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Authors

Scott Freed

Abstract

This comment will examine decisions addressing the constitutionality of roadblock stops. First, it will examine Delaware v. Prouse and other Supreme Court decisions which have developed what is referred to as the neutral criteria standard for judging the reasonableness of temporary automobile seizures at roadblock-type stops. Under the neutral criteria standard, law enforcement officers may conduct suspicionless seizures of vehicles at roadblocks for certain specific purposes. The neutral criteria standard requires that the seizure be carried out pursuant to a plan embodying explicit, neutral limitations on the conduct of individual officers. Second, the comment will examine decisions which have found roadblocks to be constitutional. Third, decisions will be examined which have found DUI roadblocks to be inherently unconstitutional, suggesting that the neutral criteria standard is not applicable to roadblocks conducted to enforce drunk driving laws.

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