Avoiding a DUI while celebrating Martin Luther King’s legacy

By Michael D. Barber, Georgia Lawyer specializing in DUI, Drug Charges & Criminal Defense

There are a great number of approved tactics for the police to use to stop cars and check for a DUI. One tactic that is the most popular is referred to as a “DUI Checkpoint.” These checkpoints however are not actually to check for a DUI. Most frequently these stops are disguised as valid license checkpoints or looking for a escaped person.

The most popular time for law enforcement to use these types of stops is over the weekend of SPECIAL EVENTS or HOLIDAYS such as our nations celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his legacy. During this holiday many people with throw or attend parties celebrating his legacy.

This holiday, however, will be no exception to the use of DUI “Sobriety” Checkpoints.

With everything that is going on, many people with let their guard down after having spent a great deal of time “couped” up from the quarantine of Covid/Corona virus.

Almost all of the police use these DUI checkpoints. The scenario is usually you are driving around and see blue lights ahead. Except instead of one officer stopping another driver ahead, you see what looks like a parking lot up ahead with multiple drivers stopped and an additional team of police officers directing traffic ahead. You have come upon a DUI Checkpoint. This “tool” allows the police to stop a vehicle for any “legal” reason and their investigation can always lead to to a DUI if they suspect the driver has been drinking or using drugs.

These checkpoints, in this situation, may result in a arrest for a Atlanta DUI. You can literally be anywhere and end up participating in these DUI Checkpoints. There is also a lot of participation across departments for these checkpoints.

Especially in Atlanta, you may find the Atlanta DUI Taskforce participating with the Georgia State Patrol DUI taskforce (or “GSP nighthawks”). Keep in mind that these “DUI Teams” can also work together or alone for these checkpoints.

Georgia State Patrol has determined that with certain events, in particular Holidays, they see a increase in the arrests for DUI. Holiday activities for many people are synonymous with alcoholic beverages, beer and celebrating. This day involves quite a bit of drinking and the parties that go along with it are usually occasions that everyone remembers.

Some people however end up remembering more than just a good party. With everything that goes on, some either lose track or don’t keep count of their alcohol intake. With police being aggressive, or more aggressive, for Driving Under the Influence arrests, it means that more people are finding themselves the subject of a late night rendezvous with the police.

As a result of the Governor’s office of Highway Safety teaming up with various organizations, including the HEAT and TEAM division of local counties, the cops are cracking down on impaired driving.

If you have been accused by the police of driving under the influence this weekend, then you need help from a trained DUI attorney.

Should YOU find that you either don’t want to face the court alone or simply feel that you need help from a DUI attorney then give our office a call. There are facts to every case where defenses can be raised for anyone charged with driving under the influence.

Each situation is different from the other and requires a evaluation of all the information in order to properly mount a defense and a effective negotiation with the prosecutor’s office. Remember that every DUI case is different because not two sets of facts are the same.

Application of the above case law to your situation would take examination of the facts surrounding your case and applying this case law properly to create a properly mounted defense for YOUR arrest.

Our office has 24 hour response lines and can answer your questions and help you. Give our team of DUI defense lawyers in Atlanta a call at 404-445-8494. We can help you mount a proper defense for your situation.