DUI Checkpoints or Roving DUI Patrols?

Drunk driving is a major problem in the United States.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA,) 13,470 people died as a result of an alcohol-related accident in 2006. These accidents included both drivers and motorcyclists with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level over .08%.

What is the best way to keep drunk drivers off of the road?

If you listen to the ABI, roving patrols are the most effective at catching intoxicated drivers. An ABI blog, posted before Labor Day, encouraged law enforcement to spend more time on the roads looking for negligent drivers rather than setting up road blocks.

Road blocks are normally publicized in advance, with the locations even being announced on the news. They are also highly visible. Because of this, roadblocks are easily avoided by those who have been busy drinking and then driving.

According to the testimony of a Department of Transportation official, roving patrols catch 10 times more drunk drivers than officers at a roadblock.

The ABI also points out that 8 out of 10 traffic accidents occur as a result of distracted driving. If people are stopped at a road block, the officers do not observe distracted activity, such as applying makeup or talking on a cell phone. Therefore, roving patrols are more effective than roadblocks because they catch drivers in action.

However, a different online source reports that police think DUI checkpoints are more effective at catching drivers under the influence than roving patrols.

One officer said that the police force conducted two DUI roadblocks so far this year. He stated that an average of 500 cars passed through each block, with approximately 140 cars being diverted for field sobriety tests. Police made 19 arrests out of the 280 cars that were diverted.

However, roving patrols are often hit or miss, making many DUI arrests one week and no DUI arrests during other weeks.

As for people avoiding check points – the officer said that there are police cars that are stationed by roadblock. If vehicles turn around to avoid the roadblock, the officers will follow to look for signs of drunk driving.

So who is right? Are roving patrols really more effective than DUI roadblocks?