What to Do If Stopped For DUI

Imagine this - You are returning back to your home after a great weekend and suddenly get pulled over by a police officer. Of-course the weekend doesn’t sound fun without a couple of drinks. However, what seems to be fun then, has now become a nightmare. Clearly, you won’t be able to pass a sobriety test. But is there a way to turn things around in your favor? Well, there might be, read-on to know!

The situation is nerve-wracking for anyone. Being charged with DUI can lead to two offenses. In the worst-case scenario, you might end up in jail and get your driving license suspended. But, if you wisely deal with the situation you can certainly avoid all this mess. Here’s what you need to do:

First, Always Pull Over To A Safe Place

The moment the officer decides to pull you over, he starts taking notes on your behavior. These observations will go into the police report. As he is already suspicious about you, don’t give him another reason to tick the drunk column. First thing the officer will most probably notice is how you pull over. Do not slow down too abruptly, or pull over in an unsafe location. It can have a significant impact and you might not need to go for a sobriety test at all.

Avoid Making Sudden or Suspicious Moves

Remember, officers are always cautious. They are trained for this. Everything they do is with utmost caution. Like, they always approach the car from behind so they have a clear view. So, avoid any sudden movements like twisting around to watch the officer approach, jumping out of the car or crouching down. Instead, keep your body in normal driving posture and hand on the wheel 10 and 2 o’clock till the officer approaches your window.

How do officers prove whether or not I am drunk?

Officers have multiple ways to determine if you are alcohol intoxicated or not. One method is to watch you drive. If you drive erratically, an officer can stop you and try to detect signs of alcohol intake, such as breath or bloodshot eyes. If you have already been detained, officers may conduct sobriety tests. There are three standard tests:

Horizontal Nystagmus Exam - In this exam, the officer checks the eyes for involuntary trembling movements.

Walk and turns - In this exam, the driver must walk in a straight line, touching the heel with the toe of the other foot, turn and walk backward.

Standing on one leg - In this test, the driver must stand on one foot and count to 30.

If these methods suggest that you are intoxicated, the officer may administer tests for chemicals.

Apart from these, breath tests are probably the best known, but blood and urine tests are also used.

Be Polite

If you treat the officer respectfully, you are far less likely to be arrested. On the other hand, if you are rude, the officer is much more likely to arrest you and do everything possible to get you convicted, including writing a very incriminating police report. Even if the officer demands you to step out of the vehicle, you must be helpful and friendly. This can give you a real possibility of no arrest but being charged.

Refuse a Field Sobriety Test

States have different laws for DUI, but in most US states, you are under no legal obligation to perform a field sobriety test. Like, if you are pulled over by an officer on suspicion in Texas, you have the right to refuse roadside sobriety tests. Not only this, but you also are not bound to answer the police officer's questions without a DUI defense lawyer. Just tell the officer that you want a DUI or DWI defense lawyer present before answering any questions.

When you opt for a DUI DWI attorney, you can ensure of having your name cleared and saving your license suspension. That’s it. Stay connected for such posts