What is Colorado’s procedure for setting up DUI checkpoints?

With Labor Day weekend right around the corner, it is important that you understand your rights regarding DUI checkpoints. Fortunately for you, Colorado’s procedures for setting up DUI checkpoints are fairly friendly to the general public. The Colorado Department of Transportation details those procedures in depth.

First and foremost, the state has strict criteria for site selection. If a department wishes to set up a DUI checkpoint in any given area, the area must have an unusually high incidence rate of alcohol or drug-related crashes, nighttime single-vehicle crashes, impaired driving violations or any other drug or alcohol-related vehicular incidents.

Once a department selects a site, it must give the public advance notice via a popular media forum. Moreover, the department must encourage media interest in the checkpoint program for several reasons, one of which is to ensure the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights. The agency must also inform safety groups of the planned checkpoint.

On the day or night of the checkpoint, the department must set up various warnings for approaching motorists. In addition to placing warning signs well in advance of the sobriety checkpoint, the department must also use flares or similar devices, safety cones and portable or permanent lighting to indicate its presence. Officers must be in marked patrol vehicles, and the site must be staffed by an adequate number of uniformed personnel. At least one sworn, uniformed officer must be on-scene to provide supervision.

This article is for your educational purposes only. You should not use it as legal advice.