DUI check point ?

[idontknow08]

The other night I was out with my sister going food shopping getting ready for this weekend, we decided to go to a grocery store that was open 24 hrs and was about at 11:45 pm when we went.

When we got to the store my sister realized she forgot her wallet and cell phone, she told me what she forgot and that she and wanted run back to house to get it, so we went back to her house to get he wallet when we came across a DUI ( I think it was a DUI check point because the first question the cop asked her was if she had anything to drink tonight) check point, the cops had the road shut down in both directions and was stopping every single car, not every third car or what ever.

When we got to the check point the cop asked her if she had anything to drink, she said no, he then asked for her DL, this is when she explained to him that she forgot her wallet at home and did not have her DL on her at this time.

At this point the cop asked her if her license is valid, she said yes, he then asked her if the reason she did not want to give him her DL was because she had warrants, we both laughed and she replied no, he said ok let me tell you this, you only have one chance to tell me your real name, he warned her not to give a fake name or she would go to jail for it, he said I do not give second chances, she would never give a fake name and never even crossed her mind to give him a fake name, she gives him her real name, then he asked her for her SS#, then her BOD, she gives him all the information and then tells us, ok I'll be right back with you.

Of course she came back clean and with everything valid but it took the cop an hour and fifteen minutes to do the check he did, I would like to know if this is a reasonable amount of time for this kind of stop?

We both feel this was an excessive amount of time and I would like to know if you guys agree or if this is the norm for this kind of situation?

[mcsap]

1. Had your sister been fully legal , she would have been there about 1 min.

2. If my computer is running well , I can run a drivers/warrant check in about 30 seconds.

3. I can legally hold someone for up to 6 hours before I either have to release them or take them in front of a judge.

1 1/2 hours is a LONG time to run the info but since I wasn't there, I can't explain further.

[Ispbear]

I guess next time she won't forget her wallet.

[idontknow08]

1. Had your sister been fully legal , she would have been there about 1 min.

I am not sure what you mean by FULLY LEGAL, but I can tell you that this much, this was the only second time in her 21 years of driving that she was stopped by police for any reason.

2. If my computer is running well , I can run a drivers/warrant check in about 30 seconds.

What if your computer is not running well or your if system is down?

3. I can legally hold someone for up to 6 hours before I either have to release them or take them in front of a judge.

That would be one long traffic stop.

1 1/2 hours is a LONG time to run the info but since I wasn't there, I can't explain further.

I thought the cop could have been a littler nicer to us and a little more informative, especially as to why we were held for such a long time.

At the end the cop came up to us and said, I'm just giving you a warning have a nice night and walked off.

I guess next time she won't forget her wallet.

Maybe, but obviously you did not realize my sister is an air head.

[Piggy]

I thought the cop could have been a littler nicer to us and a little more informative, especially as to why we were held for such a long time.

At the end the cop came up to us and said, I'm just giving you a warning have a nice night and walked off.

Sounds like he was nice to you. Were you expecting a coupon for 10% off on your next ticket?

[phantasm]

a week or so ago when I would run a license or a plate, it was taking 45-60 minutes for the plates to come back. Usually it comes back within 5-10 seconds.

Additionally if someone does not have a valid form of ID, then they cannot be issued a summons (in lieu of arrest), and can be arrested, for such offenses as failing to carry their driver's license.

[idontknow08]

Sounds like he was nice to you. Were you expecting a coupon for 10% off on your next ticket?

Sure why not, while we are dreaming or being a smart butt how about a sticker that prevents all cops from stopping her in the first place? :rolleyes:

No, how about saying something like, sorry for the delay my computer was down / our system was down and I could not let you go until I knew who you were for sure, or something like that, something explaining why it took so long would have been nice.

I think if they were doing a DUI check point and if at the time you roll up to the cop and they did not smell anything on the driver, or see anything illegal in the car, or find any equipment infractions then they should not be able to stop you for any length of time.

Also, the cops attitude was rude the whole time.

RUDE, are you not giving me your DL because you have warrants.
RUDE, you only have one chance to give me your real name or I will take you to jail.

[idontknow08]

a week or so ago when I would run a license or a plate, it was taking 45-60 minutes for the plates to come back. Usually it comes back within 5-10 seconds.

Additionally if someone does not have a valid form of ID, then they cannot be issued a summons (in lieu of arrest), and can be arrested, for such offenses as failing to carry their driver's license.

Did you ever find out why it would take so long for it to come back to you?
Did you hold the driver until you got the information, if sodid you tell the driver why they were stopped for so long?

