Utah police took aggressive steps to stop drunk driving during the busy summer driving season.
Recently, law enforcement agencies across Utah have finished their participation in the “100 deadliest days” enforcement period coordinated by several groups in the hopes that it would reduce deaths in automobile accidents during the summer months. Many of these agencies conducted extra sobriety patrols from Memorial Day to Labor Day to remove drunk drivers from the state’s roadways during these peak traveling times. During the Labor Day weekend alone, over 50 motorists were arrested for DUI, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
As part of their efforts during safety campaigns, officers will often set up sobriety checkpoints to look for signs that a motorist may be driving under the influence. Under Utah law, police must comply with very specific requirements in order for these roadblocks to be permitted, or stops that they make could be held to be unlawful by the courts. The police must describe the time, manner and place of the checkpoint, and also the sequence in which vehicles will be selected as they pursue through the roadblock.
When conducting a checkpoint, officers will spend anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes examining selected vehicles for any possible traffic violations. If any issues are spotted, officers may decide to ticket these motorists. If signs of impairment are present, the officer may take steps to begin a DUI investigation. This may include field sobriety tests as well as preliminary testing to see if any alcohol is present in a motorist’s system.
Motorists convicted of drunk driving will face a wide range of penalties, including the suspension of their driving privileges. They will also need to install an ignition interlock device after completing the period of suspension. Additionally, those drivers will see their insurance costs increase substantially, and could also be looking at potential jail time, as well as high fines. Those who have repeat DUI convictions in their history will see these punishments substantially increased.
If you have been arrested for drunk driving in Utah, you might be unsure about what will happen next in your specific case. If prosecutors decide to pursue charges, it is important that you understand how important it is to present an aggressive defense to these accusations.
You need to contact experienced criminal defense attorney Brian Frees at Frees Law, PLLC, to assist you in protecting your rights. Attorney Frees will take the time to answer any questions that you may have, and also provide you with a thorough explanation of the potential penalties you may be facing. Once you have had the opportunity to learn more about your options, attorney Frees will help you make the right decisions for your specific situation.