House votes to ban sobriety checkpoints

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Police would no longer be allowed to set up sobriety checkpoints under a bill passed by lawmakers in the New Hampshire House.

The bill’s supporters argued that checkpoints are inefficient and said that according to one trooper, fewer than 1 percent of drivers who are stopped are charged with drunk driving.

Supporters also said checkpoints can erode relations between police and the public because drivers don’t like being stopped, and that because officers get paid overtime it makes the practice expensive as well.

The bill’s opponents unsuccessfully argued that lawmakers should not ban a tool that police can use to protect the public from drunk drivers.

The bill now goes to the Senate.