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Bay Area Criminal Defense Blog

Don't Crash Your Car Into a DUI Checkpoint

Posted by Lynn Gorelick | Sep 30, 2015 | 0 Comments

Cities such as Fremont, Hayward and Concord regularly make use of sobriety checkpoints to catch intoxicated drivers, and deter others from drinking and driving. Sobriety checkpoints can be inconvenient for drivers just trying to get where they are going, but they have been deemed legal by the U.S. Supreme Court. There are some “dos” and “don'ts” to remember when you come upon a DUI checkpoint in California, but a definite “don't” involves getting into an accident at the DUI checkpoint.

Palm Springs police officers were conducting a DUI and driver's license checkpoint. While screening the driver of one vehicle, another car came up behind and rear-ended the driver. When the police spoke to the driver that caused the accident, it appeared he was driving under the influence of alcohol. The 44-year-old Palm Springs resident was the only person arrested for a DUI of the 231 vehicles that passed through the checkpoint.

Other drivers who want to avoid talking to the police at a DUI checkpoint make the last minute decision to take off instead. One driver in Desert Hot Springs decided he wasn't going to stop at a checkpoint, and just kept going. During a DUI and driver's license checkpoint, a 51-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Jetta failed to stop at the roadblock. The police pursued the driver, who eventually crashed into a concrete median. The driver struggled with police, who eventually arrested him on suspicion of felony evading police, resisting arrest, driving under the influence, and driving on a suspended license.

A man in Arizona also failed to stop at a DUI checkpoint and took off, pursued by the police. The police said the vehicle was driving recklessly, and eventually crashed into a curb on the off-ramp of the highway. The driver, Kaiser Chavez, took off on foot, but was quickly caught by the police. Inside the car was another man, and Chavez's 1-year-old daughter. Chavez was arrested on suspicion of aggravated DUI, felony flight, possession of drug paraphernalia, and because his child was in the car he faces the additional charges of child abuse and endangerment.

In Pennsylvania, a man had obvious reasons for not wanting to stop at a DUI checkpoint because he had a number of empty bottles of beer on the front passenger floor board. Sandrew Gonzalez was being followed by a police officer who saw the car drifting over the median, when he came upon a pre-planned DUI checkpoint. Instead of stopping, he drove away, pursued by police. When the police caught up with him, they found the beer bottles in the car, and smelled alcohol on his breath. He was also driving on a suspended license due to a prior DUI.

At the Gorelick Law Offices, attorney Lynn Gorelick has dedicated her legal career to defending people facing a DUI and other related charges in the East Bay. With more than 30 years of criminal defense experience, Lynn Gorelick will conduct an in-depth investigation, including obtaining all video and audio evidence. Call the local East Bay DUI defense attorney who understands how to get your DUI charges reduced or dismissed.

About the Author

Lynn Gorelick

Lynn Gorelick has been an attorney for over 38 years. She is the Attorney Lynn Gorelick is the Immediate Past President of the California DUI Lawyers Association and a Faculty and Sustaining member of the National College of DUI Defense. Lynn is a Specialist Member of the California DUI Lawyers Association and lectures frequently to other attorneys regarding DUI and DMV issues.

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