In states where DUI roadblocks or DUI checkpoints are allowed, they are locations on public roads where law enforcement officers are specifically stationed to check drivers for intoxication and impairment. A DUI roadblock is usually refers to when a road is blocked off specifically to check each driver passing through for the presence of alcohol or drugs. A DUI checkpoint can be just a place where one or more law enforcement officers are stationed and stop certain vehicles based on a preselected numeric value, like every third vehicle.
Often these terms are used interchangeably since the concept of checking most or all drivers in one particular area is the same. Most states that allow these DUI checkpoints or roadblocks also require specific guidelines to be followed, usually determined by the statute that explicitly authorizes sobriety checkpoints. If you have been arrested for a DUI offense in another state due to a DUI sobriety checkpoint, or you suspect that your Texas DWI arrest was the result of a DWI checkpoint, it is important to contact an experienced DWI defense lawyer as soon as possible.