St. Patrick’s Day DUI Checkpoint in South Lake Tahoe
Law Enforcement on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe have announced a collaborative effort to combat drunk drivers. South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) will be holding a DUI checkpoint in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday March 17, 2016 from 7pm to 2am. The location of the checkpoint has not yet been disclosed.
SLTPD is teaming up with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department (EDSO) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for increased DUI enforcement during the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday. Not only will SLTPD be conducting a DUI checkpoint, there will be extra officers on duty from all law enforcement agencies to conduct extra patrols and look for impaired drivers. Please use this advance warning and make arrangements ahead of time to ensure that you are not behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
If you are stopped for suspicion of DUI, the whole investigation and arrest can be very confusing. I am often asked – “do I have to do field sobriety tests (FSTs)?” or “do I have to blow in the machine?” In both CA and NV, there are implied consent laws. Those laws state that upon lawful arrest for DUI, you must submit to a chemical test of your blood or breath. Failure to comply with that can lead to increased punishments and longer license suspensions. What is confusing is whether or not the tests before an arrest are required. The simple answer is – no, tests prior to an arrest, including FSTs, are not required. If you choose not to participate in field sobriety testing, the officer must decide whether he has enough evidence to arrest you based on what is currently known by the officer (observations of your driving and objective signs and symptoms of intoxication). If the officer places you under arrest without sufficient probable cause, your attorney may challenge that decision in court and potentially may have the evidence against you thrown out.
For more information about CA DUI or NV DUI, please contact THE LAW OFFICE OF ADAM T. SPICER today. We offer everyone a free one hour consultation to discuss the facts and circumstances of your case. DUI law can be confusing with both the courts and DMV involved. Don’t try to negotiate the complex legal system yourself. As a Member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys, I can explain not only the complex legal system, but all the potential defenses and laws regarding DUI.