I understand the DL issue, but what I don't understand is why was she was asked for her DL in the first place, I mean she did not do anything wrong. She was not drinking, she was not speeding, she did not have any equipment infractions, she did not committed any traffic violations, so what summons would she have gotten.


I'm all for DUI check points, as I have posted before I sustained life changing injuries in an accident caused by a drunk driver, however I'm not for being stopped unjustly and I see this stop as an unjustified stop.

[Legoate]

This is why I cite people for stupid stuff like not carrying their license. You give them a break, and they come onto this site and whine about how even through they got a break, they wanted more.

[BP348]

Simple fact is it was your sister's fault for not being FULLY LEGAL by having her DL with her. Being an air head is on her not on the officer. When you found out she didn't have her DL with her why didn't you drive?

Why should the officer apologize to you for doing his job? It took as long as it took and if your sister would have had her DL with her as required you would have been done in about 1 minute.

Why was it an unjustified stop? Legal DUI checkpoint and your sister didn't have her DL. The Officer had every right to ask your sister for her DL at a LEGAL DUI CHECKPOINT, the Officer ran checks and released you. That's not unjustified. Maybe it took a while but maybe they were busy that night or maybe the computer was slow. Either way it was a justified stop.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

You're asking the wrong people these questions. You need to be asking the jurisdiction that held the checkpoint. Radios could've been down, MDT's (if they have them) could have been down, the officer could have been assisting another officer with someone in line who was being a complete tool (or maybe they found a DUI and had to assist in the processing), sometimes the entire system is down for "maintenance" (at least that's what they tell us.) Point is, WE can't tell you why another cop in a jurisdiction would have detained you that long. SCOTUS dictates how long we can and can't do certain things.

Your perception is that the officer was rude. In fact, we come across people every day who don't have a license because it's suspended, or they don't want to identify themselves because they know they have warrants. Believe it or not, lots of people don't want to get caught. As for your second allegation of "rudeness," Arizona has made it a crime to not provide your true name to a police officer. Part of the statute states the officer must inform the person that failure to proved their true name is a crime in and of itself. Maybe where you're at there's something similar.

[txinvestigator1]

The other night I was out with my sister going food shopping getting ready for this weekend, we decided to go to a grocery store that was open 24 hrs and was about at 11:45 pm when we went.

When we got to the store my sister realized she forgot her wallet and cell phone, she told me what she forgot and that she and wanted run back to house to get it, so we went back to her house to get he wallet

Why write all of that? It is not relevant.

Of course she came back clean and with everything valid but it took the cop an hour and fifteen minutes to do the check he did, I would like to know if this is a reasonable amount of time for this kind of stop?

We both feel this was an excessive amount of time and I would like to know if you guys agree or if this is the norm for this kind of situation?

Would you have felt more reasonably treated if he had gone ahead and thrown her in jail for no DL? :rolleyes:

[phantasm]

Did you ever find out why it would take so long for it to come back to you?
Did you hold the driver until you got the information, if sodid you tell the driver why they were stopped for so long?

I understand the DL issue, but what I don't understand is why was she was asked for her DL in the first place, I mean she did not do anything wrong. She was not drinking, she was not speeding, she did not have any equipment infractions, she did not committed any traffic violations, so what summons would she have gotten.


I'm all for DUI check points, as I have posted before I sustained life changing injuries in an accident caused by a drunk driver, however I'm not for being stopped unjustly and I see this stop as an unjustified stop.

It was the system. Other than that I don't care why it took so long, and no I didn't keep them stopped for 45 minutes. I do patrol I can't keep a car stopped for that long.

She was asked for her license due to a checkpoint. Thats the only reason the officer needs, as long as its arbitrary (every third car, every car, etc). Thats the purpose of a checkpoint. Case law will back that up, and JUSTIFY the stop.

Most of the people I've encountered who have had no driver's license on them have been suspended.

[idontknow08]

I thank you guys for posting, I am seeing your side of things now and can appreciate what you are saying, however I do think you guys should be able to tell / make a judgment call when someone is telling the truth or when they are blowing smoke.

I'm sorry for saying the stop was unreasonable, that was wrong on my part and I apologize for that.

The reason I was not able to drive is this is a new car and she would not let me drive it, I would say with confidence that if she was arrested for having no DL she still would not let me drive it, I bet she would ask the car be parked until her husband got there.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Appearances can be deceiving as criminal come in all shapes and sizes. I've had HOT women I run come back with felony warrants for high-dollar thefts. Sweet as pie, they were. If the general public looked at them, I doubt they'd be branded "criminals."

My BS meter is pretty good, but a large part of our job is to verify information.