Suspicionless Roadblocks During Emergencies

Sean C. Monaghan 

Issue: Find examples of state statutes allowing police to establish suspicionless roadblocks to search for criminals in emergency situations.  

Date: June 17, 1997 

I found ten statutes giving law enforcement the authority to set up roadblocks to find criminal suspects. Idaho Code � 19-621, State v. Gascon, 812 P.2d 239 (1991) (interpreting the power the act gives police); Iowa Code Ann. � 321 K.1, State v. Ray, 528 N.W.2d 100 (1995), State v. Loyd, 530 N.W.2d 708 (1995) (upholding the validity of roadblock procedure); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. � 2414; Mont. Code Ann. � 46-5-510; N.D. Cent. Code � 24-15-02, City of Bismark v. Uhden, 513 N.W.2d 373 (1994); Nev. Rev. Stat. � 484.3591; Okl. St. Ann. tit. 21 � 540B; S.D. Codified Laws � 32-33-10; Utah Code Ann. � 77-23-103; Wyo. Stat. Ann. � 7-17-102.

The Idaho statute gives sheriffs, state police, and municipal police broad authority to establish temporary roadblocks to apprehend persons they reasonably believe to be in violation of the law. Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah provide similar broad authority. The roadblock statutes in Iowa and Maine are more vague, but may be construed to confer on police the power to setup roadblocks to find criminal suspects.