So I had a weird experience between church and dinner... ping to usual suspects and those who may find this interestin'...
Was headed down the main road at about 6:30, having gotten finished at church, on my way to a free steak dinner that the visiting parents of a classmate were buying. Right up next to college, there are these orange cones and "lane closed" signs, so I get over, only to have to get over into the furthest right lane a second later. That's when I see the 'sobriety checkpoint' signs.
At this point I'm wondering what they're gonna be doing to me and whether I'll be late for dinner. They funnel all the cars into a big parking lot where they've got a couple lanes marked out and probably fifteen officers standing around, they have you pull up to an officer and roll down your window. The guy looks in my car and then asks whether I've had anything to drink today. I said "not alcoholic" which wasn't strictly true since I'd had a little sip of communion wine, but whatever. And I didn't say "not yet", which almost popped out of my mouth.
Then they just had everyone pull forward and go. I have no clue what this was supposed to accomplish. Maybe they were looking for open containers. It delayed me about ten minutes but otherwise I'd have been early, so it worked out ok. Anyone ever had a sobriety checkpoint before, and is that what it normally is like?
I've never been through one. They're looking for people who look drunker than you did to run further tests on.
It's not a good turn of events, that's for sure.
That's about it, you passed and apparently so did others in your batch. You'll see them get some drivers out and administer a 'field sobriety test', which includes walking a straight line, standing on one leg, touching their nose with their index finger and saying the 'abc's'. By then there usually isn't much doubt about it. The driver's arrested, car is towed, and breathalyer at the station before booking. They have sobriety check points periodically around here and generally near known drinking districts.
Evenin' folkses... [sip] Happy Pre-Monday. :-P
Yes, that was a sobriety checkpoint. It's a bad sign if they are coming to your area. Nobody likes drunk drivers, but I think checkpoints are a little over the top.
I've had the priviledge of doing the field-sobriety test twice in my life, though not at a checkpoint. Was cold sober both times... but it was still a huge and somewhat unnerving hassle.
It would be kinda fun to be totally sober at one of those... and slur your words anyway.