Here's an eye-opening statistic, and one that highlights our system of individual state sovereignty and the variances that exist among states in their preferred methods of law enforcement: Last year, Georgia State Police conducted nearly 10,000 roadblocks (DUI sobriety checkpoints) within the state, whereas neighboring Tennessee conducted only 563.
One might think that the results of that huge difference would be highly distinguished between the two states, but statistics do not support such a conclusion, with the crash-fatality rates being quite similar for Georgia and Tennessee. And, in fact, many states that do not even allow drunk driving roadblocks have lower fatality rates than Georgia.
That anomaly doesn't deter the enthusiasm of roadblock advocates in Georgia.
"What we've found is that checkpoints are an effective tool to raise public awareness, to deter impaired drivers," says Spencer Moore, deputy director for the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Critics of that viewpoint include Gary Biller, who is the executive director of the National Motorists Association. He points at the more than 80,000 roadblocks that Georgia police agencies (State Patrol and local departments) have carried out over the past four years and says that, "Even from a common-sense standpoint, it is a very high number." He questions police motive, stating that, "They are generating a reason to find probable cause."
Advocates dispute that claim and argue that checkpoints must be conducted often and with high visibility in order to effectively deter drunk drivers and maximally promote safety.
Biller holds up a recent study from California to dispute that. Researchers there state that less than 2.5 percent of DUI arrests in that state are made at roadblocks.
"Most arrests for driving under the influence are made by patrolling officers, not those in roadblocks," he says.
Related Resource: Chattanooga Times Free Press, "Georgia held 80,000 roadblocks in past 4 years" July 31, 2011
