New California Bill Limits Sobriety Checkpoints

Most California drivers are used to the process of undergoing a sobriety checkpoint – they are a common occurrence throughout the state in an effort to crackdown on drunk driving. For many, the greatest fear of going through these checkpoints is the possibility of vehicle impoundment. According to the law, even a perfectly sober driver could have their vehicle impounded if it was determined that they were driving without a valid license.

This, however, is set to change with Assembly Bill 353 which was signed into law Governor Jerry Brown. This new law looks to limit sobriety checkpoints by making law enforcement officers unable to impound a vehicle based solely on the state of the driver's license. Should it be determined that the driver does not have a valid license, the police will turn the vehicle over to a qualified driver to take away. If there is no readily available qualified driver, the vehicle will be impounded, but will be released a day later – staggeringly shorter than the 30 days that were previously required.

The bill was written by Democrat Assemblyman Gil Cedillo and was put forward in response to criticism of the current regulations. Many were arguing that these DUI checkpoints were being created in low income areas in an effort to catch unlicensed drivers instead of focusing on drunk drivers as is their purpose. Critics of the bill, however, state that this new bill limits the ability of law enforcement officers to promote public safety by keeping unlicensed drivers off the road.

At Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, we know how daunting DUI checkpoints can be. If you have had a vehicle impounded following being stopped at such a checkpoint or if you have been arrested for a DUI, it is highly encouraged that you do not hesitate to seek the legal counsel of a Los Angeles DUI lawyer from our firm. We know what is on the line and will do everything that we can to help you defend your best interests. Contact a Los Angeles drunk driving attorney from our legal team today to schedule your initial case consultation and to learn more about how we can help.