Pennsylvania State Police recently conducted a DUI checkpoint along Route 413 in Bucks County that resulted in 61 arrests, citations, and written warnings. The Trentonian reports that State Police stopped 152 vehicles checking for facts and behaviors normally associated with alcohol and drug use. The police made four DUI arrests, handed out 40 traffic citations, and gave 17 written warnings.
Police often use DUI checkpoints to stop and discourage drunk driving. These checkpoints are essentially police roadblocks where police will stop motorists and look for signs of impairment like alcohol on the breath, bloodshot and watery eyes, and slurred speech.
The checkpoints are generally used during heavy alcohol consumption times like weekends and holidays, and the checkpoints have been reported to be a highly effective tool in keeping drunk drivers off the road. In fact, a study reports that the checkpoints reduce alcohol-related crashes by about 20 percent.
Well, these checkpoints are about to become even more effective.
That’s because a group of U.S. Senators has pressured companies like Research in Motion (Blackberry) and Apple to stop selling smart phone apps that can help drivers evade DUI checkpoints. Many apps (short for applications) manufacturers had created tools that allowed drivers to avoid getting arrested for traffic offenses like running red lights and speeding. However, some of these apps also included a tool that allowed tech-savvy drunks to locate (and avoid) DUI checkpoints.
Local police departments found these tools particularly troubling given the dangers of drunk driving. And as U.S. Senators joined the fight to ban these apps, drunk drivers may be left to their own devices in trying to avoid DUI checkpoints.
Related Resources:
- Find a Philadelphia DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- Apple to Nix Apps That Tip off Drunk Drivers (Associated Press)
- DUI Law: Overview (FindLaw)
- Cops Worried About Tweets of DUI Checkpoints (FindLaw’s Philadelphia DUI Blog)
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