A Field Guide to Tennessee Sobriety Checkpoints

DUI checkpoints, or sobriety checkpoints, are on the rise in Tennessee. Police officers will section off part of an intersection or roadway in order to slowly filter cars through in a line. Legally, officers can check any car in the line for sobriety or a suspicion of drunk driving. When you are pulled over at a DUI checkpoint, even if you haven’t been drinking, it can be stressful and may feel like you are at the mercy of the police. As a private citizen, you have rights that you can exercise, even if you’ve been stopped at one of these increasingly popular sobriety checkpoints.

What to do at a Tennessee DUI checkpoint

If you are asked to get out of your vehicle at a DUI checkpoint, you need to comply with this request. Otherwise, if you find yourself at a sobriety checkpoint in middle Tennessee, don’t forget your rights:

• Although you will lose your license if you do, you can refuse to take a compulsory breathalyzer test
• You have the right to request a Franklin DUI attorney at any time, even prior to answering questions from the police
• You have the right to refuse the search of your vehicle
• Upon approaching a DUI checkpoint, you have every right to turn your car around and leave, as long as you do not break any general traffic laws to do so
• Hand over your license and registration if you are asked to do so

Even when you are exercising your legal rights, be sure to be polite and as cooperative as possible. Belligerence does not play out well when you are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A list of recent DUI checkpoints by county in Tennessee is available and updated weekly.

If you are arrested for your first DUI offense, you will lose your license for one year and likely will have to spend a couple of days in jail. If your blood alcohol level is above .2%, under Tennessee law, you will be in jail for seven days. A first DUI offense comes with a fine of anywhere between $350 and $1500, but your vehicle cannot be seized indefinitely by the police.

It’s important that you know your rights at sobriety checkpoints, and that you exercise them politely but firmly. You will need a compassionate and aggressive DUI attorney if you have been arrested at one of these spots. The Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates has a long-standing reputation of effective DUI defense, and we will seek justice on your behalf. We help Franklin, Brentwood, and Columbia drivers out of tricky situations and unjust accusations. Call us today for a free consultation at 615-977-9370 or contact us.