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Banning sobriety checkpoints

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HB 1283 would ban sobriety checkpoints in New Hampshire. Sobriety checkpoints are currently legal in New Hampshire, but law enforcement agencies wishing to hold one need to get approval from a Superior Court, and have to issue a public notice in advance of the checkpoint. Read more about this issue. 

"Should sobriety checkpoints be banned in New Hampshire?"

Discussion held on Citizens Count NH website and Facebook page January 31, 2018

255 citizens responded 172 citizens were in favor of banning sobriety checkpoints65 citizens were opposed to banning sobriety checkpoints 18 citizens said other
What Participants Said

Yes: 172 citizens were in favor of banning sobriety checkpoints.

  • “Yes … They only have a 1% success rate. Ineffective use of resources and tax payer money.”
  • “They're excuses to search and harass people without probable cause. Drunk drivers are obvious, you don't need [a] mandatory stop zone forcing people to talk to bored and suspicious cops to stop drunk driving.”
  • “It's a violation of our civil liberties & a complete over reach by law enforcement. The check points aren't very successful either. Another waste of tax payer money.”

No: 65 citizens were opposed to banning sobriety checkpoints.

  • “No and I don't think they should advertise or promote that they are going to conduct one as the 'drunks' will just bypass and take another road.”
  • “I have no problems being stopped. My attitude on this is if they get 1 drunk off the [road] who might kill me, you or a family member, than I am for the road stops.”
  • “Our road ways are not safe and [drunk] drivers are a real threat. I’d like to see more sobriety check points.”

Other: 18 citizens addressed their comments to related questions and issues.
These included:

  • Legality: “Does it violate the NH Constitution?”
  • DUI rules: “There's too many people that try being responsible by having a small amount of drinks, driving home thinking they are under the limit, then BOOM get a DUI for being one point over the limit. I think DUIs should be for actually dangerous people who don’t give a crap.”

*Editor selection of actual participant quotes.

Read the full Facebook discussion of this question

Click here for details on our methodology

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