Law enforcement in North Dakota is concerned with keeping their communities’ streets safe for all. One method they often use is conducting sobriety checkpoints to determine if drivers are operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The latest sobriety checkpoint occurred in Fargo recently and netted several arrests.
Checkpoint and arrests
During the night on Saturday, Aug. 20, officers with the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office conducted a sobriety checkpoint on the University Drive exit on I-94. The checkpoint happened between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight. More than 400 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, and officers screened at least 47 drivers for impairment.
As a result, authorities arrested four people for DUI and issued at least seven citations for a variety of offenses, including open container, minor consumption of alcohol and others. Police also conducted so-called “saturation patrols” in the area over the same weekend, resulting in an additional six DUI arrests.
Right to defense
Facing charges for DUI can be scary, and a conviction will have far-reaching impacts on a person’s future. Nevertheless, a charge is evidence of nothing, and accused individuals will have every reasonable opportunity to contest the formal accusations in court. As such, those charged with DUI during this latest sobriety checkpoint will need to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney in North Dakota for assistance. A lawyer will analyze all aspects of the methods law enforcement used to determine impairment and fight hard to help the client obtain the most favorable outcome possible.
