THP Sobriety Checkpoint Coming Up October 25 (LOCATION)
ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) -The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint during the week of October 25, 2024, from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM on US Highway 31W at New Hall Road in Robertson and Sumner Counties. MAP
“Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 others annually in the United States. Troopers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment and ensure the safety of all motorists by targeting those operating vehicles under the influence.” Tennessee Highway Patrol
The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognizes sobriety checkpoints as highly visible and effective tools 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, according to Wikipedia.