This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Newtown Cops to Hold DUI Checkpoint

Police have not released where the checkpoint will be held, but officials report it will be held Friday.

 

Newtown Township police will be conducting a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location inside their jurisdiction on Friday.

In a statement released this week, police officials said they would did not disclose the time and location of the checkpoint.

Find out what's happening in Newtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

DUI checkpoints are conducted in Bucks County by local and state police. The location is rarely released to the media ahead of the checkpoint in an effort curb drivers from avoiding the area.

Data from several studies from around the globe has shown that fewer alcohol-related vehicle accidents happen when checkpoints are present in a given area, according to information released by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Find out what's happening in Newtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In recent years, sobriety checkpoints, as they are also known, have come under scrutiny for several reasons.

Whether the checkpoint violates the Fourth Amendment right is one of the reasons. The amendment helps protect citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures of property or persons.

In 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the checkpoints are legal and constitutional. However, several states have barred law enforcement from holding the checkpoints due to question regarding the legality.

A citizen group, Valley Forge Revolutionaries, has

On of the group members told that DUI checkpoints are ineffectual, fiscally irresponsible and violated the Fourth Amendment. He suggested increased road patrols could be just as effective.

The cost of maintaining checkpoints is an issue that has been raised across the nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on its website that the checkpoints are "costly to initiate and maintain."

A stopped over 117 cars, caught one person for suspected DUI and nabbed 13 others for other traffic violations. 

 

Do you think DUI checkpoints are worth the cost? Do you believe they are legal? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.

 

Let Patch save you time. Get local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone every day with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.