Last weekend, a DUI Checkpoint conducted by the Illinois State Police was set up in DeKalb. A citizen of DeKalb went through the checkpoint and recorded his encounter and posted the video on-line that went viral.

Needless to say, the topic of DUI checkpoints have been on a lot of people's minds, both in favor and against the practice. Whether you agree or disagree with this practice, the courts have ruled that DUI checkpoints are legal.

To combat impaired drivers, DUI checkpoints are set up by local and state police and becoming more common across the United States, and here in the stateline. Drivers who are not prepared for the situation may make an unwise decisions, which can often lead to their arrest. By taking a few simple steps, you can prevent this from happening to you.

First and foremost, if you have been drinking, stay off the roads.

Remain calm! Lower your window a crack and wait for the officer to approach you before speaking or taking any other action. Once the officer reaches your vehicle, you can expect him or her to ask to see your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and your insurance information (required in Illinois). You may be REQUIRED to answers questions that pertain to your identity and address.

You do not have to answer any other questions.  If the officer asks you where you’ve been or if you have had anything to drink, you are under no obligation to answer.

The website DUICheckpoints.net advises:

If you like, you can politely decline to answer any such question, as even a seemingly harmless response can incriminate yourself and be used as evidence against you in the future. But just how do you “politely decline” to respond to an officer of the law? Your best strategy is to say something such as “I don’t care to discuss that with you, as I question the constitutionality of roadblocks” or “I would prefer not to discuss my personal affairs.” Make sure you repeat this statement for each and every non-ID related question you are asked, as answering some questions and avoiding others can lead to suspicion. Should the officer continue to question you, request that your driver’s license be returned (if it is still in the officer’s possession) and then ask if you are free to leave.

Keep in mind, if you do not incriminate yourself by admitting to drinking or responding incorrectly, the officer will have no reason to arrest you for driving under the influence of alcohol. What’s more, in the event that you are arrested, your case could be dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

One should never operate a vehicle under the influence, so if you've had a few, don't drink and drive!

Check out this video for more helpful tips

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