DUI Check Lane

I attended a DUI check lane on June 15, 2012. In order to volunteer for the Johnson County Sheriffs Office at check lanes you must be a CA graduate and must first observe one to see what it entails.

The June 15 check lane was run by Shawnee Police Department in the City of Shawnee. JCSO provided support in the form of equipment, deputies and volunteers. JCSO provided 7 deputies, 1 civilian employee, 4 volunteers and 2 CA graduates who observed (I was one of the 2 observers).  I have not requested the statistics on how many officers, staff and volunteers Shawnee Police Department utilized during this check lane and therefore those stats are not included here.

SPD utilized volunteers for this check lane. I'm not 100% certain but I believe you must complete their citizens academy in order to volunteer for the SPD. They hold their citizens academy in the fall. If interested in attending, visit their web page at: http://gsh.cityofshawnee.org/.

Since JCSO was not the primary at this check lane the only role JCSO volunteers played was that of driver. After an officer makes contact with an individual who has entered the check lane and has determined the individual needs to be tested they will yell for a driver. The volunteer will enter the individuals vehicle and move it to a pre-designated area. The volunteer will then hand the keys off to an officer for safe keeping until the individual is either released (passed the field sobriety testing) or processed by the booking officer (if failed testing).

The check lane on June 15, 2012 ran from 11pm-2am.  I don't see the location publicized anywhere so I'll leave it out for now. Results: 88 cars stopped. 3 arrests for DUI. 1 arrest for drugs (possession of marijuana and paraphernalia). 1 citation for open container. 1 citation for minor in possession. This was noted as a low impact lane, meaning it would not see a lot of traffic but statistics indicate it's an area of high incidence for DUI and/or drugs and that's why the location was chosen.

What happens when you drive in to a check lane? If you haven't been through a check lane before you will first notice a sign indicating you are entering a check lane or an officer blocking the road redirecting you in to the check lane. This is noted as "advanced warning to driver" and is mandatory for check lanes. Advanced warning must remain in place for the duration of the check lane. Don't try to illegally avoid the lane.  Officers assigned to observe and pursue will intercept and personally escort violators in to the check lane (one individual tried to avoid this check lane and ended up wearing hand cuffs at the lane while waiting to be processed).

Once in the lane an officer will introduce themselves and explain that they are conducting a DUI check lane that evening. Other officers will likely be shining a flashlight in your car looking for open containers, drugs, etc,. You will be asked for your drivers license and if you have been drinking or if you have consumed any controlled substances that evening. If you have a valid drivers license on you and don't exhibit any signs of impairment you should be on your way with brochure in hand (educational brochure about drinking & driving provided by NHTSA) in about 45 seconds. If you show signs of impairment you will be asked to step out of your vehicle for additional questions and testing.  (Your vehicle will be moved to a pre-determined area and kept secure until you are either released or processed.  If processed your vehicle will be towed.)  An officer will escort you over to a pre-designated testing area to allow for videotaping of the field sobriety testing and preliminary breath alcohol testing (if applicable). If you pass the testing and are determined safe to drive you will be on your way in about 10-15 minutes. If you fail the FST the next step is to take a preliminary breath alcohol test. If you take the preliminary breath alcohol test and fail you will remain with an officer until a 20 minute deprivation period elapses at which time you will perform a confirmation breath alcohol test.  Fail the confirmation test and you will be processed through booking.

If you decline to take the preliminary breath alcohol test you will then be asked to submit to a blood test or may be transported to jail for processing depending on the agency running the check lane. Be aware that some agencies are now getting a warrant for the blood draw if an individual refuses the preliminary breath alcohol test and the blood draw. The blood draw may or may not be done in the field again depending on the agency. Expect to be delayed for several hours if you are refusing to perform the testing.

Drug Recognition Officers and K-9 officers are also generally on hand if an individual is suspected of being under the influence of a substance other than alcohol.  Passengers who are not minors in possesion, transporting open container or otherwise detained for other reasons will be escorted to a designated area until released.

What's the purpose of DUI check lanes? A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that drivers who drink & drive do not believe the chances of being caught are great enough to deter them from drinking & driving. The principal reason for conducting sobriety check lanes is to make sure drivers (that drink & drive) believe the chances of getting caught are greatly increased. DUI check lanes are funded by grants. Literature to educate drivers is provided to each driver that passes through a check lane.

Summer is the most common time of year for law enforcement agencies to conduct DUI check lanes. Look for more to be conducted this summer throughout Johnson County as well as neighboring counties.  Missouri runs their fare share of check lanes too.