BASIC FACTS: Police erected a roadblock in the middle of a busy street, a common recent practice throughout New Hampshire.  As drivers approached they saw a sea of flashing blue lights, police cars and uniformed police officers.  Some of the drivers were stopped at random, for no reason at all. 

As drivers approached the platoon of police officers in the roadblock they were directed to pull into a “screening bay” where they were ordered to produce their identity papers and interrogated about drinking.  Some drivers were ordered to get out of their vehicles and ordered through a battery of sidewalk gymnastics known as “field sobriety tests”.  The drivers were directed to perform a “follow the pen” exercise, walk in heel to toe fashion with their arms by their sides (like “walking the plank”), and to stand on one leg for half a minute.  After the roadside gymnastics some of the drivers were arrested for DWI.

One of the drivers accused of being intoxicated hired Attorney Stevens to fight the DWI charge.

DEFENSE:    Attorney Stevens filed a motion to suppress all the evidence in this case based on the illegality of the police roadblocks.  The motions to suppress were based on four grounds: that the police had failed to comply with the New Hampshire Roadblock statute, that the state had failed to follow its own guidelines regarding the operation of DWI road blocks, and that the roadblock violated the drivers’ state and federal constitutional rights to be free from illegal seizures and searches.

Two hearings were held at which the state and Attorney Stevens argued about whether the driver’s rights had been violated when he was stopped despite doing nothing wrong at all.

RESULT:      After a hearing on Attorney Stevens’ motion to suppress evidence, all evidence in this case was suppressed (thrown out!)

Attorney Stevens thanks God for this successful defense!!!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“May all those who seek, inquire of and for You, and require You, rejoice and be glad in You; and may those who love Your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified!”  Psalm 70:4.

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