Local law enforcement had a successful Saturday evening, making nine arrests for DUI and issuing traffic violations to seven other individuals. How did they rack up these charges? Through a DUI checkpoint in Mission.
According to early reports, police officers checked more than 400 cars near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Nall Avenue on Saturday. Not only did they make arrests for DUI, but they also charged individual who violated traffic laws in various other ways. Officers came from all over the area, including Edwardsville, Olathe, Overland Park, and Mission to help with the DUI checkpoint. Even deputies from Johnson County Sheriff's Office and troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol showed up to assist with the operation.
Does a DUI checkpoint violate my rights?
Many people questions the constitutionality of DUI checkpoints, especially when it comes to unlawful searches and seizures. Is it really legal for officers to stop someone for no reason and thus arrest them if they are committing a crime? In a regular DUI case, an officer must have reasonable cause to pull an individual over for DUI, so it seems contradictory that DUI checkpoints would be allowed. However, courts have ruled them a legal means of arresting individuals who are driving under the influence.
There are a few states that do not allow DUI checkpoints, such as Texas, Idaho, and Washington. Kansas, on the other hand, is known to conduct checkpoints around one to two times a month. If you find yourself arrested during a DUI checkpoint, it is crucial that you take legal action as soon as possible. You could be facing serious charges, which is why you need a Kansas City DUI defense lawyer who knows how to fight your charges and protect your rights.
Contact The Law Offices of Charles R. Green for legal counsel with your DUI case.