee,
32399-0450, (850) 922-5820.
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Benefits Of Small Scale Checkpoints
The experiences at these sites have demonstrated that the use of
small scale checkpoints can result in:
- More Efficient Use of Human Resources
- Increased Visibility and General Deterrence
Through Greater Mobility
- Lower Operational Costs
- More Participation
By Smaller Agencies
Small Scale Checkpoint Tips
- Small scale sobriety checkpoints can operate under the same guidelines
as large scale programs, while using only five or more officers.
- Duties can be shared by all personnel assigned to staff the checkpoint.
- Sobriety checkpoints must be staffed by uniformed officers.
- Volunteers can be used to assist with additional duties or needs
that may arise.
- The safety and convenience of motorists and law enforcement personnel
are priorities and must not be compromised. Well designed operational
procedures help ensure that small scale sobriety checkpoints
are used legally, effectively and safely.
- Checkpoints should be well publicized to establish
a “perception
of risk” in the community.
Small Scale Checkpoint Planning Considerations:
- Prosecutorial and Judicial Support
- Review of
Existing Laws and Departmental Policy
- Operational Briefings and
Jurisdiction Review
- Contingency Plans, Mutual Aid Agreements
- Site
Locations (Demographics and Volume)
- Sufficient Warning Devices
- Visible Police Authority
- Detection, Investigation
Techniques and Training
- Chemical Testing Capability
- Public Information,
Education and Outreach Strategies
- Data Collection and Evaluation
Are Sobriety Checkpoints Legal?
The U.S. Supreme Court in 1990 (Michigan v. Sitz) upheld the constitutionality
of sobriety checkpoints. The Court held that the interest in reducing
alcohol-impaired driving was sufficient to justify the brief intrusion
of a sobriety checkpoint. If conducted properly, sobriety checkpoints
do not constitute illegal search and seizure in most states.
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