On two recent occasions I have challenged sobriety checkpoint arrests in San Francisco and won.  On both occasions the Court has agreed with me and granted the motions to suppress the evidence against my clients.   About two weeks ago the Court was outraged by the police conduct at at one of these checkpoints.  At least half the rules governing the checkpoint were not met and the 20-30 officers assigned to the checkpoint made only one DUI arrest all night (arresting my client).   After the court tossed that arrest, we have well over 100 police hours, much of it probably overtime, and no DUI convictions to show for it.  What did that cost the city and state?

 If you have been arrested at a Sobriety Checkpoint for Drunk Driving this holiday season, hire a DUI lawyer who has won one of these cases recently and assert your constitutional rights.  Another law office besides the Law Offices of Aaron Bortel that has had success with these illegal checkpoints is the Law Offices of Kapsack and Bair. 

The checkpoint was set up on westbound Bernal Avenue at Pleasanton Avenue from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., police said.

Livermore and Dublin police, the California Highway Patrol and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office aided in the effort, screening 1134 vehicles.

A total of 15 vehicles were impounded for either driving under the influence or driving as an unlicensed or suspended driver, police said. Four drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and 14 drivers were given citations for driver’s license violations, according to police.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving handed out information to drivers who were stopped at the checkpoint, which was funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Safety Administration, according to police.