Utah Bill Would Ban DUI Checkpoints

Law enforcement officials and drunken driving opponents argued Friday that Utah should maintain the practice of setting up checkpoints to catch DUI drivers on the streets.

But a House committee disagreed, approving HB140 sponsored by Rep. David Butterfield, R-Logan, who made the case that the checkpoints infringe on Utahns' civil liberties, are an ineffective way of catching drunken drivers and should be done away with, reports the Salt Lake City Tribune.

"We have to decide what is the balance between effective law enforcement ... and protecting constitutional and civil rights," Butterfield told the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee. "That's why we're gathered here. That's what we do."