Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated October 22, 2018
A sobriety checkpoint, also called a DUI checkpoint or DUI roadblock, is a predetermined location where law enforcement officers set up a roadblock to check drivers for signs of drug or alcohol use. The main point of a DUI checkpoint is to assure that the public is safe from motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI). Each state is free to determine the legality of checkpoints used to locate intoxicated motorists.
Currently, 12 states have statutes prohibiting DUI roadblocks, while the remaining 38 states including the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, conduct sobriety checkpoints. Some states prohibit DUI checkpoints by state law or through interpretations of the Constitution via caselaw. For instance, Texas prohibits checkpoints based on its interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.
What follows is a handy chart of DUI checkpoint laws by state.
State |
Checkpoints? |
Legality |
Frequency |
Code Section/Case Law |
AL |
Yes |
Under the federal Constitution |
Throughout the year |
See case law: Smith v. State, 515 So. 2d 149, 150, 151 (Ala. Crim. App. |
AK |
Not allowed |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
AZ |
Yes |
Under the federal Constitution |
Can be at least once a month |
See case law: State v. Superior Court, 143 Ariz. 45, 691 P.2d 1073) (1984) |
AR |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Can be weekly |
See case law: Brouhard v. Lee, 125 F.3d 656 (8th Cir. 1997) |
CA |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Over 2,500 annually |
California Vehicle Code 2814.2, Case law: Ingersoll v. Palmer, 743 P.2d 1299 (Cal. 1987) |
CO |
Yes, see Colorado DUI Checkpoint Manual |
Under state and federal Constitution |
One-two times a month |
Case law: People v. Rister, 803 P.2d 483 (Col. 1990) |
CT |
Yes |
Under state Constitution |
N/A |
Case law: State v. Mikolinski, 775 A.2d 274 (Conn. 2001) |
DE |
Yes |
Under state law and federal Constitution |
Conducted monthly January to June; weekly July through December |
Case law: Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648 (1979) |
DC |
Yes |
Under federal Constitution |
One-two times a month |
Case law: Galberth v. U.S., 590 A.2d 990 (D.C. App. 1991); U.S. v. McFayden, 865 F.2d 1306 (D.C. Cir. 1989) |
FL |
Yes |
Under federal Constitution |
Several times throughout the month |
State v. Jones, 483 So. 2d 433 (1986); Campbell v. State, 679 So.2d 1168 (Fla. 1996 |
GA |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Weekly |
State v. Golden, 318 S.E.2d 693 (Ga. App. 1984); Evans v. State, 380 S.E.2d 332 (Ga. App. 1989); Seagraves v. State, 442 S.E.2d 312 (Ga. App. 1994); Hooten v. State, 442 S.E.2d 836 (Ga. App. 1994); Burns v. State, 454 S.E.2d 152 (Ga. App. 1995); Brent v. State, 510 S.E.2d 14 (Ga. 1998) |
HI |
Yes |
Statute |
Weekly |
|
ID |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
|
IL |
Yes |
Under federal Constitution |
Several hundred annually |
Case law: People v. Bartley, 486 N.E.2d 880 (Ill. 1985) |
IN |
Yes |
Under state Constitution |
N/A |
Case law: Indiana v. Gerschoffer, Supreme Court of Indiana, No. 71S05-0102-CR-106, March 5, 2002 |
IA |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Chapter 312 Road Use Tax Fund does not authorize sobriety checkpoints |
KS |
Yes |
Under state law and federal Constitution |
One-two a month |
Case law: State v. Deskins, 673 P. 2d 1174 (Kansas 1983) |
KY |
Yes |
Under federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Case law: Kinslow v. Commonwealth, 660 S.W.2d. 677 (Ky. 1984) |
LA |
Yes |
Under state Constitution |
N/A |
Case law: State v. Jackson, 764 So.2d 64 (La. 2000) |
ME |
Yes |
Under federal Constitution |
N/A |
Case law: State v. Leighton, 551 A.2d 116 (Me. 1988); State v. McMahon, 557 A.2d 1324 (Me. 1989); State v. Babcock, 559 A.2d 337 (Me. 1989) |
MD |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Little v. State, 479 A.2d 903 (Md. 1984) |
MA |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Throughout the year |
