Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes law enforcement agencies to operate temporary sobriety checkpoints on public roads in specific areas.

Highlights:

-Prohibits law enforcement from operating checkpoints in counties with populations of less than 250,000 or cities with populations of less than 500,000 (Sec. 1). -Prohibits law enforcement from operating checkpoints on limited-access or controlled-access highways, overpasses, bridges or causeways, or the single ingress to or egress from a designated area (Sec. 1). -Requires a peace officer to establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a crime is being committed before directing the driver to do any of the following (Sec. 1):

-Leave the vehicle; -Move the vehicle off the highway or street; -Present a driver's license or concealed handgun license; or -Perform a sobriety test.

-Prohibits law enforcement from conducting an inquiry of a driver for longer than three minutes, and specifies that the total time during which a driver must wait to pass through the checkpoint shall not exceed ten minutes, unless the peace officer establishes reasonable suspicion or probable cause to detain a driver for a criminal offense (Sec. 1). -Requires law enforcement to publicize through the media the date and time for the operation of a checkpoint, but specifies that the location does not have to be disclosed (Sec. 1). -Prohibits law enforcement from operating a checkpoint at 1 location for longer than 4 hours (Sec. 1). -Prohibits law enforcement from operating a checkpoint at the same location for longer than 1 year (Sec. 1). -Requires the procedures for operating a checkpoint to ensure the following (Sec. 1):

-That the selection of motor vehicles to be stopped is "reasonably predictable and nonarbitrary"; - A video and audio recording is made of encounters between drivers and peace officers; -Intrusion on drivers by peace officers is minimized; and -Inquiries to determine whether drivers are intoxicated are "reasonable."

-Repeals the provisions of this Act on August 31, 2015 (Sec. 1). -This is a substitute bill sponsored by the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security.

Full Bill Text