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What To Do: Pulled Over For A Suspected DUI
There's nothing that gets your heart pumping, like seeing the flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror. Especially if you've had a drink or two before it happens. What's more important than anything is keeping your head, and knowing how to acct.
There’s nothing that gets your heart pumping, like seeing the flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror. Especially if you’ve had a drink or two before it happens. What’s more important than anything is keeping your head, and knowing how to acct.
As long as you’re calm, you’re in a much better situation. First off, pull over out of the way of traffic. Turn the car off, and get your license and registration ready. Stay in the car, do NOT get out. That’s a good recipe for ending up with guns trained on you, and you face first in the asphalt.
Most importantly, though, act respectfully; do not give the officer a reason to arrest you. Shouting belligerently to an officer will turn a suspected DUI into an arrest, so it’s in your best interest to remain calm and courteous.
When the officer asks you if you have been drinking, you have some choices to make. You aren’t required by law to answer this question. You could plead the fifth amendment and refuse to answer, and it cannot be held against you, or as evidence in court. The risk is that if you don’t offer this information you could be questioned more pointedly.
On the flip side, being honest isn’t always the best policy. Not that we would recommend that you think in your head, No Officer I haven’t been drinking fruitpunch in the last 12 hours, while you answer no. It’s just best that for the most part you answer as little as possible.
If the officers ask you to exit the car, and do one of the standard field tests(walking a straight line, following a penlight). Understand that your rights do allow you to refuse these tests, and it can’t be held against you. Don’t automatically assume you have to submit.
Things are different about chemical tests, like a breathalyzer or blood or urine tests. Most states have a requirement of your license that you have to give one of these if you are asked. Check your state laws to verify what is required in your state.
No matter what the results of the tests, it’s always best to remain calm. You are better off submitting to your arrest with calm and dignity, and hiring a good defense attorney who specializes in DUI Representation. A hostile attitude won’t serve you well, and could add additional evidence against you.