What can be expected when you see a DWI checkpoint in Craven County

Summer is approaching which means you could see an uptick in DWI checkpoints in Craven County.

North Carolina is among 38 states that permit sobriety checkpoints as a means to deter impaired driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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To make these roadblocks constitutional under the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, specific checkpoint rules must be followed.

Under N.C. law, law enforcement police must abide by the following when stopping a vehicle at a checkpoint:

• The check must be random: The police must check all or specific cars based on a pattern such as every 10th car.

• Must be a specific purpose: The officer can not check for general crimes, but for crimes such as driving while impaired.

• The checkpoint must be announced: In North Carolina, all that is required is for the checkpoint to warn drivers with flashing blue lights.

• Other violations: Checkpoints may reveal unobservable violations such as driving on a suspended license, but officers can not look for evidence of non-motor vehicle-related crimes.

Maj. David McFadyen of the Craven County Sheriff's Office said DWI checkpoints are multi-agency planned in Craven County and are promoted by the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program. He said local law enforcement meets to discuss the location of checkpoint stations, which are not always disclosed to the public.

"When you see a DWI Checkpoint, rarely is it ever just one agency," McFadyen said. "They're done as frequently as possible but no set schedule of when and where they will occur."

Craven County uses signs and lighting to warn drivers a DWI checkpoint is ahead, he said. The locations of stations are often set up when there may be a higher number of impaired drivers on the highway such as at night, on weekends and on holidays.

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In the past, McFadyen said, DWI checkpoints were placed in areas near U.S. Highway 70 and in Bridgeton.

The Governor's Highway Safety Program will provide most of the resources at roadblocks such as the Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile which administers breath tests to determine blood-alcohol content at the site. According to McFadyen, there's also magistrate at the scene to do all of the necessary legal processing.

What to do at DWI checkpoint

Officers look for various types of indicators a person may be impaired, which doesn't just mean alcohol consumption but drug impairment as well. Law enforcement agencies may also perform vehicle safety checks at sobriety checkpoints which could uncover other driving violations.

"It will also be a general safety checkpoint to make sure people have their vehicles properly registered, their driver's license is current and their license plate is valid," McFadyen said. "It's not unusual to find drivers who are driving with a revoked or suspended license, expired license, no insurance, weapon charges or sometimes outstanding warrants."

Monitech, a company that makes an ignition interlock system to prevent impaired driving, advises motorists approaching a checkpoint to stop at the checkpoint, get out of the car if asked and remain polite, cooperative and respectful.

McFadyen said the one sure-fire way to avoid a DWI charge is to use other forms of transportation.

"It's a lot smarter to catch a ride with someone else or use a ride service than it is to risk the effects of being charged while impaired," he said.

What not to do at a DWI checkpoint

If a driver happens to notice a checkpoint is ahead, they should not turn around to avoid the checkpoint, object to the checkpoint on legal grounds, refuse a breath test or ask to wait for an attorney, Monitech states.

McFadyen said all four of these actions could raise suspicion of impaired driving to an officer.

Though the checkpoints may be an inconvenience, McFadyen said the department hopes DWI checkpoints discourage people from operating vehicles while impaired.

"The public can definitely expect to see checkpoints," he said. "While every effort is made to minimize the impact on the driving public in terms of causing traffic congestion, it's been a very beneficial program and certainly has some effect on getting impaired drivers off the road."

Reporter Symone Graham covers local public safety for the Sun Journal. Have a story tip or idea? Send it her way at sgraham@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: What to expect when you see a DWI checkpoint in Craven County