Denver's DUI Checkpoints: Your Rights and What to Expect
DUI checkpoints are a regular feature on Denver's roadways, particularly during holidays and major events. At Mile High Legal, our Denver criminal defense attorneys have successfully defended countless clients who were arrested at these checkpoints throughout the Denver metro area.
Under Colorado law (C.R.S. § 42-4-1301) and U.S. Supreme Court precedent, sobriety checkpoints are legal when conducted properly. However, they must adhere to strict constitutional requirements—requirements that are sometimes violated in Denver and surrounding communities.
Here's what Denver drivers should know about DUI checkpoints:
Checkpoint Locations: Denver Police typically set up checkpoints on major corridors like Speer Boulevard, Federal Boulevard, and Colfax Avenue, especially near downtown entertainment districts
Advance Notice: By law, Denver police must publicly announce checkpoints, usually through their official website or social media
Your Constitutional Rights: You have the right to remain silent beyond providing basic identification, and can refuse field sobriety tests (though not chemical tests once arrested)
Legal Checkpoint Requirements: Police must follow specific protocols including minimal detention time, uniform procedures, and proper notification
Our Denver defense team has identified several common legal issues with checkpoints in the metro area:
Excessive detention times at busy Denver locations
Lack of proper warning signs in some suburban jurisdictions
Improper screening procedures that target certain vehicles or drivers
Failure to follow announced protocols, particularly in outlying Denver suburbs
Mile High Legal has successfully challenged DUI arrests from checkpoints in Denver, Lakewood, Aurora, and throughout Colorado when these constitutional requirements weren't met. Our intimate knowledge of how different Denver-area jurisdictions conduct checkpoints gives our clients a strategic advantage.
For up-to-date information on planned checkpoints, the Colorado Department of Transportation sometimes provides regional announcements, though Denver Police maintain their own checkpoint schedule.
If you've been arrested at a DUI checkpoint in Denver or the surrounding communities, contact Mile High Legal immediately. Our attorneys will carefully review the checkpoint procedures to identify any constitutional violations that could lead to dismissed charges.
