What to Expect During a Howard County DUI Checkpoint This Labor Day

If you’re one of the unlucky many who gets pulled over at a Howard County DUI checkpoint this Labor Day, you may not know what to expect, making this already stressful experience even more so. Here, a Maryland DUI lawyer discusses what will likely happen during a checkpoint.

Questioning

The officer will ask you a few questions, if you are asked to participate in a Maryland DUI checkpoint. The first question will likely concern whether you’ve been drinking or not. Answering “yes” automatically puts you in danger of earning a Howard County DUI, even if you’ve only had one drink and it was hours ago.

Field Sobriety Tests

If the officer is suspicious that you’ve been drinking, you may be asked to perform a few field sobriety tests. These tests are often flawed and can cause a perfectly sober person to receive a Maryland drunk driving charge. You are allowed to decline them, and you should.

Breathalyzer

The officer may ask you to breathe into the breathalyzer. This machine determines how much alcohol is on your breath. The machine the officers use on the road isn’t as accurate as what is used at the police station. Blowing a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher will likely land you in jail, although you can also go for blowing under that, if the officer suspects you are intoxicated.

Receiving a DUI is a stressful and frightening experience. If you were accused of drunk driving at a Howard County DUI checkpoint this Labor Day, you’ll need the help of the lawyers from Jimeno and Gray. We are well-versed in Maryland drunk driving charges and will do all we can to help you.

Call us at (410) 590-9401 and speak to an attorney about your case. Request your free copy of the book The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by Howard County DUI lawyer Gregory Jimeno, when you call.