DUI Checkpoints Used In Most States, But What About Minnesota?

For many years law enforcement has used DUI checkpoints as a tool to combat drunk driving. The federal government allows states to decide if they are legal or not. Most of the 50 states do allow DUI Checkpoints.

What is a DUI checkpoint?

A DUI checkpoint is a roadblock set up by police officers to stop cars and ascertain whether the driver is under the influence. They are often used at night, on frequently traveled roads, or in places where drunk driving is a problem. The law enforcement officer speaks with the driver and if they notice signs of intoxication they can administer a field sobriety test or breathalyzer test.

40 States Allow DUI Checkpoints Under Law

40 states allow some sort of DUI checkpoint. Some use them more than others, and there are specific laws to each state.

Minnesota Hasn't Used DUI Checkpoints Since 1994

A Minnesota Supreme Court ruling decided that DUI Checkpoints were unconstitutional according to Gerald Miller P.A. Law:

In 1994, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that DWI checkpoints violate the Constitution on the grounds that they deprive motorists of their search and seizure rights. Since this decision, state law has barred law enforcement from using these checkpoints as a tool for stopping DWIs.

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Minnesota does crack down on drunk driving with other methods.

Just because a checkpoint isn't legal, doesn't mean that Minnesota Law Enforcement doesn't effectively combat drunk driving. All it takes is a moving violation for police to pull you over for probable cause. It could be expired tabs, a burnt-out turn signal, speeding, swerving in and out of your lane, or an endless combination of scenarios.

Minnesota averages around 25,000 DUI arrests each year.

Minnesota has a high arrest rate per capita for DUIs. Minnesota averages about 450 arrests per 100,000 people. That's higher than California's rate of 380, Texas's rate of 330, and just behind Wisconsin which has 500 arrests per 100,000 people per year.