Most police officers who are on duty actively screen their surroundings for signs of criminal activity. They are ready to react in an instant and arrest those who may have broken the law. Police officers on traffic duty may monitor the behavior of people nearby very carefully.
They can stop and potentially cite or arrest anyone who appears to have violated statutes. Particularly when an offense is serious enough to warrant an arrest, police officers can be very assertive about enforcing the law. They may err on the side of caution by arresting those who may have violated the law and letting the judicial system determine if charges are appropriate.
Sometimes, motorists are at enhanced risk of drunk driving allegations because police officers expect to encounter impaired motorists at certain times or on certain days. When is drunk driving traffic enforcement more intense than normal?
1. Late at night and early in the morning
Many drunk drivers are on the road because they need to be. They are on their way home for the evening after a party or a few hours at their local watering hole.
Police officers who encounter drivers late at night or early in the morning are likely to suspect them of chemical intoxication. Particularly around the time that bars close, officers may be on high alert and actively screening for intoxicated drivers.
2. After major local events
High school graduations, concerts, sports competitions and other major local events tend to lead to people celebrating a bit too much.
Local law enforcement agencies often coordinate with venues and schools to ramp up enforcement on days when there are events that might lead to people drinking and driving. Even sober motorists can end up targeted for one-on-one traffic stops after major local events and may be at risk of encountering sobriety checkpoints as well.
3. Around major federal holidays
Special events like graduation aren’t the only time that people celebrate with alcohol. Many holiday celebrations involve copious amounts of alcohol as well.
Police officers patrolling on major holidays and the weekends closest to them may be on high alert watching for drunk drivers. After all, impaired driving crashes tend to surge around the holidays. Understanding the trends in law enforcement activities can be beneficial for those trying to respond to pending drunk driving charges.
Police officers who encounter drivers on high-risk days may suffer from confirmation bias and see signs of intoxication in innocent circumstances. Seeking legal guidance may help drivers hoping to fight pending drunk driving charges develop a defense strategy based on the specific circumstances of their arrest.