Monmouth County DWI Task Force Conduct Another DWI Checkpoint
The Monmouth County DWI Task Force will be at it yet again this week. According to the Howell Patch, the task force will be conducting a DWI checkpoint on Wednesday, November 23 in Howell Township.
According to the task force coordinator, Brielle Police Chief, Michael W. Palmer, the checkpoint will be conducted on the northbound side of Route 9. It will begin around 11 p.m. and will run until 3 a.m.. Police officers from Howell and the DWI task force members will be ushering vehicles from the northbound lanes of Route 9 into the Regal Plaza parking lot. Once inside the parking lot the officers will check the drivers’ sobriety. These checkpoints have been spotted all over Monmouth County this year, including in towns like Hazlet, Bradley Beach, Belmar and Asbury Park. These task forces are doing everything in their power to try and prevent would be drunk drivers and this particular night is well known for being a party night. What has been coined as “Thanksgiving Eve” sees it fair share of driving under the influence and assault by auto arrests each and every year. This is probably one of the main reasons that the task force has decided to conduct this checkpoint on this particular day.
DWI Checkpoints in New Jersey
Contrary to what most people believe, DWI Checkpoints are legal in New Jersey. The Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutionality of DUI Checkpoints time and time again. Even though most tend to believe DUI checkpoints infringe upon our constitutional rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, the courts have felt otherwise. However, in order for the checkpoints to be considered valid, there are certain guidelines that law enforcement must follow, which include,
- The ability to randomly choose which vehicles are to stopped and checked,
- The location for the checkpoint must not be hidden,
- The length of each stop must be quick,
- The public must be given notice of the checkpoint (normally in the papers)
- The sole purpose of checkpoint must be to determine signs of impairment,
- There must be an area to safely conduct the field sobriety tests (SFST’S).
DUI Lawyer in Howell New Jersey
If you have been arrested and charged with a DWI in Howell, Wall Township, Asbury Park, Deal, Tinton Falls, Middletown, Holmdel or elsewhere in Monmouth County, the Keith Oliver Criminal Law can help. Our office defend those accused of not only driving while intoxicated but assault by auto, endangering the welfare of a child, death by auto, eluding and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in courts throughout Monmouth County. If you would like to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Monmouth County DUI lawyers then please contact our Middletown office at 732.858.6959. One of our attorneys will go over the facts of your case and we will give you our honest opinion on how we think we can be of assistance.
For more information on this checkpoint, please checkout the Howell Patch’s article labeled Monmouth County DWI Checkpoint Set For Wednesday.
