Sobriety Checkpoints in Plano
Collin County DWI Lawyer – DWI Charges at Sobriety Checkpoints
Sobriety checkpoints are locations where law enforcement has been given the right to stop motorists and check if the driver is driving impaired due to alcohol or drugs. Not all states allow sobriety checkpoints, including Texas. The state of Texas has ruled that a DWI roadblock or checkpoint violates a citizen's Fourth Amendment rights, which holds that it is unconstitutional to conduct an unreasonable search and seizure. If you have been charged with DWI as a result of being stopped at a sobriety checkpoint, you need to contact a Collin County lawyer who handles DWI charges as soon as possible. Your rights may have been violated, which could be the key point upon which your case could be dismissed.
Are sobriety checkpoints legal?
While Texas does not allow sobriety checkpoints, it does allow roadblocks if guidelines are established by the Texas Legislature. Currently, there are no such guidelines. Keep in mind that there are some differences between a roadblock and a checkpoint. A roadblock is where a section of a road is actually controlled so that police can stop each driver to check their sobriety. A sobriety checkpoint might just be a spot where even just one officer could be located and where he or she can systematically stop cars based on a predetermined pattern. That might mean stopping every other car, or every fifth car, for example.
A knowledgeable DWI lawyer in Collin County should be contacted immediately if you have been arrested for DWI. If you are convicted, you can be facing fines, jail time, driver's license suspension and more. At The Law Office of Troy P. Burleson, I can review your case and aggressively mount a defense if your rights were violated. My goal is reduced charges or your case dismissed.
Contact me today.