Sobriety Checkpoint Set for Robertson/Sumner County Line
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting a “Sobriety Checkpoint” during the week of January 24, 2025, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Highway 31W and New Hall Road, located on the Robertson/Sumner County line.
Impaired driving remains a significant concern, contributing to over 16,000 deaths and 305,000 injuries annually across the United States. Troopers will assess drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment, focusing on ensuring the safety of all motorists.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, sobriety checkpoints are a highly visible and effective tool in the fight against impaired driving.
Why do police advertise checkpoints ahead of time?
Because of the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures, however, sobriety checkpoints are not prohibited by the Fourth Amendment (if) police advertise them in advance. There are even Apps that display police checkpoints on a map by using GPS and self-reporting by other users, similar to what Google Maps does with its traffic congestion feature. In fact, if a police checkpoint causes any kind of back up it will likely appear as congestion on Google Maps automatically.
Standard protocol at a police checkpoint is to collect the person’s name and ID which is run for wants and warrants. If you don’t have a valid license you will likely be cited.
If stopped at a sobriety check, police may also determine that there is “probable cause” to search a vehicle. That could lead to finding illegal drugs or weapons.
