Bah humbug! It seems on the start of this holiday weekend just about everywhere there is a DUI checkpoint somewhere in Orange County.
Orange County DUI Checkpoints planned for Friday, December 23 2011:
- Santa Ana along McFadden between Raitt and Fairview from 7:30 p.m. until 3 a.m.
- Buena Park at an undisclosed location and time, and this is apparently a multi-agency DUI checkpoint operation.
- Anaheim, Tustin, Irvine and Laguna Beach will have DUI saturation patrols.
Los Angeles County DUI Checkpoints:
The Los Angeles Police Department will be conducting at least three DUI checkpoints:
- The first in Studio City at Ventura Blvd at Big Oak, between Colfax and Tujunga, from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m.,
- The second in Hollywood at Santa Monica Blvd at Bronson from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m.,
- The third in South L.A. at Western and Slauson from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Even Beverly Hills will have their own DUI checkpoint at La Cienega at Gregory Way from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m.
Lynwood will have a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location from 7 p.m until 3 a.m.
The South Bay cities of, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Redondo and Torrance will have DUI saturation patrols until 2 a.m.
Riverside County DUI Checkpoints:
In the city of Riverside the CHP will conduct a DUI checkpoint at undisclosed time and location.
The Riverside Sheriff's Department will have a DUI checkpoint in Palm Desert at an undisclosed location from 9 p.m until 3 a.m.
Several agencies are expected to be involved in a Hemet DUI checkpoint in an undisclosed location and time.
San Bernardino County DUI Checkpoints:
Chino Hills will have a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location from 9 p.m. 3 a.m.
If you know of any specific DUI checkpoints in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside or San Diego occurring this weekend or anytime during the week please let us know on our Facebook page.
What If I See a DUI Checkpoint Up Ahead, Can I Turnaround?
The number one question asked to criminal attorney Michael L. Guisti is, "what if I see a DUI checkpoint ahead, can I legally turnaround and refuse to go through a DUI checkpoint without being pulled over?"
The answer, explains Guisti, if you see a DUI checkpoint ahead, is "Yes, you do have the legal right to turn around and not go through it." But when you turn around, make sure you're not breaking any traffic laws.
Many times, Guisti says, somebody approaching a DUI checkpoint will make a sudden U-turn crossing over the double yellow lines, which gives police the right to pull you over, and if you're not drunk driving you'll likely face a traffic ticket.
Even if you didn't violate any traffic laws, Guisti says police can pull you over if they think you're driving drunk, or if you have some issue with your car, like a tail light out.
Sometimes, according to Guisti, if you're able to turn around without breaking any traffic laws some police departments will keep squad cars posted along the opposite side of the street and nearby side streets to give the intimidating impression you're going to be pulled over if you turn around and refuse to go through their DUI checkpoint. Other times police will simply block off entries to side streets and even block legal U-turns with orange cones to ensure you go through their DUI checkpoint.
As long as you turned around legally and didn't break any traffic laws there should be no reason you should be pulled over, says Guisti, and if you were pulled-over consider contacting a professional attorney right away.
What If You're Arrested for DUI?
Now if you have been arrested for DUI, whether at a DUI checkpoint or during a routine pullover, understand you have several defense options, says Guisti, and it's not as cut-and-dry as it may seem.
First off it's very important to understand that if you've been arrested for alleged drunk driving you have only ten days to contact the DMV for a driver's license hearing, and when you hire a DUI lawyer they'll set up the hearing and delay suspension hearings so they can prepare a stellar DMV case for you, says Guisti.
Two things defense attorneys look at in DUI cases: Police cannot simply stop you based on a "gut-feeling," but rather must have a compelling reason, and if there was no compelling reason then your case should be dismissed. The second thing DUI defense lawyers look at is, if the DUI tests were accurate and within regulations, says Guisti.
Further on the second point, Guisti says, DUI tests are notoriously flawed, but under Title 17 the way the tests are administered and blood tests are handled must follow very strict guidelines. If police even slightly break the rules or it's found the test couldn't provide an accurate reading as outlined in Title 17 then your case may be dismissed.
Another very important point: If you enter a DUI checkpoint and are caught driving without a license or driving on a suspended license police can cite you and impound your car.
If you had trouble at DUI checkpoints you must call our Orange County DUI attorney experts at the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti right now at (714) 707-2797 so we can examine your charge, investigate the arresting police officer's action and ensure justice for you.
Our goal is to win your DUI case for you, and we'll settle for nothing less, so please call us now.