Murray:
I realize your line of questioning is directed at SWGB specifically in regards to your last post, but I wanted to share what I've heard about roadblock checkpoints being pretty much "exempt" from the protections granted by the Constitution. You obtain a "license" to drive a car on public roadways, and that car also has to be licensed to operate on those public roadways. These licensed privileges are not "rights" as guaranteed by the Constitution, and they are subject to what may be seen as erosion of your Constitutional rights. However, "rights" such as those of owning property, due process, etc. are granted by and protected by the Constitution. So, legally, you should be able to get as intoxicated as you want in the presence of your own home.
I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the difference in applications of police powers and/or citizens' Constitutional rights in the case of DUI enforcement, checkpoints, car searches, etc., but that is how I've understood it.
Also, some law enforcement agencies have gotten more stringent and broad in reasons of "probable cause" to pull drivers over, particularly since 9/11 and more recently in the downturn of a (tax-revenue generating) economy as this has given the judiciary some grounds to back them up in this. In the suburban town where I live, the local police department has recently started pulling drivers over and ticketing them for a cracked windshield, the "tag lights" that illuminate the license plate being out, and other infractions that may have been on the books but were usually not enforced ten years ago. Oftentimes, these violations create grounds for a pretextual stop to further investigate whether a DUI investigation (or lack of liability insurance, outstanding warrant, unpaid $6.00 parking ticket from 13 years ago) may be needed. Ideally, I don't have a problem with this in the interest of safety, but I can see where it seems a little Soviet!