The number of drunk drivers tends to increase over the summer and during holidays, which can sometimes mean more DUI checkpoints, as Mississippi police seek to keep the roads and highways safe.
Being stopped at a DUI checkpoint can be a stressful and scary experience, especially if you have had a drink or two. Not knowing what to do or how to act is completely understandable, and you may worry that your nervousness will make you appear guilty of drinking and driving.
Your anxiety over the stop can cause you to forget that you are allowed to drink alcohol and drive. You are just not allowed to drink more than the legal limit allows, or you could face a DUI charge.
Don’t avoid the checkpoint
There is no way around a DUI checkpoint. Do not turn around and try to find a different route, as many times that may be impossible, and it will make you look suspicious.
Have documentation, such as your driver’s license and car registration, ready for the officers. They will likely ask for it and having it ready will prevent them from alleging you appeared unprepared or confused.
Do not volunteer any more information than necessary to the officers, particularly about what you have or have not had to drink. The officers may ask you, and if they do, you should be honest, but don’t tell them anything they do not ask about.
Don’t refuse a breath test
You may or may not be asked to perform a breath test. Even if you are worried about your test results, do not refuse the test. Refusing a breath test carries higher penalties than a DUI charge, even if the test would show you were completely sober.
Allow the officers to do their job, understanding that they are simply trying to reduce the chances of accidents.
Although DUI checkpoints are legal, you also have legal rights when you are stopped at a DUI checkpoint. If you are charged with a DUI after a checkpoint stop, a criminal defense attorney can review the circumstances surrounding your stop to ensure that all policies and procedures were followed correctly and protect your rights.