CALIFORNIA UPDATE: THE BATTLE AGAINST DRINKING DRIVERS

This article describes roadblocks or sobriety checkpoints as instituted in California in late 1984 when the California attorney general issued an opinion approving the use of checkpoints if specific safeguards were built into the process (The Fourth Amendment evaluation is still pending in the First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco). The attorney general's opinion became the operating guideline for all California law enforcement agencies. These operating guidelines are summarized, especially in relation to an 18-day evaluation of checkpoints by the California Highway Patrol in December 1984. The initial results of this evaluation are discussed. An increasing public acceptance of these checkpoints, however, routine enforcement encourages diminishing compliance. Checkpoints, though producing limited numerical results, apparently can achieve startling impact on behavior. Used with care and skill, checkpoints may become a valuable specialized tactic introduced on limited occasions to achieve spectacular results in DWI related offenses.

• Corporate Authors:

  International Association of Chiefs of Police

  11 Firstfield Road
  Gaithersburg, MD  United States  20760
• Authors:
  • Smith, J E
• Publication Date: 1985-7

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 64-66
• Serial:
  • POLICE CHIEF
  • Volume: 52
  • Issue Number: 7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol tests; Compliance; Constitutional law; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Guidelines; Measures of effectiveness; Public relations; Roadblocks; State government; Traffic law enforcement
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Public support
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451751
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 035
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1985 12:00AM