Motorists traveling Lewis County roadways can expect to see an increased number of traffic safety checkpoints throughout the summer as the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office steps up enforcement efforts through the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the checkpoints are part of an ongoing traffic safety program designed to reduce crashes, deter impaired driving and improve compliance with Kentucky motor vehicle laws. While enforcement efforts will be intensified during the busy summer travel season, Bivens emphasized that traffic safety checkpoints are conducted year-round.
“The purpose of these checkpoints is to make our roadways safer for everyone,” Bivens said. “We’re looking for impaired drivers, making sure vehicles are properly registered and insured, checking for valid driver’s licenses and addressing other violations that affect public safety.”
Deputies will also be watching for distracted driving, motorists who fail to properly restrain children in approved safety seats, and other traffic violations encountered during the checkpoints.
Bivens said the checkpoints provide deputies an opportunity to concentrate enforcement efforts while maintaining a highly visible presence on county roadways.
Motorists approaching a checkpoint are encouraged to have their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance readily available. Drivers with the required documents and no violations can generally expect only a brief delay.
The sheriff continues to encourage the public to report suspected impaired drivers by calling the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 606-796-2912. Callers are asked to provide a vehicle description, direction of travel, and license plate number, if possible. Anonymous reports are accepted.
“Our goal is simple,” Bivens said. “We want to identify impaired drivers, remove them from our roads, and help prevent crashes before they happen.”
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office will continue conducting traffic safety checkpoints and regular patrols throughout the county during the summer travel season and beyond.
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Why Traffic Safety Checkpoint Locations Are Publicized
If you’ve seen the accompanying story about traffic safety checkpoints in Lewis County, you may have wondered why law enforcement agencies announce the locations in advance.
The answer is simple: Kentucky law enforcement agencies must publicize traffic safety checkpoints before they are conducted.
The requirement stems from court rulings holding that, while traffic safety checkpoints are constitutional, they must be conducted under strict guidelines to protect motorists’ constitutional rights.
Police and sheriff’s departments in Kentucky must use approved checkpoint locations, have supervisory personnel present, conduct only brief stops, and provide advance public notice of the checkpoints, among other requirements.
The US Supreme Court ruled that traffic safety checkpoints are constitutional because the state’s interest in protecting the public from impaired and unsafe drivers outweighs the brief inconvenience to law-abiding motorists. However, the court also recognized that checkpoints must be conducted in a manner that protects motorists from unreasonable stops.
Without advance public notice and established procedures, a checkpoint could be challenged as an unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Although many motorists know when checkpoints are scheduled, law enforcement officers continue to make arrests for impaired driving and other violations during the operations.
Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the purpose of publicizing checkpoints is not to help violators avoid detection, but to deter dangerous behavior before it occurs.
“If someone decides not to drive after drinking because they know deputies may be conducting checkpoints, then the program has already accomplished one of its primary goals,” Bivens said.
Traffic safety checkpoints also provide deputies an opportunity to check for valid driver’s licenses, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, child safety seat compliance, distracted driving violations and other issues that affect public safety.
Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…”
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