Key Things to Know About DUI Checkpoints – 4th of July

Key Things to Know About DUI Checkpoints – 4th of July

Key things to know about DUI checkpoints before, during, and after the 4th of July. 

San Diego 4^th of July Aftermath

This year’s San Diego 4^th of July aftermath looked a little different than previous years.

The 4^th of July in San Diego has always been a hub for driving under the influence and DUI convictions. Due to COVID-19 and the restrictions in place because of it; the aftermath of 4^th of July in San Diego this year, looked a little different than in previous years. With only a small portion of bars and restaurants open this 4^th of July, the number of DUI incidents and convictions was significantly minimized. However, while minimized, there were still a handful of incidents.

DUI Convictions – July 3^rd , 2020

1800 Block of South Coast Highway 101 Checkpoint

In attempt to get a head start on what normally is one of the most dangerous nights of the year on the road, San Diego County set up a pre-4th of July checkpoint Friday night. As a result, 638 vehicles were stopped, with a total of 11 citations given. Nonetheless, this checkpoint ultimately resulted in:

• 0 Arrests
• 2 Impounded cars

DUI Convictions – July 4^th, 2020

2600 Ingraham St. DUI Checkpoint

One of the only, if not the only checkpoints on the 4^th, operated for a total of about 2.5 hours on the night of 4^th of July, from 11:30 PM to 1:55 AM the next day. Nevertheless, within those 2.5 hours, 196 vehicles were stopped, with 13 of those drivers being evaluated. This checkpoint resulted in:

• 2 Arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence
• 1 Arrest for driving without a valid license
• 2 Impounded cars

These results are significantly less than previous years for 4^th of July in San Diego.

Previous 4^th of July DUI Convictions in San Diego

To put it in perspective, these are a few of the DUI arrest statistics for previous years in San Diego:

• 2019 – 81 arrested
• 2018 – 46 arrested
• 2017 – 62 arrested and 2 fatalities
• 2016 – 79 arrested and 1 fatality

Key Things to Know About DUI Checkpoints

If you receive a DUI while stopped at a DUI Checkpoint in San Diego, you may be able to challenge the charges on constitutional grounds. DUI Checkpoints can be tricky as officers do not need probable cause to stop drivers once they’ve entered the checkpoint. However, the checkpoint itself must meet constitutional standards for both California and the United States. If it does not, and you are arrested for a DUI, you may have grounds to challenge the charge(s). Here are some of the legal requirements for a DUI checkpoint:

• Roadblocks must be advertised to the public in advance
• Drivers must be detained for a minimal amount of time
• The checkpoint must display sufficient indications of its official nature
• The checkpoint’s duration and time must reflect “good judgement”
• Ample safety precautions must be taken
• The checkpoint must be located in a reasonable location
• Must have neutral criteria for stopping motorists
• The supervising officers must make all final operational decisions

If any of these legal requirements are not met, at a checkpoint where a DUI arrest is made, legal actions may be appropriate in order to defend against the charges.

However, these are not all but a few key things to know about DUI checkpoints before, during, and after the 4th of July.

To see a full list of publicly announced DUI checkpoints in San Diego, check out San Diego, California DUI Checkpoints.