DWI checkpoints, also known as sobriety checkpoints, are a controversial tool used by New Hampshire police departments to catch intoxicated drivers. During a DWI checkpoint, police officers set up a roadblock and stop drivers for a temporary detention in order to investigate whether the drivers are driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or other controlled substances. DWI checkpoints allow police officers to pull over a driver even if they did not witness any traffic violation or suspicious operation of the vehicle. However, the question remains, are all DWI checkpoints legal?
Are All New Hampshire DWI Checkpoints Legal?
Do the Recent Supreme Court Ruling on Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones and NH HB1533 Apply to Students at School?
In a unanimous landmark decision regarding the search of cell phones, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the police must obtain warrants before searching suspects' cell phones in almost all situations. The decision acknowledged that the ruling could make law enforcement more difficult, but recognized privacy ought to respected, stating warrantless searches of cell phones is a violation of the Fourth Amendment that prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. To read the entire ruling, visit the Supreme Court's opinion here.
New Law in New Hampshire Allows Panel Voir Dire in All Criminal Trials
Starting January 1, 2015, all trial attorneys in the state of New Hampshire will have the right to question panels of prospective jurors as part of jury selection. Civil attorneys have been able to conduct panel voir dire since 2005. By signing the bill into law in June, Governor Maggie Hassan has extended the right to criminal attorneys.