Commonwealth v. Shields, 521 N.E.2d 987 (Mass. 1988); Commonwealth v. Cameron, 545 N.E.2d 619 (Mass. App. Ct. 1989) |
MI |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Sitz v. Mich. Dept. of State Police, 506 N.W.2d 209 (Mich. 1993) |
MN |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Ascher v. Comm. of Public Safety, 519 N.W.2d 183 (Minn. 1994); Gray v. Comm. of Public Safety, 519 N.W.2d 187 (Minn. 1994 |
MS |
Yes |
Under federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Case law: Miller v. State, 373 So.2d 1004 (Miss. 1979) |
MO |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
One-two times a month |
Case law: State v. Welch, 755 S.W.2d 624 (Mo. App. 1988); |
MT |
Yes, only as a "spot check" |
By statute |
N/A |
Statute: Mont. Code Ann. §§46-5502 |
NE |
Yes |
Under state law |
Several a month |
Case law: State v. McCleery, 560 N.W.2d 789 (Neb. 1997) |
NV |
Yes |
By statute |
One-two times per month |
|
NH |
Yes, only by court approval |
By statute |
Weekly |
Statute requires prior judicial authorization: N.H. REV. STAT. ANN. 265:1-a |
NJ |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
One-two times a month |
Case law: State v. Mazurek, 567 A.2d 277 (N.J. Super. A.D. 1989) |
NM |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
N/A |
Case law: City of Las Cruces v. Betancourt, 735 P.2d 1161 (N.M. App. 1987); State v. Bates, 902 P.2d 1060 (N.M. App. 1995); State v. Madalena, 908 P.2d 756 (N.M. App. 1995) |
NY |
Yes |
Under federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Case law: People v. Scott, 473 N.E.2d 1 (N.Y. 1984) |
NC |
Yes |
By statute |
Weekly |
Statute: NC GS 20-16.3A |
ND |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
N/A |
Case law: City of Bismark v. Uhden, 513 N.W.2d 373 (N.D. 1994). |
OH |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Throughout the year |
Case law: State v. Bauer, 651 N.E. 2d 46 (Ohio App. 10 Dist. 1994) |
OK |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
One-two times monthly |
Case law: Geopfert v. State Ex Re. DPS, 884 P.2d 1218 (Okla. App. 1994) |
OR |
No, illegal under state constitution |
N/A |
N/A |
Case law: State v. Boyanovsky, 743 P.2d 711 (Or. 1987) |
PA |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Throughout the year |
Case law: Commonwealth v. Yastrop, 768 A.2d 318 (Pa. 2001) |
RI |
No, illegal under state Constitution |
N/A |
N/A |
Case law: Primental v. Rhode Island, 561 A.2d 1348 (R.I. 1989) |
SC |
Yes |
N/A |
N/A |
No state authority, but legal. |
SD |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Case law: State v. Claussen, 522 N.W.2d 196 (S.C. 1994) |
TN |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
One-two times per month |
Case law: State v. Downey, 945 S.W.2d 102 (Tenn. 1997) |
TX |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Illegal under Texas' interpretation of federal Constitution, case law: State v. Holt, 887 S.W. 2d 16 (Tex. Cr. App. 1994) |
UT |
Yes |
By statute |
Every other month |
Statute: UTAH CODE ANN. 77-23-101 et seq |
VT |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Case law: State v. Martin, 496 A.2d 442 (Vt. 1985) and State v. Record, 548 A.2d 422 (Vt. 1988) |
VA |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Case law: Lowe v. Commonwealth, 337 S.E.2d 273 (Va. 1985) |
WA |
No, illegal under state Constitution |
N/A |
N/A |
Case law: City of Seattle v. Mesiani, 755 P.2d 775 (Wash. 1988) |
WV |
Yes |
Under state and federal Constitution |
Weekly |
Case law: Carte v. Cline, 460 S.E.2d 48 (W.Va. 1995) |
WI |
No, prohibited by state statute |
N/A |
N/A |
Statute: WIS. STAT. ANN. 349.02(2)(a) |
WY |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Statute: WYO. STAT. ANN. 7-17-101 et seq. |
If you'd like to learn more about DUI checkpoint laws in your state, or have been arrested for a DUI, it's a good idea to talk to a local DUI attorney. After all, finding a qualified DUI/DWI attorney can mean the difference between winning your case and serving a tough DUI sentence.
Contact a qualified DUI attorney to make sure your rights are protected.
Get tailored advice and ask your legal questions. Many attorneys offer free consultations.